From PPAI Denise Taschereau Chair of the Board 07.25 What encouraged me most was the sense of alignment. There’s real momentum right now, across borders and through many languages, that we’re in this together. We must keep building on it. Planning For Purpose THE PACKED SUMMER TRAVEL SCHEDULE for our industry is in full swing, and I’m already racking up airline miles (but offsetting them, of course). From my homebase in Vancouver to PPAI’s successful North American Leadership Conference in Chicago, then on to Brussels for PPAI’s first-ever International Leadership Summit, it was a truly special trip. These events gave me more hope than ever for the global appeal of our medium and our chances of making merch’s moment permanent. I’m still thinking about the people I met, the conversations we had and the sense of possibility that filled those rooms. In Brussels, a small North American contingent met more than 50 leaders from across Europe, each of us bringing our own perspectives but sharing a common goal: to strengthen and grow the promotional products industry. Credit to the PPAI staff and European Association Cooperative for bringing the event together, to speakers and everyone who traveled to be part of it. We helped lay the foundation for something important. It quickly became clear that, no matter where we’re based, many of us are facing similar challenges. We talked about the need to build stronger, more sustainable talent pipelines. We shared ideas on how to better connect with a new generation of marketers who may not yet understand the strategic power of branded merch. And we discussed the opportunity – and responsibility – we have to position promotional products as a thoughtful, creative part of the marketing mix, not just an afterthought. What encouraged me most was the sense of alignment. There’s real momentum right now, across borders and through many languages, that we’re in this together. We must keep building on it. There’s so much potential to share best practices around the world, to collaborate on research, to improve sustainability and sourcing efforts, and to better understand our collective impact. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel in isolation. We can learn from each other and grow faster together. That kind of long-term thinking is exactly what’s guiding PPAI’s next step. This fall, your Board is launching a new five-year strategic planning process. I expect that deepening PPAI’s international entrenchment will be an important part of the discussion. But in the broadest sense, this is a chance to chart a course for the Association and the global industry into the next decade. Your voice is a big part of that. We’ll be reaching out to members, committees, staff and stakeholders across the industry to hear what matters most to you. And this summer, you’ll see a survey in your inbox. When you do, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your thoughts. This process is only as strong as the input behind it, and your perspective truly makes a difference. If the Brussels gathering reminded me of anything, it’s that we’re at our best when we work together, overcoming our differences to relate. The work ahead is big. But I believe we’re ready for it. Let’s keep moving forward with purpose, and together. 4 • JULY 2025 • PPAI
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