PPB November 2019

Tom Ca rpen t e r, MAS W hat’s Tom Carpenter’s secret? He leads by example. The 2019 PPAI Regional Association Council (RAC) Volunteer of the Year—the 17th to receive this laurel—and national accounts manager at Edgerton, Minnesota-based supplier Fey Promotional Products Group, makes the most of industry challenges by getting involved on the frontlines. “In a world where everyone wants change, the best opportunity to affect that change is to be present and get involved,” he says. “Bring who you are with you, like a shovel, and help dig a hole.” Carpenter, MAS, who lives in Springtown, Texas, has dedicated years to the promotional products industry, not just as a professional, but as a leader. On October 22, he was honored with this year’s highest regional volunteer award during the 2019 RAC Leadership Development Workshop in Grapevine, Texas. His involvement as a regional volunteer began with his service on the Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) board of directors from 2005-2009, which led to his appointment as PPAS Regional Association Council (RAC) delegate in 2008 and RAC delegate to PPAI in 2011- 2014. He was elected PPAS vice president in 2009-2010 and president in 2010-2011. Carpenter currently serves as PPAS treasurer. For the past 18 years, he’s also dedicated time to PPAI, volunteering as a member of the PPAI Membership Taskforce in 2014, as RAC delegate on the PPAI board from 2013-2015, as a member of the PPAI Volunteer Walking The Talk Tom Carpenter, MAS, believes the key to getting involved in volunteer work is simply to just do it. by Danielle Renda Tom Carpenter, MAS, (far left), accepts PPAI’s Milestone Award during The PPAI Expo 2019 on behalf of Fey Promotions. He shares the stage with PPAI’s President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, (far right), Dale Denham MAS+, 2018 PPAI Board Chair (second from left), and fellow honorees George Kelly (center) and James Jones of Kellmark Corporation. 94 | NOVEMBER 2019 | CONNECT