PPB August 2021

Jenn i f e r Ta rnopo l sk i W hen Jennifer Tarnopolski asked for an opportunity to sell promotional products when sheworked for a distributor early in her career, her boss told her that if she failed, shewouldn’t get her old job back and that shewould be “done” with the company. “He thought I was too young and that I wasn’t going to be successful in sales,” she says. “But I gave it a try and I did it! Looking back, I learned a lot. Not only amI super thankful for the opportunity in sales and the introduction into the industry, but I’malso grateful, now that I haveOutstanding Branding, to have learned hownot to treat my employees and what things I don’t want to do.” Before Tarnopolski discovered the promo industry, she thought she’d eventually become an accountant. “When I went to college, I majored inbusiness administrationwith a minor in accounting. I had graduated, but I was still waitressingwhen I sawan ad for a bookkeeping position at an embroidery company. I thought, ‘Perfect!’” she says. “I startedworking there, and after about three months, I realized I strongly disliked it. I didn’t like thework I was doing and that I was working bymyself a lot.” Tarnopolski decided to put inher twoweeks’ notice and return to waitressing until she found something else. But when she told a customer that shewas leaving, Tarnopolski was given a life-changing opportunity. “The customer toldme that her employer was looking for a customer service representative (CSR) and that I should apply. I didn’t knowanything about the company or industry, but I jumped at the chance. I applied, I got the job and I was hired on as aCSRwith a promotional products company.” As Tarnopolski learnedmore about the industry, shewas in awe. “Thewomanwho had toldme about theCSR jobwas in sales, and after a year and a half as aCSR, I wanted to dowhat shewas doing,” she says. “Shewas so happy andpassionate, and I already loved the industry, so I wanted to give it a try.” A year after she started in sales, Tarnopolskimoved on to continue advancing her career, andwhen shemoved fromone distributor to the next, her customerswould follow. “In themiddle of this, I was having kids too, so it was extremely difficult because I wanted to takematernity leave and inCanada, we get 12months,” she says. “Withmy first child, I only took seven months’ leave andmy husband took the last five because the personwhowas taking care ofmy accounts left. I wanted tomake sure my customerswere taken care of so I could continue to grow.” Tarnopolski decided shewouldhave to move companies again to ensure someone could “babysit” her accountswhile on maternity leavewithher second child, she says. “As important asmy career is tome, my Jennifer Tarnopolski’s first boss in the promo industry taught her a valuable lesson—exactly how not to treat employees. As president of Canadian distributor Outstanding Branding, Inc., Tarnopolski keeps the office full of laughter and maintains company culture as a top priority while the team works to serve and educate their clients in all things promo. Exceeding Expectations by Kristina Valdez Tarnopolski with her husband Dave and their three sons, (from left) Cruze, Logan and Brady. 62 | AUGUST 2021 | THINK