PPB January 2021

PPAI Volunteer Spotlight: Awards and Recognition Committee Volunteers play a vital role in PPAI’s success. This eighth installment of an ongoing PPB series, introducing the volunteers, committees and initiatives that have helped make the Association what it is today, takes a closer look at the Awards and Recognition Committee. PPAI’s Awards and Recognition Committee exists to engage members by ensuring the relevance, prestige and overall experience of the industry’s most recognized and coveted awards. Its members conduct an annual review process and makes recommendations for the modification, addition and sun-setting of Association awards and recognition programs. Committee members work to support increased participation in the programs when possible, participate in judging sessions, provide feedback to staff on program communications and recognition events and volunteer to support staff at live events. The Association’s awards program has been in place and evolving for decades, but still presents the committee with issues and challenges to consider. “The committee was recently confronted with the challenge of an awards program that was caught somewhere between a networking event and a night of recognition,” says Nate Robson, the committee’s 2020 chair. “As a result, it had become underwhelming in terms of delivering value to the members, and change was needed. The committee and staff decided to evolve the program in a material way. When re-imagining the program, delivering more value to the members was the committee’s North Star. Due to the differences between suppliers, distributors and service providers, we developed a plan to recognize winners throughout the year based on their unique PPAI 2020 Awards And Recognition Committee Roster Nate Robson , Raining Rose, Inc. Danny Rosin, CAS , Brand Fuel, Inc. Louise Michaud , MAS, Geiger Cathy Cummings , CAS, AIM Smarter LLC Mary A. Dobsch , The Chest Peter C. Gleason , MAS , CPS / Keystone Line Jodie Schillinger, CAS , Maple Ridge Farms, Inc. Tom Carpenter, MAS , Fey Promo J Phillip Allemang, CAS, Proforma Kenny Ved, MAS , Goldstar Amelia Madl , PromoCorner Sheila Ricken , HALO Teresa Murawski , Weber Grills Pictured are current and outgoing members who attended the 2020 meeting at The PPAI Expo. 80 | JANUARY 2021 | CONNECT