CPPA Wishes You A Very Happy New Year!
As the New Year begins, we are filled with hope and new expectations for 2023.
CPPA is thankful for all the support we have received from each of you in 2022
and look forward to working alongside all of you this year.
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As the new year begins, so do our membership renewals.
Memberships renew every year on January 1 and last for the entire calendar year.
You should have received an email with a membership renewal notification in December.
If you have not already done so, please click here to renew for 2023. |
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A Message from our CPPA President......
Happy New Year, CPPA!
Don’t you just love to start out the year with a clean slate? Time to set and go after new goals after recharging your batteries over the holidays. CPPA is kicking off 2023 with new board members, an enhanced Winter Expo experience and 2 Peake Award shows! Read on for more details.
First, we are proud to welcome new board members, Kendra McDougal from HALO, Nelson Burton from Capital City Specialties, Katie Lankasky from Imprint ID and Michael Barblett from Headwear USA. They will join the rest of our dedicated board: Tracey Therres (APEX Advertising), Vice President; Michelle Reed (SUMMIT Group), Secretary; Tony Limetti (Ariel), Treasurer; Laird O’Cain (ETS Express); Cliff Quicksell (Cliff Quicksell Assoc.), Immediate Past President and myself, Cheryl Hokanson (Brand Boosters), President. We appreciate all members who choose to volunteer their time no matter how little or how much, it’s all welcomed here. We have 3 committees: Events/Tradeshows (led by Tracey Therres), Marketing/Membership (co-led by Cliff Quicksell and Tony Limetti and Philanthropy (led by Michelle Reed). These committees will bring opportunities to network, work together and have fun; showcase the benefits of being a member of CPPA; and to extend a helping hand to a community non-profit organization. Are you interested in helping out on one of these committees? Please reach out to our rockstar Executive Director, Tiffany Kanak, or to anyone on the Board. We’d love to have you!
For our first event of the year, our Winter Expo, we have once again joined forces with District 1 to host a week of tradeshows for our collective members. To make it more exciting, we’ve combined our resources to create a more engaging event. Together, we have branded this event “PROMOS IN PARADISE”. Who doesn’t love a tropical theme when you’re knee deep in winter? We have a great day planned for you, starting with our education session in the morning. You don’t want to miss this important topic of Cyber Security or the chance to win a Margaritaville blender! Cheers! We’ll also have several door prizes throughout the day, including a chance for 1 distributor and 1 supplier out of the 4 District 1 shows to win 2 tickets each to the next PROMOCATIONS Cruise in April! Winners will be chosen at 1 pm on Friday, February 3. You don’t want to miss this event. Come dressed in your best Hawaiian shirt or other tropical attire! Aloha!
We’ll also be hosting our Peake Awards on February 1, the night before our Promos in Paradise. This event is a special evening to recognize the immense talent in CPPA. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate deserving members and campaigns for recognition. The board hopes to engage more of you to participate in nominating your co-workers, special marketing campaigns, suppliers, distributors, so they can be properly acknowledged and celebrated.
This year, we will host 2 Peake Awards ceremonies as we have decided to move the Peake Awards to December to be combined with our holiday party. We hope that each member company will participate in nominating the best of the best and will plan to join us at the holiday party to celebrate together.
We start and end 2023 with the Peake Awards, celebrating YOU! Your board has many other events planned for the year. Please come out and meet with old friends and make some new ones. Please reach out to any of your board members or Tiffany with any questions, comments or suggestions to make CPPA an even better organization. I am honored to serve as your President for the next 2 years. I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Peake Awards and our Winter Expo.
Cheers to a successful 2023!
Cheryl Hokanson
CPPA Board of Directors President
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Presenting the 2023 CPPA Board of Directors... |
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January 17,2023 Tuesday Learning Lab: "It’s Never Too Early to Position Your Business for a Successful Exit"
Rick Brenner, President of Logical Advisors, will walk attendees through the process of how professional buyers value promotional products distributors and suppliers and what sellers should do to position their business for the best possible outcome.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain an understanding of the key factors that will yield the highest value for your business
- Learn step by step how the sale process works
- Learn how to protect yourself, your business and confidentiality in case a deal goes South
- Learn what to do long in advance to prepare for the day you put your business on the market
- Review of the different options for selling your business, and the pros and cons of each
1 MAS Credit when you submit your PPAI Certification PIN Number with your survey
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January 19, 2023 D1 Regional Webinar:
"A Brand for Brands"
Please join Danielle Luciani, CAS on a journey
through the world of Victorinox.
