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Incoming PPAI Board Chair Todd Pottebaum, MAS+, Looks Ahead To His Term At the PPAI Expo 2021, Board Chair Ira Neaman, MAS, will pass the gavel to incoming chair Todd Pottebaum, MAS+, whose one-year term officially begins at the conclusion of the show. Pottebaum, president of distributor Quality Resource Group, Inc., in Plymouth, Minnesota, has a distinguished history as a volunteer both with PPAI and regional associations. He recently spoke with PPB about his upcoming term as board chair and his expectations for the year ahead. PPB: How do you see PPAI and its board positioned to answer the challenges of the pandemic and resulting economic slow-down? Todd Pottebaum, MAS+: PPAI’s executives, directors and its board have successfully navigated myriad courageous and difficult decisions thus far and I have complete confidence that these same individuals will plot a successful course through short- and long-range planning, both of which are designed to nimbly deliver the Association, membership and industry to safe harbor. PPB: What opportunities do you see for the promo industry in 2021? Pottebaum: There’s no question that we’re in the middle of a Todd Pottebaum, MAS+ SPARK From Home Builds Real Connections, Virtually PPAI’s SPARK FromHome conference, held on July 16, ushered young industry professionals into a virtual space where networking, brainstorming and innovation was the focus. With numerous breakout sessions, an Innovation Bootcamp led by event speaker Julia Maddox, and interactive ice breakers and games that had participants running through their home offices, SPARK FromHome kept the momentum going throughout the entire day while leaving time for periodic email check-ins. With 130 registered participants, the SPARKWork Group sought to reimagine this event for 19- to 35-year-old industry members. “Overall, the event was a huge success and our first PPAI virtual conference,” says Jody M. Shaw, CMP, PMP, PPAI’s manager of professional development. “I would like to give a huge shout out to our SPARKWork Group for their amazing work throughout the year-round program andmoreover, for their fabulous help leading this event.” The SPARK workgroup includes StephenMcFadden, CAS; Taylor Borst; Meghan Kory; Alicia Skipper, CPIM; Kacie Brinner; Tosha Everhart and David Geiger, Esq., CIL, MAS. The virtual conference gave participants the design- thinking toolkit to use toward innovating within their company to improve processes and products, and to think through not only the possibilities but also how to implement them. Attendee Evan Gall, national sales manager for DPI, Inc., says, “I was having trouble feeling motivated this week and the [SPARK conference] was just the boost I needed to kick me back in to gear.” The conference wound down with seven breakout rooms for small groups to discuss future opportunities for the promotional products industry. Participants talked through a variety of topics and ended the day with smiles and laugher during the SPARK social happy hour. Plummer said after the event, “I wanted to send out a big congratulations for what SPARK FromHome achieved. This was my first SPARK event outside of Expo and it was a lot of fun. I met a lot of new people while connecting with old friends. You had a great mix of education and networking.” — Kristina Valdez, associate editor by James Khattak 90 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | CONNECT