PPB July 2020

Industry Leaders, Experts DiscussThe Issues Of The Day In PPAI’s PromoTalks Podcast PPAI’s PromoTalks podcast, launched in March2020, is bringing industry thought leaders, business executives and subjectmatter experts together for insightful, engaging conversations onawide rangeof subjects that are relevant and important topromotional products professionals. Not surprisingly, considering the issues rocking thepromotional productsmarket since its launch, PromoTalks has examined theCOVID-19pandemic’s impact on the promotional productsmarket fromseveral angles. In its first episode, onMarch19, PPAI Director of Publications/Editor TinaBerres Filipski facilitatedadiscussionwithPPAI President andCEOPaul Bellantone, CAE; PPAI Chair IraNeaman,MAS, andChair- Elect ToddPottebaum,MAS+, about the effects of the coronavirus on thepromotional products industry, including the challenges business are facing , the economic and personal impact of thepandemic and the threat of a recessionalongwithadvice and opportunities for suppliers anddistributors. Bellantone latermoderated two subsequent podcasts, first a conversation with Jo-an Lantz,MAS, president andCEOof Geiger, and NormHullinger, CAS, CEOof alphabroder, onwhat leadership looks like in themidst of a global pandemic andwith JeremyLott, president of SanMar, andGregMuzzillo, founder of Proforma, on selling inapost- coronavirusworld. In another episode, Brady Peterson, owner of Scout CreativeMedia, a PPAI member company, and Josh Eaton, owner ofMediaGrabbers production studio, spoke on using video content to connect with customers during lockdown and shelter-in- place orders. PromoTalks is also home toGeneration SPARK, a series of conversations with young professionals in the promotional products industry on a range of topics relevant to their careers. Tune in to listen to these insightful andhelpful discussions, available freeon Spotify andApplePodcasts, at promotalks.buzzsprout.com . | JULY 2020 | 85 CONNECT