This is the 11th installment in a year-long series of department profiles to help readers learn more about the PPAI staff members who serve them.

The Marketing Department, which includes the Association’s research division, acts primarily as an internal marketing agency developing and implementing marketing plans and strategies for the products and services of the various internal departments. The research division of marketing does “internal” research to assist with PPAI’s marketing initiatives and “external” research designed to help the PPAI members. The public relations department exists chiefly to increase the awareness and use of promotional products. It does so through outreach to buyer audiences. PR uses a multichannel approach to accomplish its goals, including media relations, social media, direct mail, end-buyer show participation and the production of research-based tools that distributors and suppliers can use to ultimately reach buyers.

Amy Bramhall
Marketing Manager
“In my spare time, I like to read, play with other people’s dogs and collect shoes. I know approximately 15 dogs at my apartment complex and maybe five people.”

Gage Chariton
Senior Manager, Marketing
“I am an eighth-generation Texan.”

Dara Cormany
Marketing Coordinator
“I used to work for Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a student athletic trainer. I worked with the wide receivers and quarterbacks, giving them water and helping with rehab set by staff athletic trainers. I was lucky enough to attend three bowl games with SMU and have two bowl rings to show for it. I also had the pleasure of meeting George W. Bush when he would attend football practice and games. My favorite trip was going to the Hawaii Bowl and beating Fresno State, 43-10. It’s fun to watch reruns of the game and find myself on the sideline or on the field. Now, I enjoy watching the players who went pro after SMU.”

Gretchen Demke
Creative Services Manager
“I enjoy seeking out creativity in unexpected places, like water meter covers, hooptie automobiles and street sign sticker collages. Carrots may be my kryptonite, but beignets are my spirit treat.”

Sarah Dodd
Marketing Manager 
“I have a passion for colorful and odd socks. Narwhals dancing, taco dinosaurs and RBG partying hard are my favorites right now. That is all you get from me. I’m not interesting unless you can see my chaotic watching lists on Netflix. My life’s goal is to be so random in my watching that a screen will show up saying ‘We give up making suggestions. You do you, boo.’”

Marco Valdez
Copywriter
“My friends and family still don’t understand what I do for a living.” 

Cedrique Flemming
Public Relations/MarCom Coordinator
“I worked in college athletics for 15 years and have volunteered at 35 NCAA Championship events.”

Kim R. Todora
PPAI Communications and Branding Strategist
“In first grade, I was voted the Queen of Smiles by the Dallas Independent School District and got to meet Jerry Haynes, also known as Mr. Peppermint.”

Ashley Treadway
Graphic Designer
“I like pulp fiction novels. I recently discovered a passion for rock climbing. In college, I took a whole cartography course just to design better Dungeons & Dragons maps.”

Keith Vincent
Marketing Director
“The three S’s I live by: Saints, sailing and sushi!”

Joel Zoch
Videographer
“In my spare time, I make loud psychedelic techno music for my five-year-old to dance to.”

Nolan Moran
Graphic Designer
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious. I love reading and I am currently reading a book about anti-gravity; it is impossible to put down. Finally, as a audiophile, I listen to a lot of bands, and I am currently listening to a new band called 1023 MB. They’re good but they haven’t got a gig yet.” [Editor’s Note: Nolan enjoys dad “jokes.”]

Mo Das
Research Director
“The Office, Season 6, Episode 25, 08:30” 

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James Khattak is news editor of PPB.