The world of Victorinox dates back to the year 1884, however, as customer needs and technologies have changed over the years, the legendary Swiss Army Knife brand has also evolved as well though other product categories: Household and Professional Knives and Cutting Boards, Watches, and Travel Gear. Learn why Victorinox customers value its products as true companions for life.
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January 25, 2023 Wild Wednesday Webinar: "Promotional Products Industry TRENDS for 2023 presented by Dale Denham, President & CEO of PPAI"
We will look at the trends in the Promotional Products Industry and learn how to use those trends to position your business for a successful new year.
Learning Outcomes:
- What is up and coming for 2023
- Best ways to use this knowledge to position your business for success
- PPAI updates to help grow and manage your business
1 PPAI Credit when you submit your PPAI Certification PIN Number with your survey
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Walk the blue carpet at the 16th Annual CPPA Peake Awards!
CPPA is proud to honor those that have distinguished themselves
in their profession while making an impact on our industry and CPPA.
Each year, CPPA proudly presents the Peake Awards to honor excellence and creativity
recognize individuals, companies and promotional campaigns.
Join your fellow nominees to celebrate the creativity and accomplishments in our industry.
February 1, 2023 - 6 - 8:30pm
Dinner buffet will be served
BWI Airport Marriott
1743 W Nursery Rd
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
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Join us for the Biggest and Best show in the region!
The Second Annual Power of District “1” Shows will be a
Promos in Paradise experience that you won’t want to miss!
WHY ATTEND? It’s cold outside and who doesn’t want a tropical escape?
Wear your most festive vacay attire and come check out all the latest promos and snag some cool swag as you arm yourself with new product knowledge and a winning strategy for 2023.
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
BWI Airport Marriott
1743 W Nursery Road
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
*Education: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Join us as we dig into cyber security and discuss
common fraudulent trends and tips to keep you safe.
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Guest speaker: Eric Alessi, President & CEO at Essent Corporation
Eric Alessi is the Co-founder and Chairman of PromoStandards, Founder of Essent Corporation, and Chief Architect
of Essent’s innovative business management and commerce software solutions. In his 30+ years leading Essent,
Eric has consulted with companies ranging from startups to multinational corporations, including Air Products, AT&T, Merck, Nestlé, Papa John’s Pizza, and Pfizer. During his tenure, Eric transformed Essent from a regional custom software development house to a multimillion-dollar corporation focused on business commerce automation solutions that serve thousands of trading partners worldwide.
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One lucky attendee at the education session
will win a Margarita Machine!!
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*Exhibits Open: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Door Prizes given away at 11 a.m., Noon, and 1 pm
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Grand Prize Drawing for members only
One lucky Distributor and one lucky Exhibitor from the show week will
each win a Promocation Cruise! Each prize valued at over $4,000!
Winners will be announced on Friday, February 3. (see details below).
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Promocations is proud to partner with SAAGNY, NEPPA, PAPPA, and CPPA in the Power of 1 show week by giving away one supplier and one distributor spot on the inaugural PromoCruise presented by Promocations! This is a unique opportunity to build business bonds through shared experiences that will yield results for years to come. Each supplier and distributor prize includes:
- 5 day / 4 night cruise on the fabulous Liberty of the Seas leaving from Fort Lauderdale, FL (One Supplier and their plus one; One Distributor and their plus one)
- Luxury accommodations the night before cruise departure
- Transfers to and from airport/hotel/ship
- Tiki dinner the night before the sailing
- Introductions and arranged one-on-one meetings as you sail
- All meals & premium drinks
- High speed internet
- Promo dinner each night of the cruise
- Daily promo collisions such as karaoke, optional excursions, and happy hours
- Dedicated promo area on CocoCay – the Royal Caribbean private island
- Choice of excursion in Nassau, Bahamas: Chill, Casual, or Caution
- Each prize is valued at over $4,000.00!
The Fine Print:
- Prizes DO NOT include airfare to and from Fort Lauderdale and will be the responsibility of each winner.
- Event will take place from Sunday, April 23, 2023 – Friday, April 28, 2023
- You MUST attend one of shows and be a member of your respective regional to be entered into the drawing.
