and made-in-the-USA offerings, while more than 400 items were showcased in the New Product Pavilion. “When the promo world gathers at The PPAI Expo, great things happen,” Taschereau said. “Ideas ignite, partnerships form, and the year ahead gets its wings.” For PPAI, the trade floor remains more than a marketplace. “The PPAI Expo is where our community reconnects and recalibrates,” said Ellen Tucker, MAS, CAE, chief experience and revenue officer for PPAI. “This is the place where relationships are renewed, new voices are welcomed, and companies begin setting the course for success in the year ahead. There’s power in having that shared starting point, and it’s something you can feel the moment the doors open.” ● Learning Leads The Way Long before the show floor buzz reached full volume, education was already drawing packed rooms. As early as 7:30 a.m. on Expo Monday, attendees filled seats for sessions designed to jump-start both mindset and momentum. Throughout The PPAI Expo Conference, demand for education ran so high that some sessions reached capacity, forcing PPAI staff to redirect attendees to other programming happening simultaneously. Keynote speakers leaned into creativity, humanity and connection as drivers of growth in an increasingly automated world. Abigail Posner, former director of creative works at Google, reminded promo professionals that physical products remain deeply tied to human experience. Later, Leo Chan, chief innovation ignitor at Innovation Abound, turned a sold-out ballroom into an interactive workshop, using LEGOs to reinforce the power of experimentation and collaboration. That emphasis on authenticity carried into Tuesday morning, when Daniel Lewis – known as “Human Caffeine” – took the stage just before the show floor opened, challenging attendees to lead with personality rather than performance. “When you become what you do, you lose yourself,” Lewis said. “When you show up as yourself, you stand out. You thrive.” Together, the sessions underscored a clear message: Education at The PPAI Expo is no longer supplemental. It’s foundational. ● Innovation On Display Innovation took center stage once again with the return of The Pitch, promo’s hybrid of Shark Tank and The Voice. PPAI • MARCH 2026 • 47 Best Of The 2026 PPAI Expo | Must Read
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==