Inside PPAI
By: Staff
Issue: 2008aug

PPAI Publications, Products Awarded For Excellence
PPAI was recognized this past spring for excellence in communication by the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) in the category of advertisements—single piece for a full-page advertisement created for use during Advertising Week, the annual celebration of the advertising community.

As a member of the organizing committee for the event, PPAI had the opportunity to include the ad in the event guide that was distributed to all attendees, and polybagged with AdWeek, Advertising Age, BrandWeek and more. PPAI used this opportunity to create an ad that addressed the unique properties of promotional products—the only advertising medium capable of engaging all five senses and utilizing PPAI’s end-buyer message: “Come to your senses, experience the power of promotional products.”

Additionally, PPAI’s flagship magazine, PPB, was named the winner in the magazine editorial category for the Chairman’s Letter, ‘What a Fine Bunch of White Folks’ by Paul Kiewiet, MAS, CIP, PPAI Chairman of the Board, in the September 2007 edition. In this editorial, Kiewiet challenged members to promote and encourage diversity in our industry and embrace cultural, racial, religious, lifestyle and value differences to more effectively connect in a networked world.

“In a year with a record-breaking number of entries, it was more difficult than ever to win an award, but you did,” says Amy E. Lestition, SNAP executive director. “PPAI’s submissions displayed superior quality and are truly the best and brightest in the association community.” Both awards were presented at SNAP’s 28th EXCEL Awards Gala on June 10 in Washington, D.C.



PPEF, PPMN Award Professional Development Grants
Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) and Promotional Professionals Mentoring Network (PPMN) announced the recipients of the PPMN-PPEF 2008 Professional Development Grants in May.

Working together, PPMN and PPEF hope to further their educational missions and strengthen the promotional products industry. The grant may be used for tuition, housing and round-trip travel and recipients are given up to 24 months to use the grant. The recipients are:

• Donna Bender, The Donna Bender Company (UPIC: DONNACO);
Women’s Leadership Conference
• Diane Sakowicz, Service With A Smile, Inc. (UPIC: SERVICE);
Presidents’ Forum
• Mike Schenker, MAS, Catalina Bay USA (UPIC: CATALINA);
Presidents’ Forum
• Frances H. Silverman, MAS, Leed’s (UPIC: LEEDS); Women’s Leadership Conference

In addition, PPEF awarded Professional Development Grants to the following industry professionals desiring to learn and grow in their fields. The grant may be used for tuition, housing and round-trip travel and recipients are given up to 24 months to use the grant. Recipients are:

• Lori Dobrez, Lawrence, Gemline (UPIC: GEMLINE); Women’s Leadership Conference



• Tonia Tersigni Ho, The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon); PPAI Education



• Andrew Nisenshal, Jazz It Up (UPIC: jazzitup); Promotional Consultant Academy & Learning Lab



• Christine Valento, The Webb Company (UPIC: WEBBCO);
PPAI Education



To learn more about applying for the 2009 Professional Development Grants, log on to www.ppef.us, and click on the application forms. The application deadline for 2009 is March 15, 2009. Please direct questions to Sara Besly at SaraB@ppai.org. Applicants for the PPMN-PPEF grants must be PPMN members. For information about joining PPMN, go to www.ppmn.com. To become a PPEF donor, visit www.ppef.us.

Check Out The PPAI 2007 Annual Report Online
PPAI published its 2007 Annual Report online so you can learn more about the programs, products and services delivered to PPAI members in 2007, all designed to enhance professional development and business growth.

“It’s a challenge to single out only one key accomplishment in 2007 that means the most to the Association and industry from among so many initiatives,” says Steve Slagle, PPAI president and CEO. “However, I think our Board and staff should be very proud that mid-year we decided that the Association should provide leadership on the critical issue of product safety and responsibility.

“By forming the Global Strategy Council in June, we were able to deliver some extremely valuable educational resources to our members by January. They were the first steps in what promises to be a prolonged effort by PPAI to help its members understand the issues and develop strategies to prevent or minimize the prospect of delivering responsibly manufactured products to our end-buyer clients. This issue may be the single most important challenge facing our industry today, and we’re committed to doing all we can to help our members meet their customers’ expectations,” he says.

The PPAI Expo 2007 Ranked 50th Biggest In The Nation
In June, Tradeshow Week Top 200 ranked The PPAI Expo 2007 at No. 50 in its annual list of the country’s top 200 tradeshows, a move up from the No. 56 slot in 2006. The PPAI Expo, PPAI’s annual tradeshow, is the industry’s longest-running and largest tradeshow.

Tradeshow Week’s annual listing is based on net square feet of paid exhibit space. The PPAI Expo 2007 encompassed 392,100 square feet of exhibit space, and exhibitors included more than 1,600 companies representing virtually every major supplier in the industry. Nearly 85 percent of the largest distributor companies in the industry attended The PPAI Expo 2007—and those companies increased their attendance numbers by 15 percent from the prior year.

