At the conclusion of The PPAI Expo 2020 on January 16, Ira Neaman, CAS, founder and president of Avenel, New Jersey, supplier Vantage Apparel, will begin his one-year term as chair of the PPAI Board of Directors.

Neaman graduated from Syracuse University in 1974 and earned his Master of Business Administration from Harvard in 1976. He founded Vantage in 1977.

He has been an active volunteer in the promotional products industry for more than 40 years. Neaman has served on several PPAI volunteer committees, including the Leadership Advisory Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Marketing and Research Committee, as well as the Promotional Products Education Foundation Board and several industry task forces. In 2002, he became the inaugural recipient of the PPAI Education Lifetime Achievement Award, and Counselor magazine named him its Person of the Year in 2003 and has included him in its Power 50 list since 2008.

“Being a volunteer is about learning while doing something you enjoy,” says Neaman. “PPAI offers many opportunities to those with all kinds of interests and skills. Some of my best friendships have come from being a volunteer on committees that have interested me. PPAI does a great job at fostering relationships that will last for a lifetime.”

Neaman was appointed to the PPAI Board by then-chair Dale Denham, MAS+, in July 2018 to fill a vacant board seat. In assuming chairmanship, he says that his priorities for the year ahead are to work with the board and staff to develop a strong strategic plan and encourage thought leaders to participate in the evolution of the business.

He adds, “I look forward to developing new friendships and working with a smart and dedicated group of staff and volunteers, all who wish to advance the goals of the industry.”

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James Khattak is news editor of PPB.