PPB October 2019

“At the end of the week, I came to Irving and said, ‘Wow, what have I gotten myself into?’It turns out the building wasn’t complete yet, and only five of the original staff moved to Texas, so Ted Olson was really challenged with re-staffing the organization. ” —Dennis Cormany relocation and rebranding, he smiled and simply said, “It was fun. We had fun.” A selfless soul with a palpable appreciation for the volunteers, committees and taskforces, Cormany attributes the Association’s initiatives, and his own professional growth, to the individuals who generously donate their time and resources to help PPAI grow. “The volunteers stand out to me,” he says. “I can’t say enough that there’s been a lot of good people who have come through the doors.” It was the membership, in fact, that helped the Association pay, in full, for the land and building of its current Irving headquarters, freeing up debt and permitting focus on growing other initiatives, he recalls. Cormany has always been a team player. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Cormany was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and played high school sports. Before he was born, his mother often traveled to visit his father, who was in the Marine Corps and stationed at Eagle Mountain Lake outside of Fort Worth. As a result, Cormany’s father encouraged him to consider Texas for college, and taking his dad’s advice, he attended Abilene Christian University in Abilene, where he pursued a dual major and graduated with a bachelor’s in accounting and marketing in 1972. He played sports throughout college, earning the nickname “killer” for his skills. And while there, Cormany met six lifelong friends who continue their tradition of a fly-fishing trip in Colorado almost every August or September. This year, the group made their 40th trip together. And like a true team-player, Cormany sums up his contributions to PPAI this way: “It wasn’t all me. It was with a lot of support from volunteers, help from a lot of people in the industry and staff over the years, 16 years with Ted Olson as president and CEO, followed by Steve Slagle, and currently eight years with President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, and the executive team, for refinement and improvement of everything so we could keep building for the future.” “One thing has always been certain about a visit to the PPAI headquarters: you will be warmly welcomed by Dennis Cormany. He’ll be glad to see you; his sincerity is without a doubt. With a widening smile that goes up to and through his eyes, Dennis will make you feel like you’ve just come home. With 40 years of experience, his knowledge of PPAI history and the backstory to issues and events is extensive. He’s a go-to source and pillar of competence. Dennis, thank you. Thank you for your passion for PPAI and this industry, and for the people in it. You make this industry special and you make it a better place to work and be associated with.” Paul A. Kiewiet, MAS+ Executive Director Michigan Promotional Products Association Former PPAI Board Chair “Forty years, wow! There are only a few of us who go back to the beginning and have traveled together with you over four decades. When we first met, I was on the Governance and Legal Affairs Committee, then on the Board. I remember sitting through grinding Budget and Finance Committee meetings with the unflappable you, as we reviewed the numbers line by line. The $300,000 education budget would fly through, but we’d spend 20 minutes talking about the $100 (or whatever) annual maintenance agreement on the breakroom refrigerator. And you would patiently listen, giving no indication of how you really felt about the redundant questions and often questionable decisions. Of course, you and Ted had the formality orchestrated so that we could not do much damage. Dennis, you’ve been such a rock for PPAI. You are a fine man. I am honored to know you.” Gene Geiger, MAS+ Chairman Geiger Former PPAI Board Member PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE (right), congratulates Dennis Cormany on his 35th year with the Association in 2014. | OCTOBER 2019 | 93 CONNECT