PPB January 2019

A Collective Win Hall of Fame inductee Charles “Chuck” Pecher attributes his success to a strong team, both inside and outside of his business. by Danielle Renda Pecher’s school photo from St. Catherine’s of Sienna, 1956. “My dad would always tell me that I looked like a ‘57 Chevy with its car doors open,” Pecher says. I f it weren’t for Charles “Chuck” Pecher, PPAI wouldn’t be what it is today. Pecher, who is the president of St. Louis, Missouri-based supplier Skinner & Kennedy Co.—his promotional products business where he’s worked for the past 43 years—played a pivotal role in the rebranding of PPAI from its former name, Specialty Advertising Association International, in 1993; a change that encouraged other regional associations to later follow suit. Pecher’s list of achievements with PPAI alone—he’s been involved with the Association since 1992—is impressive. As chair of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), he helped create the foundation’s first major fundraising program. He was also recognized with PPAI’s Distinguished Service Award in 2000 and was named a PPAI Fellow in 2016. He has served on several industry boards, including then-St. Louis Specialty Advertising Association (SLASA, now Promotional Products Association Mid-South), 1975-1980 as a board member, show chairman and president; The Calendar Advertising Council, 1985-1990, chairman in 1990; Printing Industries of St. Louis, Inc., 2005- 2010, chairman from 2009-2010; Printing Industries of St. Louis Service Corporation 2004-2009, chairman from 2009-2010; Printing Industries of America, 2002-2005; and is board chairman of The Master Printers of America. Pecher owns and operates a company that is more than 100 years old—Skinner &Kennedy Co. was founded in 1900—that is particularly known for its calendars, as well as its promotional fans, donut boxes, desk pads, notepads, planners, coasters and password books, all of which are 100 percent manufactured and sold in the United States. But even with all these obligations, Pecher still finds time for the little things, like sending each of his six grandchildren a book in themail, everymonth. “When I visit my grandchildren, being able to read with them is neat,” he says. Pecher and his five sisters, circa 1964. Top, from left: Mary Lou, Chuck and Kathleen. Bottom, from left: Barbara, June and Patti. “You just need to remain calm, identify issues and work with the people that you have to come up with solutions.” Celebrating The Exceptional | FEATURE | JANUARY 2019 | 29