Must Read | PPAI’s 2024 Women of Achievement Smith has served as chair of Albuquerque’s Foster Grandparent Program and founded the Women of Worth organization, which equips women who are homeless or near homeless with life skills and education. She currently volunteers with Noonday Ministries and is the Blue Hat team leader for the New Mexico Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. And, if that’s not enough, she rescues unsheltered animals, including a horse named Miracle who currently resides on her ranch. “She has clearly demonstrated sustained leadership and advocacy for women, and she has served with hand and heart in a humanitarian way to her community and our industry,” says nominator Daryll Griffin, MAS, president of Georgia-based distributor Accolades and the 2019 recipient of the PPAI Woman of Achievement Award. Living Up To Her Name Fellow nominator and PPAI Hall of Fame member Mary Ellen Sokalski, MAS, credits Smith with being a “passionate founding task force member” of the first WLC. “If you know Joy, you immediately smile when you hear her name,” Sokalski says. “She helps everyone – not just when you ask, but because she wants to make you better because she loves to see people grow. But she views that as a good use of one of her capable hands. The other helps the needy in her community in so many ways that it’s a wonder that she has time for business and providing amazing solutions for her clients.” Bottom line, says Sokalski, Smith supports and leads everyone. “Her mentoring of fellow distributors – even competitors – sales representatives, customer service team members and supplier partners is legendary,” she adds. “She goes out of her way to teach and lead everyone by example at national trade shows, PPAI conferences, educational sessions and in one-on-one in-person and phone sessions.” Ultimately, Smith is a people person. She’s had some clients for 30 years and is now working with the grandchildren of others. The message on her company’s website – “It’s our business to promote your business” – is more than just a tagline. It’s been her philosophy throughout her entire career in promo. “When I help a client create something to promote their business and it’s successful,” Smith says, “it’s thrilling when I get that phone call and they say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is what happened!’” Corrigan is a news editor at PPAI. 40 • JULY 2024 • PPAI
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==