PPB January 2020

dressed as the popstar herself, from head to toe, and spoke on the importance of embracing your individuality. “My whole message was to be who you are and that it’s ok,” says Wright. “Maybe your inner Gaga is a little weird, or a little conservative, or maybe it’s a dancer or a musician. It doesn’t matter. Just be you.” Introspective, as lifelong learners are, Wright found a way to tie promo to pop by explaining Lady Gaga’s transformation from Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta into the powerhouse superstar and businesswoman she is today. “I didn’t want to shock the audience, but I wanted to get them to think about things a little differently,” she says. Some 25 years ago, in 1995, Wright was pushing the envelope as one of the only professionals to emphasize the forthcoming power of the internet. While working at the Advertising Specialty Institute promoting the value of distributor website sales, she developed an eight-hour workshop about the internet and traveled to regional associations to lead interactive classes. Wright knew the internet would change the industry immensely, and wanted to share insights with her industry peers to help them prepare. Even after she moved on from that role, she has continued teaching on the subject as well as on many other topics. Doug Greenhut, president of The Book Company and one of Wright’s nominators, says, “Roni has always been a strong advocate for education and has spent decades traveling to different regional associations to motivate, inspire and coach on how to become more successful in life and in the promotional products industry.” Wright’s desire to get involved, coupled with her tireless curiosity, has also led her to faraway places and blossomed into a love for practicing yoga. Years before Wright entered promo, she earned her bachelor’s in dance from Douglass College at Rutgers University, though she’d return to school 10 years later to receive her bachelor’s in business and marketing from the University of South Florida. Wright’s love for dance led her to partner with another dancer to open the Florida Ballet School, which she owned from 1996-2007, while continuing to work in the promotional products industry. Eventually, Wright’s curiosity to learn sparked again, and she decided to obtain her 200-hour certification and became a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher. Later, she traveled to India, twice, where she was accepted to study at the renowned K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysuri, Karnataka. Wright even found a way to merge her love for practicing yoga with her promo peers, particularly at the Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC), an event she has attended every year since its inception in 2004. Wright has served on the Professional Development Committee, the Women’s Leadership Taskforce and has been a subject matter expert, leading speaker sessions. But part of her enjoyment of attending WLC is welcoming industry pros to early- morning yoga classes. “A lot of the women who have taken my classes have gone Roni Wright (top) and her daughter, Devon, at a dance presentation and (left) showcasing some of the unlimited book titles available through The Book Company. FEATURE | PPAI’s Top Awards 38 | JANUARY 2020 |