“The continued popularity of The PPAI Expo is a clear indication that we are delivering valuable networking and educational opportunities to our members,” says Darel Cook, PPAI’s director of expositions and meetings. “As the 50th biggest tradeshow in the country, we are able to offer more benefits to both our attendees and exhibitors. Top shows are able to negotiate better rates for exhibiting, hotel costs and improved services. Also, companies looking to get into new markets will look at the listing and notice PPAI as a major event. This helps draw more members.

“We continually work to ensure that The PPAI Expo, one of the biggest shows in the country, maintains the qualities of a smaller, intimate show. For example, at The PPAI Expo 2008, held in January, we introduced Expo Net, a pre-show business tool that helps distributors pre-plan their show experience. By taking advantage of this planning tool, our attendees are able to hit the ground running and maximize their time on the show floor,” says Cook.

The PPAI Expo 2009 will be held January 12-16, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Learn The Principles Of Award-Winning Customer Service With PPAI
If you’re searching for a fresh approach to customer service or just hoping to refresh your company’s customer relations tactics, let PPAI help. The Association is offering three opportunitities to participate in “Principles Of Award-Winning Customer Service” workshop, a one-day, interactive seminar designed for key company decision makers, managers and customer service representatives and any other business professionals who realize the importance and value of excellent customer relations.

During this hands-on interactive seminar, renowned professional speaker and trainer Bob Barker will help attendees develop and polish customer service skills, and equip attendees to train additional staff upon their return to the office.

This workshop will be held in Baltimore, Maryland on September 10; in Covington, Kentucky on September 18; and in Irving, Texas on October 21. Early-bird registration through July 7 is $99 for PPAI members and $300 for nonmembers. For additional information and registration questions, contact Margie Lindley at 972-258-3025 or MargieL@ppai.org.

Reserve Your Spot For PPAI MarketShows In Atlanta, Fort Worth
As a promotional products professional, you know the power of what you sell. But how do you keep your ideas fresh and your sales numbers up? If you want to stay competitive in this burgeoning industry, you must expand your reach to new markets and be aware of the latest products, news and information.

To get the edge on your competition or just stay sharp, attend PPAI MarketShows, co-located with Imprinted Sportswear Shows, in Atlanta, Georgia, September 11-12 and Fort Worth, Texas, October 3-4 to see who’s new, what’s new and how you can strengthen your position in the industry. Visit www.ppai.org to register.

Save Big With PPAI Business Partner Choice Hotels
Sometimes it seems work keeps you on the road 24/7. You may wake up in the morning not knowing where you’re going to lay your head that night, but if you choose one of the many accommodations in the Choice Hotels family, you’ll definitely be getting a great deal. Thanks to the PPAI Business Partner program, PPAI members can enjoy 15 percent off an overnight stay at any one of 5,000 hotels worldwide.

This perk even applies to trips that aren’t business-related, so feel free to take your family on that long-awaited weekend vacation. And what’s more, if you’re a Choice Privileges® member and you book three separate stays through August 14, you’ll be eligible to receive a $50 gas card. To receive your PPAI discount, book your room in advance at www.choicehotels.com and enter your discount code, or call 800-258-2847.

PPAI Sponsors Food Drive For Local Pantry
Staff members at PPAI wrapped up their annual food drive in April, collecting 2,794 pounds of goods and nearly $500 in monetary donations to benefit Irving Cares, a local food pantry.

Working through the PPAI Community Services Committee, an internal employee group that coordinates the Association's many outreach projects, the entire staff was grouped into teams that competed to see which could bring in the most food for the food pantry.

Food items were given a point value, based on what was identified by the pantry as most needed. Each week, designated food items were assigned bonus points and weekly totals were posted for each team. When it was all over, PPAI employees donated almost $500 and nearly a ton and a half of food and pantry supplies, as well as more than 2,000 plastic bags for food bank patrons to transport their groceries home.

“The PPAI Food Drive has been an annual tradition for more than five years, but this year was different,” says Pat Burgher, CAE, PPAI community services coordinator. “Considering the current state of the economy, we were extra eager to do what we could, and as an Irving-based association, we felt our community needed assistance more than ever before.”

Irving Cares is a United Way agency dedicated to providing Irving residents with temporary assistance and training to promote self-sufficiency. Last year, Irving Cares filled 4,128 grocery orders for 3,675 families at about 50 pounds per order.

“The programs and assistance we are able to offer are only possible through the generous support of community partners such as PPAI,” says Leigh Eitson, coordinator of volunteers for Irving Cares. “We are very grateful for the ongoing support we receive from the Association and look forward to doing it all over again next year.”






Meet The New PPAI Staffer
Who: Desmond Pringle


When he joined the staff: May 2008

What he’s doing at PPAI: Pringle is part of the IT team, working on the helpdesk.

Where he’s from: “I’m originally from Garland, but I now live in Mesquite,” says the North Texas native.

Get to know Pringle: Pringle previously worked at Brokers Grass in Carrollton, TX where he worked as a Network Support Specialist. Pringle is an alumnus of Texas Tech University; hence, “I am a huge Red Raider fan.”

How to reach him: Pringle can be reached at 972-258-3017 or by e-mailing him at DesmondP@ppai.org