PPB July 2021

Gr i f f i t h McDan i e l G riffithMcDaniel knows firsthand what it’s like to lose a business—and to rebuild it again from the ground up. But his love for both his family, and their family-run distributorship, is what’s always steadfastly propelled him forward. “I’ve realized that even if I lost everything, as long as I still have my family, when I zoomout, I’m still okay. Whatever the final outcome is, it’s going to be okay,” he says. McDaniel got his start in the industry more than 16 years ago when he began working for his aunt and uncle’s Newport Beach, California, distributorship, Giftpreneurs. After moving to California to pursue a career in the golf industry, McDaniel began working in the company’s warehouse during after-hours. “My uncle was sort of like a father figure andmentor tome growing up. I was 21, just making some extra cash. Their only client was the U.S. Postal Service and they were official licensees, and they mainly did employee recognition for them. That’s how I got my first glance at the industry.” It was after the sudden passing of an essential employee that McDaniel is asked to officially join the business. “They were older and didn’t have a next-step plan,” says McDaniel, of his aunt and uncle. “I decided to leave my growth track in the golf industry to work for them andmodernize where they were at. I was young, but it seemed like a fun industry from the small glimpse that I saw.” Griffith McDaniel, president of Orange County distributor One World Promo, learned early on that good times don’t last long. Now, after rebuilding his family’s business, he’s carving out a path for growth, all while being intentional in how he connects with his clients and employees. by Kristina Valdez Back From The Brink Photo Credit Candice Brouillette 80 | JULY 2021 | CONNECT