Community | Inside PPAI same event as the regional volunteers. Many young promo professionals are not aware of the impact they can make at the regional level and the way it can shape their careers. “We’re so happy with the evolution of LDC into an event that can equip our industry’s emerging leaders with tools to push promo forward while also being a place for our regional association volunteers to come together purposefully,” says Lindsey Davis, MAS, PPAI’s director of sales and professional development. “Putting all of these people in the same rooms is so valuable, and we want to give them great reasons to converge.” LDC’s education programming began on its first full day with public speaker and life coach Kelly Merbler, who delivered a keynote session on “Leading The Way, Building Leadership That Draws Teams To Excellence.” “The hardest person to lead is yourself,” Merbler told the audience, many of whom rely on volunteer efforts from themselves and others. “The second hardest is volunteers.” Merbler also reminded the room how important their work is to people outside of their industry. “My business would not be where it is today if it were not for promotional products.” Throughout LDC, panels and conversations among regional volunteers often circled back to topics such as trade shows, events, obstacles, ideas, shared practices and the tips that keep associations thriving. “Even though it’s not about money, it has to be about money. The financial goals of an association in order to be able to sustain itself are very, very important,” said Steven Lazarus, MAS, member of PPAI’s regional relations board and vice president of sales and marketing at Promotional Breeze, during a panel about board processes and procedures. LDC’s first full day culminated with a dinner on the Westin Dallas lawn that included official recognition and awards. PPAI Media Publisher and Editor-inChief Josh Ellis formally announced the 2024 PPAI Rising Stars, together for the first time since being selected. “Chosen not just for their talent, but for their ability to inspire and lead, these individuals represent the future of promotional products,” said Ellis. The night concluded with the 2024 PPAI Regional Volunteer Award, which went to Lisa Parker, MAS, Southeast sales manager at American Ad Bag, for demonstrating dedication and leadership through her volunteer work with various PPAI volunteer committees during her 25-year career. From its initial planning stages, LDC was designed to be a conference that would require more than passive involvement from its young leaders. Beyond just planned speakers, the emerging leader track included team building exercises and rotating roundtables with mentors from specific departments within promo. Each emerging leader was assigned an “accountability partner,” so they all walk away from LDC with at least one influential industry contact who they can reach to make sure they have what they need to work toward their goals. Alavez, Gammon Approved For PPAI Board Of Directors; Association Names Its 2025 Board Officers Kate Alavez, president of PromoShop – the No. 29 distributor on the PPAI 100 – and Mark Gammon, CEO of Cap America – the No. 18 supplier on the PPAI 100 – are set to become the newest members of the PPAI Board of Directors after being elected in a week-long voting process. The two industry professionals will begin their tenure at the close of The PPAI Expo 2025 in January. Alavez and Gammon’s terms will continue until 2029 and will replace the expiring terms of Karie Cowden, MAS, founder and president of Connect the Dots Promotions, and Kevin Walsh, CAS, president of Showdown Displays. “It’s with great excitement that I welcome our newly elected board members, Kate and Mark,” says Andrew Spellman, CAS, chair of the PPAI Board of Directors and vice president of corporate markets at Los Angeles-based supplier Therabody. “Their combined passion, experience and forward thinking will be key in taking us to new heights. I’m confident that their fresh perspectives will enrich the PPAI Board’s strategic direction, ensuring the continued growth and success of the Association.” The two new PPAI Board members will join Dan Pantano of supplier alphabroder, Chris Anderson of supplier HPG, Denise Taschereau of distributor Fairware, Kara Keister, MAS, of distributor Social Good Promotions, Danny Rosin, CAS, of distributor Brand Fuel, Lori Bauer of distributor iPROMOTEu, Erin Reilly of supplier Pop! Promos, Zack Ottenstein of distributor The Image Group and current board chair Spellman. In January, Spellman will move to the position of immediate past chair, with Taschereau assuming the role of board chair and Rosin becoming the incoming chair. Ottenstein will take the role of vice chair, finance services. Kate Alavez Mark Gammon 76 • NOVEMBER 2024 • PPAI
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