In April, PPAI welcomed Pat Patton, CAS, to its staff as distributor engagement manager. He comes to the Association from The Vernon Company, where he served as the distributor’s national recruiting manager.

In his new role, Patton will be responsible for engaging with the Association’s largest distributor members, work to enhance their relationships with PPAI and develop the next generation of its distributor engagement program.

Patton spent more than three years at The Vernon Company, joining the distributor at first as its Eastern region sales manager. Prior to the promotional products industry, he spent time at the Penn State Alumni Association and at Reinhardt University, working in fundraising, and started his career in marketing and sales.

“I have really enjoyed my time in the promo industry and PPAI does so much for the industry, so I was really excited about coming in with an opportunity to continue to learn and work with the best,” Patton says. “In particular, the distributor engagement manager position will allow us to continue to foster and grow relationships with the distributors and support them.”

First up for Patton is one of the Association’s newest initiatives. He says, “My initial objectives will be to help launch the Promotional Products Work Expo and to engage distributors to find out how PPAI can continue to assist them and help them grow.”

When not helping industry distributors make the most of their relationships with PPAI, Patton is focusing on family, enjoying sports as both as a participant and a fan, and other pursuits.

“I love to spend time and travel with my kids, Sam, 8, and Nora, 3,” Patton says. “And I enjoy getting back down to Georgia to spend time with my parents and family there, too. I’m also a big sports fan and I’m a massive fan of University of Georgia football and basketball, and Duke basketball. I am an avid golfer and have been playing since I was 3.