PPB January 2018

CONNECT 98 | JANUARY 2018 | president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, as well as the volunteer chair and co-chair for the regional association’s End Buyer Expo. In 2015, he was named UMAPP Volunteer of the Year. PPB: Why do you want to serve on the PPAI Board? Todd Pottebaum: I’m in a unique and favorable place in my career. I have great experience leading associations and teams that I can put to work on the key issues faced by the industry, which I’m also very anxious about. It’s hard to sit on the sidelines with these anxieties, and I look forward to putting my energy, leadership, knowledge and desire to serve to work on the board and for the industry as a whole. PPB: What unique strengths and experiences do you bring to the PPAI board? Pottebaum: Guided by a set of uncompromising core values of professionalism, care, perseverance, reliability and integrity, I will leverage 17 years of industry experience, extensive volunteering and leadership positions to provide unique insights and strategic direction to the board. I cherish the trust and confidence of the membership and will consider it with every board vote. PPB: What would you like to accomplish during your board term? Pottebaum: PPAI’s vision and strategic plan have recently been renewed to move us from great to extraordinary, and from transactional to relational. With great care and focus, it’s my earnest intention to fuel the board strategy to fulfill this promise. PPB: Are there any industry challenges or issues that you’d like to see renewed focus on? Pottebaum: PPAI has an opportunity to create forums of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, buyers of promotional products and other industry collaborators to determine what the market craves and what they’ll pay for. This type of foresight will enable members to invest in innovation to drive the next generation of ideas and growth. There will always be a market for promotional products, but we need to challenge ourselves to determine what that future looks like and how to get there. Jim Hagan Hagan is the CEO of City of Industry, California-based Sweda Company, LLC, a company he has been with since 2001. He has served on the supplier’s board since 2015 and stepped up to the CEO role in January 2016. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s sales, operations and financial performance. Before becoming chair and CEO, he was president and CEO from2007 to 2015, and prior to that, from2001 to 2006 he served as vice president of sales. PPB: Why do you want to serve on the PPAI Board? Jim Hagan: I am honored to be a part of this group of industry thought leaders. I am excited to bring my knowledge, energy and experience to the table. PPB: What would you like to accomplish during your board term? Hagan: I’d like to support the initiatives focused on our advertising medium that increase our exposure to corporate consumers’ marketing spend.