PPB January 2019

PPAI’s Bellantone, Crowfoot Visit BELLA + CANVAS’ LA Campus In October, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, and Director of Professional Development Jennifer Crowfoot visited supplier BELLA + CANVAS in Los Angeles, California. Their visit was an opportunity to learn more about the company and its outlook on the industry, and how the Association can work to better meet its needs. Bellantone and Crowfoot met with BELLA + CANVAS Executive Vice President Chris Blakeslee (right) and Wholesale Director Sabrina Villa Del Toro (left), who gave them a tour of the supplier’s campus, including an up-close look at everything from the laser-cutting and sewing of t-shirts, to a warehouse that contains 25 million units at any given time. They were also guided through the company’s online education program by Summer Barry (second from left), the creative marketing director. PPAI’s Mello, Colbert Visit JournalBooks’ Headquarters In October, while in Charlotte, North Carolina, PPAI Professional Development Manager Jody Mello and Professional Development Coordinator Emery Colbert visited the offices of JournalBooks/Timeplanner Calendars, where they met with Carolyn Keene, who handles marketing and communications at the supplier. Mello (left) and Colbert’s (right) visit to JournalBooks was a chance to connect with the supplier and its staff, and learn more about its operations, facility and outlook on the industry. Their conversation with Keene also touched on the importance of education at the company, specifically on how they keep their customers up-to-date with what JournalBooks can do for them, and internally, how they can stay current with trends and best practices. PPAI’s Bellantone Speaks At Vantage Apparel National SalesMeeting Vantage Apparel brought associates from its sales, marketing, project management, merchandising, quality assurance and IT teams together at its Avenel, New Jersey, headquarters on November 7-9 for its national sales meeting. Built around the theme “Accelerate – Collaborate – Transform,” the meeting focused on the strategic foresight and business skills necessary for navigating today’s high volume of information and fast-paced changes. PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, attended Vantage Apparel’s meeting to deliver the keynote address, which included an update about the state of the promotional products industry and the importance of identifying emerging trends to best prepare for the advantages or the disruptions they may bring. | JANUARY 2019 | 119 CONNECT