PPB November 2019

Dennis Cormany PPB satdownwithCormany to askhima fewquestionsabouthis experience—anduncoversome fun facts. Whatwas it likewhen youstartedatPPAI? Iwashired inSeptember1979 andoneofmy firstactivities was togo toChicagoandsit with the then-bookkeeperand, more importantly,meetwith the accounting firm thathandled the financialactivities for theBoard ofDirectors. Itwas theweek the moverswerepackingupand moving theoffice fromChicago to Irving.At theendof theweek, Icame to Irvingandsaid,“Wow, whathave Igottenmyself into?” It turnsout thebuildingwasn’t completeyet,andonly fiveof the originalstaffmoved toTexas,so TedOlsonwasreallychallenged withre-staffing theorganization. I was interviewed inaconstruction traileruntilwemoved into the building. Iwas the first financial person theAssociationeverhired. Whatdidyoudo before joiningPPAI? My first joboutof school wasworking fora family- ownedbusiness:anautoparts wholesaler. Iwas theoffice managerand stayed there for twoyears.Then, Iwas approachedby theTexasCredit UnionLeague (nowCornerstone CreditUnionLeague).Having hada tasteof theoffice management side, Iwanted to getback intoaccounting, so I interviewedandwashiredasan accountant there,whichexposed me tononprofitaccountingand thoseprocesses. In1979,after working there forabout five years, Iwas tiredof thecorporate environmentandwenton sabbatical forninemonthsand hadagreat timeplaying tennis, golfand fly fishingwith friends. TedOlsonwashired in January of1979andPPAIwasbuilding in Irving,andbeingacharter memberofMeetingPlanners International,Tedattended meetings in theDallasarea when in town. InMayof1979, themeetingplanner from the creditunion startedcallingme onamonthlybasis, sayingTed was in townand looking tohire a financialperson,and if Iwould be interested in talking tohim, and I’d sayno.BySeptember, the seedhadbeenplantedand I interviewed—and that’show I camehere. Whataresome ofyourmost standoutmemories workinghere? Myposition isnota forward-facingposition to the membership. I’vebeenmore ofaback-officemember. I workedwithpeoplewhowere on theBoardofDirectors in thecapacityof theExecutive Committee,BudgetandFinance Committees;professionals holding senior-levelpositions incompanies,whichallowed me toget toknow these Right,DennisCormany’s firstdayatPPAI in 1979; far right,Cormany recentlyat the ranch. 94 | OCTOBER2019 | CONNECT Celebrating Dennis Cormany’s 40th Year With PPAI Dennis Cormany, controller in PPAI’s accounting department, has been on the Association staff for 40 years, joining when the organization relocated from Chicago, Illinois, to Irving, Texas, in 1979. He and PPAI are celebrating his milestone, and the October issue took a look at his time with the Association. Dennis, Congratulations! You have been a most valuable member of the staff for so long. It is nice to know that you are there for us, doing your usual efficient job. Thank you for all the many things you so quietly and efficiently do. I am happy you are receiving this well-deserved recognition. MARGARET CUSTER FORD, MAS Founder MARCO Ideas Unlimited, Inc. Portland, Oregon PPAI 106680, D5 Dennis, you’re a good man. Really enjoyed working with you for 16 years. The tribute is well deserved. I wish you well, my friend. STEVE SLAGLE, CAE Past President and CEO PPAI Seneca, South Carolina Dennis is a wonderful coworker. Over the past 13 years, when we’ve worked on department and Regional Association Council (RAC) budgets and projects, Dennis has patiently answered questions and helped Regional Relations figure out the numbers. I especially appreciated his calm demeanor and thoroughness when we switched our backend system for the Universal Regional Membership Application (URMA) and the Promotional Products Disaster Recovery Foundation (PPDRF) last year. Congratulations on achieving this significant workplace milestone! VALERIE SCHENEWERK Regional Relations Assistant PPAI Irving, Texas Dennis Cormany A Behind-The-Scenes Lifetime Staff Member DennisCormanywithhis daughters:DaraCormany, left, PPAI’smarketingcoordinator, who justcelebratedher seventh yearwith theorganization; andDarcyCormany,acollege student innursing school. ControllerDennis Cormanyof PPAIcelebrates an incredible milestone— 40yearswith the Association. by DanielleRenda W henyouask thePPAIstaff what they loveabout the promotionalproducts industry andworking for theAssociation, manywillsay it’s thepeople they meetandworkwith.Dennis Cormany isoneof the“people” theyspeakof. Thisyear,Cormany celebrates40yearswithPPAI in itsaccountingdepartment, currentlyas itscontroller.Hewas involved in theheadquarters’ relocation fromChicago, Illinois, to Irving,Texas, in the late ‘70s, andafter themove,heworked sixdaysaweek tohelp the late H.TedOlson,PPAIpresident emeritus—forwhich theH.Ted OlsonHumanitarianAward isnamed—re-staff theorganization.Togetherwith Olson,heeven interviewed potentialcandidates in their cars in theparking lotwhile theheadquarterswasunder construction.For16years,he workedcloselywithOlson, assistingwith therebranding from theSpecialtyAdvertising Association toPromotional ProductsAssociation International,andhelpingmove theAssociation into theage of technology. Cormany sayshis rolewith PPAIhasbeen,and remains today,oneof stewardship.“I’m responsible for the stewardship ofmembers’ investments in theAssociation.Stewardship is theoversightofbusiness systems,businesspractices relating to financial reporting, budgets supporting the strategic initiatives,and toassure there areadequate fundingand resources todo so.”Hismotto, afterall, is,“Yourhonesty willneverbequestioned; just constantlyverify.”Butwhen reflecting recentlyonhis earlydayswithPPAI, its 92 | OCTOBER2019 | CONNECT feed back Send feedback on articles in PPB or opinions on industry issues to JamesK@ppai.org . 8 | NOVEMBER 2019 |