PPB January 2019

Br i an Po r t e r B rian Porter has been in the promotional products industry for 25 years, but his enthusiasm for the industry’s people, products and “family feel” is, perhaps, more exuberant than ever. Porter, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Grand Island, New York- based supplier Starline USA, devotes a portion of his time to helping others, whether it’s through charitable initiatives or simply by coaching his children’s sports teams. A long-time volunteer for the Promotional Products Association of the Midwest (PPAM)— he served as PPAM’s president in 2016—this month Porter begins his term as chair of the Board of Trustees for the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), which has donated nearly $2 million in scholarships to the children of industry professionals since its inception in 1989. According to Porter, there’s no shortage of opportunities to make a difference, there’s only a shortage of time. Porter grew up around the promotional products industry, having lived in Newton, Iowa, as a child, which is the headquarters of family-owned distributer the Vernon Company and the former headquarters of Newton Manufacturing, which has since been bought by Sterling, Illinois-based distributor HALO Branded Solutions. Immediately following graduation from Iowa State University where he majored in marketing, Porter relocated to San Antonio, Texas, to serve as regional sales director for former supplier Norwood Promotional Products LLC. It was here that Porter experienced a “deep- dive sales training program,” which included specialty work in customer service, marketing, sample development, shipping Brian Porter, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Starline USA, with his children Jackson and Payton. Room For Good Brian Porter, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Starline USA, believes there’s always a chance to serve those around you. by Danielle Renda “Supporting the people who make it happen for us is such a full-circle thing. Whether it’s an employee supporting a cause that’s close to them or a long-time industry friend, at the end of the day that’s what’s most important.” —Brian Porter 96 | JANUARY 2019 | CONNECT