Mandi Rudd Honored With PPAI Regional Volunteer Award Mandi Rudd, director of new markets at Genumark (PPAI 61066, StandardPlus), PPAI 100’s No. 47 distributor, was named recipient of the 2025 PPAI Regional Volunteer Award and recognized during the PPAI Leadership Development Conference in October. The honor is given annually to regional association members who demonstrate an outstanding level of volunteerism or leadership, or who have made other significant and measurable contributions to one or more regional associations. Outside of her role at Genumark, Rudd has been heavily involved in Promotional Products Association Midwest for the past seven years, including serving as president in 2022. In addition to serving on PPAMidwest’s events committee and marketing committee, Rudd is the chair of the association’s “Social in KC” event. “Mandi Rudd has been instrumental in the success of our regional association,” says Dennis Oglesby, MAS, category director of promotional products at GO2 Partners, PPAI 100’s No. 30 distributor. Oglesby, immediate past president of PPAMidwest, nominated Rudd for the award. “She utilizes her extensive contact network to secure event spaces at reduced costs to benefit the association regularly,” he added. “She engages directly with membership and provides guidance and suggestions to those new to the industry. Simultaneously, she has encouraged increased participation in the association for both supplier and distributor members.” Rudd, a 12-year industry veteran, also serves on the PromoCares board, managing philanthropic initiatives such as significant donations to animal shelters and foster care programs. PPAI Hosts EPR Compliance Webinar Are you ready to report your company’s packaging data? As more states enact extended producer responsibility laws regulating packaging like boxes and polybags, it’s time to get to know how this issue could affect your company. On Monday, Nov. 10, PPAI hosted a live, info-packed session designed to help you understand how this issue could affect your promo business, what your obligations may be and what you can do to prepare and achieve compliance. • Multiple state deadlines to register and report have already passed, with more coming soon. • PPAI has also produced a white paper detailing current state packaging EPR laws with input from leading sustainability compliance law firm Taft. Elizabeth Wimbush, PPAI’s director of sustainability and responsibility, hosted the webinar, along with Public Affairs Manager Rachel Zoch. Ammi Borenstein, founder and CEO of Snaplinc Consulting, which helps companies navigate regulatory requirements and achieve ESG and sustainability goals, presented a summary of the state laws in place and explored promo-specific scenarios to illustrate how these regulations may apply in our industry. “These state-level laws are real, they’re multiplying like packing peanuts in a gust of wind, and they’re going to affect both suppliers and distributors,” Wimbush said. Watch the webinar at https://www.ppai.org/media-hub/ sign-up-ppai-to-host-epr-compliance-webinar-nov-10/. PPAI • DECEMBER 2025 • 75 Inside PPAI | Community
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