PPB November 2018

finished up with a general session on the Internet of Things. Summit closed at midday with a networking lunch. Longtime attendee and Summit panelist Tabatha Bauer, director of logistics and compliance for distributor Staples, was glad she attended. “This year Summit was really beneficial thanks to the Prop 65 dialogue you can have with your peers. It’s a difficult thing to manage and brainstorming best practices has been really beneficial for me.” Mike Irvine, COO for Crystal D, said his key takeaway was the information presented at the Prop 65 session, but he also found a great deal of value in the networking. “At the luncheon I got to talk to a lot of distributors and suppliers and compare our challenges—we are all in the same boat. It was interesting to put myself in my customer’s shoes and find out what they need to do business.” Andy Perez, who manages operations at Jornik Manufacturing Corp., said the highlight of Summit is always the people. “They have a wealth of information and so many years of experience, and the program is always so educational—it’s so much information in such a little bit of time. I go home with a whole new attitude and mentality; it’s like my foundation for the year. This actually feels more like the beginning of the year for me than Expo. After this conference, we wrap everything up. I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.” Merrick Falkenstein, executive vice president of St Regis Group, said, “The most important thing about Summit is talking to competitors, customers and distributors. I’m finding a lot of this is a gray area but generally by talking to peers, I get a lot of information. I don’t think anyone can get 100-percent clarity on everything but we keep evolving, keep learning, keep changing and keep getting better.” The PPAI Expo 2019, the industry’s largest and longest- running trade show, kicks off in January at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. As previously reported, David Goggins, former U.S. Navy SEAL, ultramarathoner and triathlete, opens the show with a general session presentation on Tuesday, January 15. Joining him on the Expo’s keynote education schedule are several more sessions featuring top- flight speakers. On January 14 at 11:45 am, join speaker, author, comedian and guitarist Mike Rayburn for Expo’s keynote luncheon presentation. Rayburn will apply his guitar-playing and comedy chops, and his success as an entrepreneur, to share three simple, powerful tools that took him from playing empty bars to headlining at Carnegie Hall eight times. The luncheon is $55 for members and $110 for nonmembers. Expo’s Power Keynotes begin at 3 pm on January 14 with Connie Podesta, author and expert on the psychology of sales, leadership, change, life balance and getting your act together. For the past 25 years, Podesta has shared her blend of humor, substance and style with a thousand organizations and two million people. Her keynote at Expo will inspire listeners to do what it takes to increase sales, attract and keep more customers, build longer-lasting, healthier relationships, strengthen leadership skills and become more profitable, happier and successful. The Power Keynotes continue with Scott Stratten, president of Un-Marketing, whose session will share radical insights on how to engage better with customers through social and viral marketing. Named a top-five social media power influencer by Forbes.com, Stratten’s keynote focuses on what matters most to current and potential buyers, values like trust, authenticity, relationships and service. His session blends real world strategies with memorable stories that will completely change the way you market and sell, for the better. The Power Keynotes are free. Paul Bellantone, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI; Dale Denham, MAS+, PPAI chair of the board; and Brittany David, CAS, incoming chair of the PPAI board, will host a town hall-style keynote luncheon at noon on January 16 covering current issues and opportunities for the promotional products industry, the Association and its more than 15,000 member companies. The presentation will include Association initiatives designed to deliver compelling member value as well as to protect and grow the industry. Pre-registration and a ticket are required to attend this session. The first 150 people who register will be provided a complimentary lunch. Tickets to attend (no meal provided) will also be available. The PPAI Expo 2019 runs January 13-17 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its full education lineup offers more than 100 education sessions available across 11 different tracks. For more information on the Expo and to register, visit expo.ppai.org. Expo 2019 Draws Top-Flight Speaker Lineup Scott Stratten Brittany David, CAS Mike Rayburn Connie Podesta Paul Bellantone, CAE Dale Denham, MAS+ —Tina Berres Filipski 94 | NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECT