Snapshots (7)

Accolades, Inc. Receives Jackie Robinson Award

Distributor Accolades, Inc. was presented with the Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner Award from the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball during a pre-game ceremony on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day, at Atlanta’s Turner Field. Daryll Griffin, MAS, founder and CEO of the Norcross, Georgia, company accepted the award on behalf of her team. Accolades, Inc. is the only promotional products marketing firm ever to receive this award, which annually recognizes diversity partners for the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball organizations

Accolades CEO and Founder Daryll Griffin, MAS (right) poses for a photo with former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, who were attending the Jackie Robinson Day festivities.

Bankers Advertising Company Hosts National Sales Meeting

In April, distributor Bankers Advertising Company brought its sales partners and supplier representatives together for the Iowa City, Iowa, company’s 2016 Gathering of the Stars National Sales Meeting at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. The themed event, “Pathway to Success,” featured a reception and dinner recognizing sales partners for their sales and career achievements, education sessions, a trade show with more than 30 exhibiting suppliers and a factory tour hosted by BAG MAKERS, Inc.

David Bywater, MAS, CEO of Bankers Advertising (left) and Erica Kelley-Gogel, CAS, the distributor’s vice president of sales, present Tim Chamberlain with the Sales Person of the Year Award at a reception and dinner at the National Sales Meeting.

Proforma Inducts 32 Members Into Its Million And Multi-Million Dollar Clubs

Proforma inducted 32 owners into the distributor’s Million and Multi-Million Dollar Clubs at its annual Million Dollar Club celebration trip, held at the PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on March 31. More than 300 Proforma owners, industry suppliers and Proforma Support Center team members gathered to network, build relationships and celebrate the sales year.

Proforma’s Million Dollar Club includes more than 150 members. At its annual trip, the distributor welcomed nine first-time Million Dollar Club members, 18 first-time Multi-Million Dollar Club members, two Five Million Dollar Club members and three 10 Million Dollar Club members to the group.

CustomInk Hosts Facility Visit

Fairfax, Virginia-based distributor CustomInk held its “Texas With a T” event at its Flower Mound, Texas, facility in April. The two-day event brought in local media as well as clients for tours and to learn more about the 17-year-old company that specializes in screen-printed apparel, primarily t-shirts, that are designed and sold online. The company opened the North Texas facility in 2014. During their visit, PPB Editor Tina Berres Filipski and Associate Editor Jen Alexander saw CustomInk’s decorating process from start (receiving blank shirts) to finish (drying the ink and adding a hang tag). They also received hands-on instruction in screen printing a tee for themselves to take home.

PPB’s Associate Editor Jen Alexander (far left) and Editor Tina Berres Filipski (second from right) met with CustomInk representatives Amanda Hanlon, director of merchandising; Lyn Famiglietti, public relations manager; and Amber Walck, associate production floor manager during a tour of the distributor’s Texas facility in April.

PPAI’s Bob McLean Travels To India With The IAEE

In April PPAI Executive Vice President Bob McLean traveled to India with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), an organization representing the interests of trade show and exposition managers, where he serves on the board of directors. In India, McLean attended a board meeting and a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Expositions (MICE) conference in Hyderabad. He also taught a class on budgets, finance and contracts to local trade show and expositions professionals who were seeking their Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation.

McLean was the final instructor for the CEM students seeking their designation. Their graduation was celebrated at the MICE conference.

McLean (back row, center) joins his fellow IAEE board members on stage. All took part in speaking at the event and moderating the conference’s education sessions.

PPAI Donates More Than 10,000 Pounds Of Food For Irving Cares

In April, PPAI staff donated time, money and food to assist local food pantry Irving Cares, a United Way agency dedicated to providing Irving residents with temporary assistance and training to promote self-sufficiency. The Association has supported Irving Cares since 2003 and in that time has donated more than 41,000 pounds of goods to benefit hungry families in the community. This year, PPAI employees contributed 10,154 pounds of food and more than $500 in cash to Irving Cares. Staff also donated more than 60 hours of work to support Irving Cares. PPAI’s headquarters has been located in Irving, Texas, since 1979.

The PPAI staff’s 2016 donation of 10,154 pounds of food represents 5,873 pounds more than last year and 4,558 pounds more than the Association’s biggest collection year, 2010.

As part of the Association’s efforts to support the charity, 21 PPAI employees volunteered to spend an afternoon unloading and shelving food, preparing donations for delivery and completing other tasks for Irving Cares.

To support their volunteer work, the Association offered each participating employee four hours of company time to donate to Irving Cares’ needs.