Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season

and a Successful New Year!

CPPA's 2026 Winter Expo is part of The Power of District 1 Tour

January 26 - 29, 2026

Maine to Chesapeake and Long Island to Pennsylvania...

We have you covered!



The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA), New England Promotional Products Association (NEPPA), Philadelphia Area Promotional Products Association (PAPPA), and Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY), are proud to once again bring you the Power of “1” tour during the week of January 26 - 29, 2026. Each day of the week a different regional show and not to be missed educational component will be included in the Power of “1” Tour.

Mark your calendars to attend our upcoming Winter Expo 

on 1/29/26 at BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum Heights, MD

Education Session: 9 - 10 am

Show Hours: 10 am - 1:30 pm

Exhibitors Register here
Distributor registration opening soon!

A Great Time was had by all at the 2025 CPPA Peake Awards and Holiday Party!



Thank you to everyone that attended last week's CPPA Peake Awards Celebration and Holiday Party at Merriweather Lake House in Columbia, MD!

What a great time catching up and celebrating the season with our wonderful members as well as recognizing those that are "Peake" performers! Each year CPPA proudly presents the Peake Awards to honor excellence and creativity in our association and industry. This celebration honors recipients in nine categories in addition to any Excellence In Promotions (EIP) Campaigns submitted. The EIP awards are designed to recognize campaigns that feature excellence in the practical application of promotional items. 

This year's ceremony, hosted by emcee Kendra McDougal of HALO, honored a total of 16 recipients who each received a beautiful award which was provided by our event's main sponsor, Pacesetter Awards. A full list of this year's recipients may be found here.

We would like to thank not only Pacesetter Awards for the gorgeous trophies but also Geiger for sponsoring the bar, Apogee Commemoratives for providing the table centerpieces and to all that brought items to be donated to Toys for Tots which delivers hope to children during the holiday season and beyond. Your generosity will go a long way to those in need and is truly appreciated.

And finally, a special thank you to those who have served on the board of directors and are finishing their terms this year as well as a huge welcome to those who are joining the board of directors in 2026. Here's to a great year!

To see more photos from the evening, click here

Laird O'Cain Inducted Into the CPPA Hall of Fame



CPPA is pleased to announce that Laird O'Cain was inducted into the CPPA Hall of Fame during the 2025 Peake Awards Ceremony and Holiday Party on December 11, 2025 in Columbia, MD.

The CPPA Hall of Fame originated in 2007 and was designed to recognize individuals that make an outstanding and lasting contribution to the regional association as well as to the promotional products industry. Individuals inducted have made a significant difference in the association, for our membership and ultimately in the community. O'Cain joins previous inductees: Jim Hayes, Steve Yaniga, Hersch Wellman, Mike Harper Sr., Murray Siegel, Robert Titelman Sr., Jolie Porter, Kendra McDougal, Harold Wood, Jeffrey Franklin, Robert Titelman Jr., Dana Geiger, Cheryl Hokanson, Jay Shaplin, Cynthia Brown and Cliff Quicksell Jr., and Michele Reed.

American Solutions for Business Continues Partnership with Non-Profit HEART

Glenwood, MN - Jill American Solutions for Business (ASB) announces 12 vendor partners have now contributed to the Heart of American program. Launched in early 2025, this initiative gives new purpose to excess inventory by redistributing products to families and nonprofits in need. Driven by a shared commitment to community support, ASB continues its partnership with Heart Response Ministry (HEART) to connect vendor partners’ surplus items with local communities.

ASB vendor partners have contributed over $2.4 million in product value, including but not limited to apparel, headwear, personal care products, and office supplies. Charitable organizations such as Greater Things MN, a HEART partner based in Glenwood, MN, receive thousands of items from the program. These products support individuals and families rebuilding after hardships, as well as veterans, youth programs, and disaster relief efforts.

Greater Things MN shared a story that reflects the mission at work. A mother who recently fled an unsafe home was able to give her children clothing, bedding, and essential items because of these donations. “You have no idea what a blessing this is,” she shared. “I finally feel like I can rebuild a home for my children.” Stories like hers underscore how the Heart of American Program is transforming excess into meaningful impact.

“ASB is proud to partner and align missions with numerous charities supporting our local communities,” shared Larry Zavadil. “For almost 45 years, it has been our mission to give back and bring people together. The Heart of American Program reflects who we are at our core, people helping people. It’s proof that small acts of generosity can create lasting impact.”

ASB extends sincere gratitude to the vendors who have already contributed to this effort: Storm Creek, Dubow, 3M, Essendant, Otto International, Natural Trends, Charles Rives, Riteline, SanMar, Antigua, Acehigh, and Scott Hareid Marketing. The Heart of American Program was inspired by an initial donation from Storm Creek and is designed to accept any volume of product. Heart also covers freight for all donations made by ASB vendor partners, easing participation across the network. To date, ASB’s contract decorator Dubow has contributed the largest amount of product, approximately 65 pallets. ASB encourages additional vendor partners to join this mission, continuing to turn surplus into support and products into purpose. 

