PPB July 2018

Strategic Discussions, Spring Meeting Bring PPAI Board To Texas InMay The PPAI Board of Directors met in Irving, Texas, on May 7-8 for a full day of strategic discussions followed by the spring board meeting held at PPAI headquarters. On the first day, the board heard from a representative with McKinley Advisors who presented findings from PPAI member research on the value the Association delivers to the market and opportunities for enhancement. The board also discussed the PPAI membership structure and professional development program as well as strengthening PPAI’s relationship with the Promotional Professionals Association of Canada. The spring board meeting officially convened on the second day with Chair Dale Denham, MAS+, presiding. The board reviewed 2018 first quarter financials and approved the 2016 and 2017 audited financial statements as presented. Keith Vincent, director of marketing, discussed PPAI research priorities and plans; Anne Stone, director of public affairs, reported on government relations activities and issues; and Darel Cook, director of expositions, provided an update on PPAI trade shows. The board also heard an update on regional association activity from RAC Delegate to the Board D’Anna Zimmer, CAS. Each board liaison to a PPAI committee summarized significant projects, accomplishments and challenges, and the board approved an updated job description for the Certification Committee, which was presented by board liaison Lori Kates. The board also reviewed and approved updates to the PPAI Policies and Procedures. dialogue with a staffer who knew all about our organization from previous years’ visits and was taking notes on our concerns, and gave a commitment to convey those to the representative.” As part of L.E.A.D., industry professionals across the country added their voices to the issues being addressed through PPAI’s virtual fly-in, calling or emailing their members of Congress in support of the same issues their colleagues were addressing at face-to-face meetings in D.C. Over the course of the week, almost 1,000 industry practitioners shared their perspectives on issues ranging from independent contractors to the global value chain, advertising deductibility and promotional products’ effectiveness. David A. Katseff, MAS, president of supplier MasterCast Ltd. in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, reached out through the virtual fly-in to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on the problems tariffs pose to the promotional products industry. Katseff says, “I got a call from an aide to Sen. Whitehouse responding to my letter. She asked a lot of questions about our industry and I stressed how promotional products are a significant part of the small businesses domain here in Rhode Island, both on the manufacturer/ supplier side and the distributor side. I also referred her to NEPPA and PPAI’s websites. I am not a big fan of Sen. Whitehouse but I do give him brownie points for the follow up call.” PPAI, SAGE And PPPC Announce Strategic Partnership Last month, PPAI, SAGE and Promotional Products Professionals of Canada (PPPC) announced a strategic relationship to deliver a comprehensive membership solution to promotional products distributors and suppliers in the Canadian marketplace. As a result of the partnership with PPAI and SAGE, PPPC’s members receive access to industry-leading technology solutions and trade show opportunities, as well as education, networking, business savings benefits and legislative initiatives. Distributors will now receive membership support and product research capabilities through their PPPC membership, while suppliers will receive the full benefits of a SAGE Advantage Membership, which allows them to verify their products, update their product and business information, and advertise across all SAGE platforms and on distributors’ websites. All new and renewing PPPC distributor members will receive a two-user subscription to SAGE Total Access, which includes SAGE Online, SAGE Web and SAGE Mobile, and provides them with a suite of product research, presentations, CRM, order management and virtual sampling solutions. In addition, distributor members will receive a PPAI membership that provides access to educational resources, networking opportunities, legislative initiatives, and various business saving benefits. Also, all new and renewing PPPC supplier members will receive a SAGE Advantage Membership as part of their PPPC membership. These new PPPC member benefits will be issued each year upon payment of PPPC membership dues. PPPC is offering all current PPPC distributor members who are not already SAGE Total Access subscribers access to the program, plus PPAI membership, until their next PPPC renewal date. PPPC supplier members who are not already SAGE Advantage Members will have access to SAGE member benefits until their next PPPC renewal date as well. These complimentary subscriptions and memberships were automatically activated July 1. Each member received login instructions from SAGE via email when the member’s service became active. | JULY 2018 | 83 CONNECT