PPB March 2021

FEATURE | PPAI Expo Direct-2-You Jehu Campos, pet pop-ups where attendees could introduce their furry friends, yoga sessions and video interviews with PPAI’s Hall of Fame, Distinguished Service and H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award winners. Mid-week the day wound down with an online, singalong piano bar that welcomed everyone in. Just like at an in-person Expo, four Product Pavilions showcased the latest in the key categories of New Products, Green Products, Made In The USA and PPE Products and made it easy for attendees to browse the offerings. The “show floor” gave attendees quick access to nearly 500 exhibitors. With a single click on the “booth,” they could interact with company reps in live chats, see the company’s video, view highlighted products and request more information. They were able to create their walk lists in advance and take notes on what they saw and heard using handy tools available on the platform. Industry education, a central element at the Expo, remained front and center at this year’s virtual event with a broad array of scheduled and on-demand programming offered daily by PPAI, SAGE and commonsku. One could almost hear the familiar roar of the crowd rising within the Mandalay Bay Convention Center as participants shared comments throughout the show using the chat function. That sense of community was further strengthened with a variety of networking lounges, annual meetings and social events held during the week, including PPAI’s Icon Recognition event where PPAI presented its top honors to the 2021 PPAI Hall Of Fame inductee Teresa Moisant, MAS; the 2021 PPAI Distinguished Service Award recipient Mark Abels, MAS; and the Mark Abels, MAS, president of Selco, is also honored with the PPAI Distinguished Service Award during the event. At the Icon Recognition event, Bob Waldorf, CAS, founder of Waldorf Marketing Group, is presented with the PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award. During Expo D2U's Icon Recognition event, PPAI presents its top awards, including the PPAI Hall of Fame, to the 2021 inductee Teresa Moisant, MAS, president of Moisant Promotional Products. 26 | MARCH 2021 |