PPB March 2018

FEATURE | Best Of Expo details that made a huge difference in the attendee experience. We did our best to say ‘yes’ whenever possible.” Volunteer Appreciation PPAI hosted a luncheon to honor contributions from all volunteer leaders, including those serving on the PPAI board of directors, committees and advisory groups, the Regional Association Council board and the Promotional Products Education Foundation board, as well as recognizing new inductees to PPAI’s Fellows program. During the luncheon, Bellantone gave an update on Association activities and reviewed progress on the strategic plan, then expanded further on the goal of strategic foresight. Outgoing PPAI Board Chair Tomasini passed the gavel to incoming Board Chair Denham, and she and Bellantone recognized retiring board members Tom Goos, MAS; Larry Cohen, CAS; and Lee Strom, CAS, and incoming board members Lori Kates, Jim Hagan and Todd Pottebaum, MAS+. Awards And Recognition PPAI hosted an elegant black-tie dinner early in the week with nearly 200 in attendance, including current and past board members, volunteer leaders and industry legends who came to pay tribute to this year’s honorees. In the spotlight were two 2018 inductees into PPAI’s Hall of Fame: the late Janelle Nevins, formerly senior vice president at Silver Spring, Maryland-based distributor Summit Group, and David Woods, MAS, retired president and CEO of Neenah, Wisconsin, distributor AIA Corporation. The event also honored two other volunteers, Charles Duggan II, MAS+, national and strategic key accounts manager at Goldstar, and William “Bill” Lazarus, MAS, owner and vice president of Promotional Breezes, with the PPAI Distinguished Service Award for their selfless dedication and volunteerism to PPAI and the industry. In addition to the four award winners, PPAI also recognized three individuals in its annual Promotional Products Pioneers tribute for their vision, drive, innovation, character and leadership in the industry: Marty Lott, owner and president of SanMar; the late Bill Schmidt, former owner and president of Hit Promotional Products; and S. Allen THE EXPO 2019 Planning for The PPAI Expo 2019 has already begun. Mark your calendar: January 13-17, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Be notified when registration opens by completing the form here: http://expo.ppai . org/notify-me-when- registration-opens. Top left: PPAI Hall of Fame inductee David Woods, MAS, with PPAI Distinguished Service Award winners Bill Lazarus, MAS, and Charles Duggan II, MAS+. Far left: Also honored at the Chairman’s Leadership Dinner were PPAI Promotional Pioneers Marty Lott, SanMar; CJ Schmidt (standing in for his late father, Bill Schmidt), Hit Promotional Products and Allen Dohan, The Allen Company. Left: At the PPEF Donor Reception are Dave Saracino, PPEF Chair Lori Bauer and incoming PPEF Chair Wayne Greenberg, MAS. 28 | MARCH 2018 |