- Drawing will be held Friday February 3rd, 2023 @ 1:00 pm EST by Promocations and winners will be notified by their respective regional.
Exhibitors ~ register HERE
Distributors ~ register HERE
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American Solutions for Business raises over $25,000 for local families in need
Glenwood, MN – American Solutions for Business raised over $25,000 for families in the Pope County area through their annual Adopt-A-Family fundraiser. Raising over double the amount they achieved last year, ASB was able to sponsor 16 families, including 36 kids, and a special gift for an individual in the area spending the holidays alone. This tradition began two decades ago as a special gift for ASB’s Founder Larry Zavadil, and his wife Diane, as a collective effort from team members and sales associates at American Solutions for Business.
“I look forward to seeing the numbers every year,” expressed Zavadil. “I’ve always known our American family was generous just by the good they do throughout the year, but I am astonished once again!”
The families are kept anonymous by county administrators, and the only details given to the American team are ages and genders of the children. Volunteers spend an afternoon of shopping finding items that the children need and want, doing what they can to make sure their holiday season is filled with smiles.
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Brian Porter Promoted to CRO of Starline
Promo industry veteran Brian Porter has entered the C-suite at Top 40 supplier Starline. The Grand Island, NY-based company just promoted Porter from senior vice president of sales and marketing to chief revenue officer. Executives said the move was well-earned: Porter’s leadership was integral to Starline increasing sales 62.7% in 2021 to $48 million – a performance that returned the company to Counselor’s Top 40 list of the industry’s largest suppliers.
“In his new position of CRO, Brian will take on a more strategic sales and marketing leadership role within the organization, while continuing his active engagement in the industry,” said CEO Mason Lapsker.
The intersection of technology and sales/marketing at Starline will be among Porter’s key focuses.
“Brian understands the important role that technology and operations play in the evolving sales and marketing industry landscape,” said Jon Norris, Starline chief operating officer and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “I look forward to working with him in this new role as we drive Starline forward as a continued industry innovator and leader.”
Porter joined Starline in 2018. He has almost 30 years of experience in promo, having started his career in the industry as a regional sales director at Norwood. Past positions include being national sales director of Canada-headquartered supplier Spector & Co.’s U.S. Division. Porter was also previously vice president of North American sales at supplier Pro Towels and a national sales director at Bebco.
A prominent figure in the promo products market, Porter has served in industry volunteer roles. Those include being chair of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) and serving with the Promotional Products Association of the Midwest (PPAMidwest) regional association, where he was president in 2016.
In addition to Grand Island, NY, Starline has a location in Vaughn, Ontario. The company offers a patented digital decoration technique, TruColor, and carries name brands that include uniball, Stanley, Pelican, JanSport, and Urban Peak.
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Did You Miss Some of our Informative Webinars and Want to Catch Up?
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As a CPPA member, you have access to these webinars that may be watched when it is convenient for you. By watching a recording you can still earn CAS/MAS credit.
The webinars may be found HERE on the CPPA website. Please make sure that you are logged in at www.cppa.biz with your email address and password as this is a CPPA Member Only benefit. Don't know your password? Reset it at any time on the main page to the right of the Log In button.
Suppliers and Multi-Line Reps ~ Are you interested in hosting a webinar in 2023?
CPPA participates in the District 1 webinar series which allows you to reach members of not only CPPA but also PAPPA, NEPPA and SAAGNY. Please reach out to Tiffany at tiffany@cppa.biz for more information and to schedule your date.
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HPG Acquires Evans Manufacturing
Chris Anderson, CEO of Boston-based supplier HPG announced the company's acquisition of fellow supplier Evans Manufacturing based in Garden Grove, California.
The deal brings Evans Manufacturing together with HPG and its many industry brands – Hub, Beacon, Best, Debco, BCG Creations, Origaudio, Handstands, Batch & Bodega, Mixie and SugarSpot – and adds new North American manufacturing capabilities to HPG’s portfolio with the addition of Evans’ facilities in Southern California and Nogales, Mexico.
Evans was founded in 1983 as an injection molding company with a focus on retail markets. It moved into promotional products in 1992. Today, it specializes in plastics and fabric products for the promotional merchandise field.
- It operates in many categories, including healthcare, household, office, drinkware, pet, writing instruments, travel, auto, golf, outdoor, tech, spirit, school and more.
