Kara Keister, MAS, who holds the title of “Promise Keeper” at her Ohio-based distributorship Social Good Promotions (PPAI 758284, D1), has been appointed as the Regional Relations Committee (RRC) delegate to the PPAI Board of Directors.

Keister began her career in promotional products 12 years ago in distributor sales, working at City Apparel for over eight years as a corporate image and sales consultant. “My role allowed me to use my marketing background and love of all things brand to become a top-level salesperson within the company and eventually birth and grow Social Good Promotions,” Keister says.

Keister will replace Lindsey Davis, MAS, who filled the position from January 2021 until joining PPAI’s staff as the Association’s Promotional Products Work manager in July. Keister will fill Davis’ unexpired term, set to conclude in January 2023.

“I am so happy to hear Kara will be joining the PPAI Board as the RRC Delegate,” Davis says of her successor. “In my time working with her I’ve always been impressed by her passion for all that she does, her brilliant mind and her drive to make great things happen.”

Keister’s predecessor in the regional delegate role, Davis came from the supplier side of the industry, having worked in promotional sales at Raining Rose, but the new RRC Delegate brings a small business perspective to the board.

Social Good Promotions does not operate at the scale of the industry’s largest distributors, but as its name implies, the company puts a priority on direct community investment, financial contributions to the causes its employees believe in and increased supply chain transparency. The company’s ideal clients “are in search of greater meaning for the dollars they spend and non-profits wanting to better communicate the value they present to their communities,” it says on its website.

“Kara’s experience and passion for the regional community will be very valuable to the PPAI Board of Directors,” says Dawn Olds, MAS, PPAI board chair and senior vice president of industry relations and DEI at HALO. “I sincerely appreciate her willingness to serve the industry at a broader level and am looking forward to working with her."

Social Good Promotions has received PPAI Silver Pyramid Awards in the Social Responsibility Program category and Digital Self-Promotion category. Keister was named to the PPAI Rising Stars list in 2021.

“I have survived injuries, breast cancer and mental hurdles, all while advancing my career and building a successful small business,” Keister says. “I attribute that survival to my tribe, my amazing support system and my work ethic.”

As the new RRC delegate, Keister will bring the PPAI Board of Directors the perspective of a young company, a small business and a CSR-focused organization; all of which make up a large and growing number of companies PPAI is built to serve.

“My passion is for education, advocacy and volunteerism for the promotional products industry and organizations close to my heart like the Special Olympics, local schools and leadership programs for youth.

“Volunteerism is in my blood. I’ve been volunteering in various capacities most of my life, and when the opportunity came for me to serve at the regional board level, I jumped at it…. Moving through the Regional Association Council and participating in the formation of the Regional Relations Committee has further solidified my love for the industry and its members, and I look forward to continuing to serve.”  

Also this week, voting for the PPAI Board of Directors election slate continues. Nominated for terms to begin in January 2023 and expire in 2027 are Dan Pantano of alphabroder|Prime Line and Joshua White of BAMKO. Voting ends September 6.