PPB October 2019

Joe’l Bastian Regional Vice President of Sales alphabroder Taylor, Michigan Years managing others: 14 Why she was nominated: “It’s rare to find a manager, in any walk of life, who strikes that perfect balance between compassion andmotivation, and Joe’l does it better than anyone I have ever worked for,” says Matt Klang, one of 15 nominators. “She leads from the front and sets a tremendous example for her team to follow. Not only is she smarter than anyone I have ever worked for, but she works harder, which is why she has the respect and admiration of everyone in the company. On top of her professional accolades, Joe’l is an awesome person to be around and is the glue that holds our entire team together.” Joe’l’s insights on her best boss: John Caputo, president of ArrowUniform, led the company during a time of economic downturn in the Detroit market. John was the finest example of remaining calm and productive under pressure and coping well with change. He managed with a clear vision and strategy with open communication. John fostered a culture of empowerment and innovation. He motivatedme to domy best work by providing an environment where I was trusted tomake decisions and empowered to get things done. He allowed his team to learn from failures and achievements. He encouraged innovative ideas and approaches and then helped us to Joe’l Bastian, center, in black, enjoys being with her team members. Trina Bicknell Senior Vice President of Sales Hub Promotional Group Braintree, Massachusetts Years managing others: 20 Why she was nominated: “Trina is a wonderful communicator; she gives a clear vision of what current priorities are within the organization and people are excited to share their success stories with her,” says Rita Fraser, one of six nominators. “She provides coaching and counseling and is ‘present’ for every one of her many direct reports. Trina sets high standards and she is demanding in terms of what she expects for results. People are driven to do better based on her leadership.” Trina Bicknell, fourth from left, manages a team spread across the U.S. that includes, from left, Kurt McGovern, Lisa Bennett, Pete Rosica, Rita Fraser, Jim Maddox and Joann Sprenger. FEATURE | Best Bosses Of 2019 24 | OCTOBER 2019 |