Distributors

The Creative J (PPAI 276178)—Rachel Valdez, CAS, sales

Elevate Brand Marketing (PPAI 409232)—Katie Fagan, manager, creative services

Regional Associations

The Promotional Products Association of Wisconsin (PPAW)—Elizabeth Boothby, executive director

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY)—Donna-Jean Plante, executive director

Suppliers

AAkron (PPAI 111082)—Charles Cochran, Southeast regional sales manager, and Mike Zingale, promoted to strategic accounts manager

Chameleon like, Inc. (PPAI 209189)—Jasmine Ventura, promoted to national account executive for key and national accounts

Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant (PPAI 111662)—Ryan Schafman, Midwest regional sales manager

Goldstar (PPAI 114031)—Alicia Dierking, southwestern regional sales manager

Mike Brothers Emblematic Solutions (PPAI 342444)—Kurt and Kyle McGovern of McGovern Marketing Group, Inc. to represent the company in the Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio

In Memoriam: Bob Cornell

Robert G. (Bob) Cornell, founder of industry supplier Cornell Concepts, passed away on February 20. He was 83.

Cornell founded Cornell Concepts in the early 1970s, and designed and produced molded plastic products for the promotional products industry. While Cornell had retired several years ago, his wife, Dale Johnson Cornell, remains active in the industry and heads the multi-line rep firm Dale B. Johnson Associates (PPAI 110660).

Alongside his work in the industry, Cornell had a number of hobbies, including music, the outdoors and architecture. He designed and built more than 40 homes, and renovated a number of others.

Cornell is survived by his wife; his children: daughter Karen White and her husband, Greg; daughter Nancy Mussi; and son, Stephen; his brother, David, and his wife, Joann; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held for Cornell at St. John’s The Evangelist Episcopal Church in Duxbury, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cornell’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.

In Memoriam: Nicholas G. Len

Nicholas G. Len, the former president of Allentown, Pennsylvania, distributor Waitz Corporation (PPAI 109387), passed away on January 31. He was 66.

Len worked for the company’s founder, Jack Waitz, from 1973 to 1988, when he and Glenn Wampole purchased the distributor. Len became president of the new corporation.

In a statement, Waitz said: “Under his leadership, Waitz Corporation grew to become a leader in both the promotional products industry and the awards and nameplate industries. His knowledge and experience will be greatly missed, but more so we will miss him personally in our everyday lives.”

Len is survived by his wife, Connie, and his two children, Daniel and Kristy.