Vantage Apparel Appoints Chris Alfano to Chief Information & Digital Officer

Avenel, NJ - Vantage Apparel, a leading provider of premium apparel and award-winning decoration services, is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Alfano to Chief Information & Digital Officer (CIDO). In this expanded role, Alfano will lead the company’s enterprise technology strategy, data ecosystem, and digital transformation initiatives — ensuring that Vantage’s systems, data, and digital experiences continue to drive measurable business growth and innovation.

“Chris has been instrumental in modernizing Vantage’s technology infrastructure and accelerating our digital transformation,” said Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage Apparel. “His deep understanding of the promotional products industry, digital strategy, and data-driven innovation makes him the ideal leader to guide Vantage into its next phase of growth.”

Over his impressive career, Alfano has distinguished himself as a driving force in the digital transformation and operational system infrastructure. In his initial nine years at Vantage, he served as Chief Technology Officer, where he successfully modernized the company’s ERP system and spearheaded the critical shift toward more efficient, digitally integrated processes. Most recently, he served as Chief Digital Officer, leading initiatives that strengthened Vantage’s digital capabilities, webstore platform implementation and strategic integration partnerships.

In his new role as CIDO, Alfano will define and execute Vantage’s IT and digital roadmap, overseeing enterprise platforms such as ERP, CRM, and PIM, as well as cloud infrastructure, data strategy, and cybersecurity. He will also lead efforts to expand eCommerce capabilities, implement automation and AI-driven insights, and enhance digital integrations for distributors and their customers.

“It’s an incredible moment to be part of the Vantage team as we continue to evolve digitally,” said Chris Alfano, Chief Information & Digital Officer. “Our focus is on empowering our people, strengthening the connections with our partners and distributors, and building digital experiences that make doing business with Vantage even easier. The innovation happening across our teams is inspiring, and I’m proud to help lead this next chapter together.”

This appointment reflects Vantage Apparel’s continued commitment to innovation and digital excellence — advancing technology and infrastructure that empower customers, strengthen partnerships, and fuel growth across the promotional apparel landscape.

Pantone Picks ‘Cloud Dancer" As The 2026 Color Of The Year

Pantone has announced that Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201) is its 2026 Color of the Year. The institute, which is considered a leading authority on color, describes it as a “lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.”

Cloud Dancer encourages relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, the company says. The color is “associated with new beginnings” and “signifies our desire for a fresh start,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the institute, told CNN.

Each year, the Pantone Color Institute carefully selects a hue that reflects worldwide trends in design, fashion, current events and more.

“The color name is critical. The minute you hear a name describing color, you instantly conjure up an image,” Pressman said, adding that this precise shade of white, with its “equal balance of cool and warm undertones,” was carefully chosen. “Had we gone for a white that was more optically bright, not only does it take away from the natural feeling and honesty and authenticity that we’re looking for… it almost speaks to sterility and isolationism, because it’s cold,” Pressman told CNN.



The promo industry keeps a close eye on color trends, including the annual Color of the Year announcement, as suppliers and distributors apply those ideas to future product and marketing plans.

Read the Full Story Here

Don't Compete Against AI - Work in Tandem With It Instead. Here's How.

Paul DeJarnatt * Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor * VP, Head of Digital at Novus Media

Most teams are still using AI like a search engine. Leaders who reframe it as a collaborative tool — and teach their teams to think with it — will unlock its real value.

Most teams are using AI the same way they have used search engines for the last 20 years: type in a quick question, skim the first response, move on. That mindset is holding us back. And for leaders trying to make AI useful inside their organizations, that difference can make or break adoption.

According to McKinsey’s latest global survey, more than two‑thirds of organizations now say they are using AI in more than one business function, and half report that they are using AI in three or more functions.

That shows the shift isn’t just in tools; it’s already spreading across workflows. What many leaders still struggle with is not the adoption of platforms, but the adoption of a mindset.

The real opportunity with generative AI is not about finding better prompts or learning new platforms — it’s about rewiring how we think. If we want to build teams that are truly AI-ready, we don’t just need training on tools. We need to retrain our mental models.


Read More

Bright As Ever: The 2025 PPAI Rising Stars

They come from all corners of the promotional products world – distributors, suppliers and business service firms of every size – but they share one thing in common: a relentless drive to lead, innovate and lift others as they rise.

Each year, PPAI Media searches the industry for its brightest emerging leaders, and in 2025, more than 200 nominations poured in. From this impressive field, 12 young professionals stood out for their achievements, their commitment to their communities and their unmistakable potential to shape what comes next.

Since the program’s creation in 2010, PPAI Rising Stars have embodied the qualities that keep the industry moving forward: leadership, creativity, volunteerism and the courage to take on new challenges. For the second year, eligibility was limited to professionals under age 40 – a nod to the program’s mission of spotlighting the next generation of visionaries charting the industry’s future.

The 2025 honorees were celebrated in October at PPAI’s Leadership Development Conference in Texas, where they joined peers for a young professionals educational track designed to sharpen their skills and expand their influence. It was a fitting setting – a space dedicated to learning, connection and growth – for a group that represents the best of what’s ahead.



Several of this year’s Rising Stars were nominated multiple times by colleagues and mentors who see their impact firsthand. Their stories reflect an industry in constant evolution, one that thrives on fresh ideas and fearless leadership.



Read More Here