PPB July 2018

| JULY 2018 | 87 CONNECT IN MEMORIAM / Ron Ball, MAS Ron Ball, MAS, ASI’s vice president of sales before retiring two years ago, passed away on May 15 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, after a long illness. He was 74. In his younger years he was a regular on American Bandstand and sang backup on The Dovells’ “Bristol Stomp,” but Ball’s career was defined by sales and the promotional products industry. His career at ASI spanned more than 40 years and he is credited with earning more than $60 million for the company. He was honored with ASI’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2015. Ball was also an active industry volunteer, having served twice on the board of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF)—first in 1996-1999 and again in 2002- 2005. He served on several PPAI committees and councils, including the Awards Advisory Council, the Public Relations Committee, the Marketing Committee, the International Committee and the Suppliers Committee. Outside the industry, Ball, passionate about animals, also lent his support to several animal welfare charities. Ball is survived by his wife, Leslie; sons Danny Ball and his wife Michelle Lang, and Jeff Ball; sister Francine; several nieces and nephews; and his dogs, Archie and Bunkie. A memorial service for Ball was held on May 18 at Goldstein’s Rosenberg’s Raphael-Sacks, Inc. in Southampton, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Ball’s honor to the Animal Welfare Institute, 900 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 or at www.awionline.org . Graphco Line (PPAI 200071) — Keith Powers , account executive, and Shasta Stefanich , customer service representative Hirsch Gift (PPAI 221823) — Jessica Cameron , compliance manager Hub Pen Company (PPAI 110722) — Carol Nickerson , customer service representative IDProductsource (PPAI 384049) — Robin Crampton , promoted to president IMAGEN Brands, parent company of suppliers Crown Products (PPAI 113430) and Vitronic (PPAI 114197) — Paul Lage, MAS , president PCNA, parent company of industry suppliers Trimark (PPAI 198982) , Leed’s (PPAI 112361) , Bullet (PPAI 113079) and JournalBooks (PPAI 110769) — Katie Crnkovich , hardgoods field sales manager for the greater Dallas metropolitan area; Emily Douglas , hardgoods field sales manager for North Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas; and Kimberly Stunkel , hardgoods field sales manager for Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi Selco (PPAI 113845) — Rachael Weber , sales assistant Spector & Co. (PPAI 168328) — Leo Wang , general manager of its Dongguan City, China, office; Kirk Russell , promoted to director of East Coast sales – USA; and Kevin Bloomquist , director of West Coast sales – USA IN MEMORIAM / Zachary Tyler Zachary Tyler, CEO of distributor Creative Marketing Concepts (CMC) (PPAI 144151) of San Francisco, California, and a 2012 PPB Rising Star, passed away in May. He was 33. Tyler had worked in sales since age 15, when he sold vacuums door-to-door for nearly four years. He joined CMC 14 years ago as a receptionist, and he worked his way up from lead generator to salesperson before purchasing a majority stake in 2013. Speaking about Tyler’s 2012 PPB Rising Star recognition, former CMC owner Mark Lillge said at the time, “Zach is a great guy that has incredible energy, intelligence, integrity and commitment to his success. Others would be well- served to follow his lead, not only in sales but also as a manager.” In 2012, Tyler told PPB that one of his goals was to grow CMC to a multi-location company. Following his passing, the company noted in a statement, “Under his leadership, CMC has more than doubled revenues and expanded its reach from the Bay Area to all 50 states, as well as Europe, where CMC has a joint venture in Prague.” Tyler had an executive leadership plan in place, and Mike Hawk, who has served as board advisor and personal advisor to Tyler over the past three years, has stepped in to fill the CEO role at the company. Hawk has been CEO of 15 companies over 30 years, including CMC’s partner in Europe. CMC requests that anyone wishing to honor Tyler’s memory support any of the three charities he loved: Best Buddies, The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County and The California Innocence Project.