PPB January 2018

by James Khattak | JANUARY 2018 | 97 CONNECT PPAI Welcomes Kates, PottebaumAnd Hagan ToThe PPAI Board Following The PPAI Expo this month, Lori Kates, president of IMAGENBrands; Todd Pottebaum, MAS+, president of Quality Resource Group, Inc., and JimHagan, CEO of Sweda Company, LLC, will take their seats on the PPAI Board of Directors. Kates and Pottebaum were elected in September and will serve four-year terms on the Association’s board, while Hagan was appointed to the at-large director position and will serve a two-year term. The board of directors is the governing body for PPAI and plays amajor role in directing its strategic activities, adopting policies and approving budgets to carry out the work of the Association. PPAI’s incoming boardmembers bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the Association’s volunteer leadership. PPB spoke with these new boardmembers about their qualifications and goals for their terms on the PPAI board. Lori Kates President of Mason, Ohio-based IMAGEN Brands, the parent company of suppliers Crown Products and Vitronic, Kates has worked in the promotional products industry for more than 21 years. In that time, she has served on PPAI’s Professional Development andMarket Research Committees, and has been involved in the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF). Kates has also devoted her time to participating in professional development events, including the North American Leadership Conference, Women’s Leadership Conference, the PromoKitchen Mentor Programand the ASI Power Summit. She is a 2013 recipient of the ASI Supplier Woman of Distinction honor and has been recognized by the ASI Power 50 program for four consecutive years. PPB: Why do you want to serve on the PPAI Board? Lori Kates: I’m passionate about this industry. I wanted to offer my experience to assist in guiding the direction in which we focus our resources to support a healthy industry for the future. PPB: What unique strengths and experiences do you bring to the PPAI board? Kates: I helped build a Top 40 supplier, and I am responsible for our day-to-day operations. I also have an ability to bring people together even when a decision may not have been what everyone wanted. I guess you could say I’m a mediator. I think this was something I learned growing up, as I am from a large family. I have six siblings—five brothers and a sister. We all have different opinions. I am exactly the middle child, but also the youngest daughter and the oldest from the “second” set of siblings. At times, I possess personality traits from each of the various birth orders. PPB: What would you like to accomplish during your board term? Kates: I’d like to look back on my service and see an industry that is even stronger than today. I think this would be achieved if the following occurred: No. 1, the end-buyer community sees our advertising medium for its effective results, not just trinkets; No. 2, we are attracting the next generation of creative minds to our industry; and No. 3, we’ve prepared for potential disruptors. PPB: Are there any industry challenges or issues that you’d like to see renewed focus on? Kates: I believe PPAI’s current strategic plan is strong. We need to focus on multiple fronts, including advocating for the industry, staying aware of potential political headwinds, and leveraging strategic foresight so our members are informed about potential threats. Todd Pottebaum, MAS As president of distributor Quality Resource Group, Inc., in Plymouth, Minnesota, Pottebaum has spent 17 years working in promotional products. During that time, he has served as a committee member and chair of the PPAI Market Research Committee and as a speaker at several PPAI Expo education events. He has also held a number of leadership positions with the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP), including