Distributors

Geiger (UPIC: Geiger)—Julia Wright, MAS+, independent sales partner

Zagwear (UPIC: ZAGW0001)—Jamie Cohen, sales director for the mid-Atlantic region

Industry Organizations

PromoKitchen (UPIC: P652237)—Robert Fiveash, promoted to president

Quality Certification Alliance—Juli Sinnett, consultant to the QCA Distributor Advocacy Council

Regional Association

Promotional Products Association of Wisconsin—Jennifer Johnson, executive director

Suppliers

Alpi International (UPIC: ALPI0002)—Mike Williams, sales

Custom Crest (UPIC: customcr)—Lewie Hunt, MAS, director of sales

ERB Industries, Inc. (UPIC: erbind)—Westin Moe, inside sales representative

Gemline (UPIC: GEMLINE)—Suzanne Simpson, regional manager for Canada

High Caliber Line (UPIC: HCL)—Daniel Sachs and Dawn Kovar of West Coast Branded Solutions will represent the company in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington

HotLine Products (UPIC: HOYL0001)—Jon Hicks, promoted to vice president of sales, and Joann Schafer, promoted to customer service manager

Hub Pen Company (UPIC: HUBPEN)—Timothy Fox, inside sales representative for the Southwest

iClick (UPIC: IClic342)—Melinda Marr, regional sales manager for the Midwest territory, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin; and Cynthia Troiani, regional sales manager for the South territory, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas

IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown Products (UPIC: CROWNPRO) and Vitronic (UPIC: ACHIEVER)—Dana Zezzo, CAS, vice president of sales

National Gift Card Corp. (UPIC: ngcgroup)—Rick Rubin, promoted to executive vice president, sales

Outdoor Cap Company (UPIC: OUTD1200)—Michael Kogutt, MAS, director of sales–promotional products

Polyconcept North America—Brittany Smith, field sales manager in the South Texas and Louisiana territories

Spector & Co. (UPIC: SPEC0038)—Maria Kokosoulis, account manager for the Midwest territory, and Jennifer Young, promoted to account manager for Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia

Stahls’ (UPIC: STAH0001)—Steve Bobowski, vice president of sales

PPAI’s Anne Stone Named To ICPHSO Board

The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) has elected PPAI Public Affairs Director Anne Stone to its board of directors for a three-year term. Stone’s appointment was announced at the organization’s Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in Washington, D.C. on February 29.

“Anne’s selection to the ICPHSO board is significant and a testament to her personal commitment to product responsibility and safety,” says PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE. “Anne and the public affairs team at PPAI recognize the importance of not only growing and but protecting the brands that use promotional products in the marketing programs. As a board member she will not only share ideas and information with like-minded colleagues in many industries but she will also represent PPAI’s commitment to safety and responsibility to the broader community.”

ICPHSO represents a global membership of health and safety professionals and meets annually to exchange ideas, share information, and address health and safety concerns affecting all consumers. Its board determines basic policies, sets goals and objectives, elects officers and approves the budget in accordance with the bylaws of the organization.

In Memoriam: Thomas S. Kennerly III

Thomas S. Kennerly, III, a national accounts manager with industry business services provider Customer Focus, passed away on January 29 at his home in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He was 54.

“Tom was well known for his charisma, sense of humor and passion for acting and films, and during his time with Customer Focus, his dedication and commitment quickly became an integral part of our recent success and growth,” says Martin Varley, Customer Focus CEO. “We were last together for The PPAI Expo at Las Vegas and I was inspired by his enthusiasm for our products and his determination to deliver on the many opportunities he uncovered. This is truly a great loss to Customer Focus and to our industry as a whole. He will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives he touched.”

Kennerly had been with Customer Focus since August 2015. He was a graduate of Penn State Harrisburg and Northern Illinois University, where he earned his MBA. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Kennerly appeared as an extra in three movies while living in California, and back home in Pennsylvania he wrote and directed two films. He also wrote and published a book, How To Make $1,000,000 In Sales Your First Year.

Born in Philadelphia to Thomas and Edith (Epple) Kennerly, Jr., he is survived by his brothers David and Mark, and sister Karine Lewis. He is the uncle of Drew, Payton, Jackson, Tyler and Zoe.

A memorial service was held February 6 at West Shore Baptist Church in Camp Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to West Shore Baptist Church.

In Memoriam: Edward Otterstrom

Long-time industry sales professional Edward “Ned” Otterstrom passed away on January 11 in Sarasota, Florida after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.

Otterstrom’s history in the promotional products industry working in sales and sales management includes time with Cooke Bates/Liter Line, Hit Promotional Products and Bebco.

He is survived by his brother Pete and wife Nancy; his nieces Peri and her husband Henry, and Kristi and her husband Scott; nephew Ryan; two grandnieces and a grandnephew.