- Most of its products are designed and manufactured in-house.
- It added a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nogales in 2008. There, it produces tote bags and other cut-and-sew items. In the U.S., it produces more than 200 additional products.
The supplier has won numerous industry awards, including the PPAI Supplier Star award, and has been named to the PPAI Magazine Greatest Companies To Work For list as recently as 2021.
As part of the transaction, Alan Vaught, president of Evans, will continue to lead it as division president and is a significant HPG shareholder.
“The partnership with HPG represents the culmination of many years of hard work and dedicated service by the entire Evans team,” says Vaught. “I have been blessed by the talents of so many key contributors throughout the journey, and it is humbling to see this business that started as a two-person operation evolve into the respected market leader that it has become. I am thrilled to embark on this next chapter, in partnership with the proven team at HPG, and our shared values and perspective on the bright future of the combined Evans-HPG enterprise, and the industry, generally, has made for a seamless transition.”
Anderson says, “Evans has rightfully earned a stellar reputation for promotional hard goods and customer service excellence, which makes it a perfect fit for the HPG family. I am delighted to welcome the abundance of talent and expanded capabilities Evans has to offer and can reassure customers HPG’s philosophy is to do no harm – we will not disrupt what clearly has been working so well. We look forward to knowledge-sharing with our new team members and working together to make HPG the preeminent promotional hard goods supplier.”
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Carpenito and Isaacson Take On New Roles At Gemline
Lawrence, MA – Gemline recently announced leadership changes for the Lawrence, MA based company. Frank Carpenito, currently the supplier’s president, has been promoted to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Jonathan Isaacson, currently chair and CEO, will become executive chair.
Carpenito was named Gemline’s president in 2019, following a five-year term on the company’s board of directors. Prior to joining the company, he spent three decades in the consumer product industry, including CEO and president positions. Carpenito has held leadership roles at BigMouth, Inc., Procter & Gamble, Pepsi-Cola and Newell-Rubbermaid/Berol, among others. He currently serves on the board of One Family, Inc., a Massachusetts non-profit committed to ending family homelessness.
As president, Carpenito was responsible for the day-to-day running of Gemline. As president and CEO, he will retain overall responsibility for all functions, day-to-day operations and the implementation of the company’s strategic plans. He will also play an increased role in supporting Isaacson’s efforts in the industry and community.
Isaacson, as executive chair, will shift his focus toward Gemline’s vision and strategy, continuous
improvement and industry outreach. He intends to also expand his efforts to support the supplier’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
“Gemline has achieved tremendous growth over the last three years under Frank’s day-to-day leadership, despite a very challenging environment,” says Isaacson. “I am confident that, by staying true to our core values, delivering an exceptional customer experience, innovating relentlessly, and developing our internal teams, Frank will ensure we continue to grow and prosper and consistently exceed the expectations of our distributor partners.”
Carpenito says, “I am honored that Jonathan has entrusted me to lead Gemline. Gemline holds a very special place in the industry thanks to Jonathan’s many years of exceptional leadership. He continues to be a well-respected leader and visionary in our industry, while also serving as an effective mentor to me and many others across our company. I look forward to continuing to partner with him and the entire Gemline team to realize our ambitious strategic goals.”
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PPAI Awards Celebration - January 9, 2023 |
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Four Industry Icons Honored At Chair’s Leadership Dinner
January 9, 2023 - During the Chair’s Leadership Dinner at The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, PPAI recognized four men and women who have set a standard for excellence in the world of promo – not only as successful entrepreneurs, but as industry ambassadors who have given back to their profession and their communities. The night also included a salute to the Promotional Products Education Foundation and 2022 PPAI Rising Stars.
Late in the evening came a traditional ceremony at The PPAI Expo, the passing of the gavel from PPAI Board Chair Dawn Olds, MAS+, to Incoming Chair Kevin Walsh, CAS. Olds' term will expire at the conclusion of The PPAI Expo. She opened the evening with a welcome to all attendees, and over the course of the night gave way to Walsh, who wished everyone a successful experience at The PPAI Expo 2023.
This year's PPAI Hall of Fame Inductees are Carol D. Aastad, MAS, and Mary Ellen Sokalski, MAS. Aastad and Sokalski, both industry trailblazers, have made history as the first two women ever inducted into the same PPAI Hall of Fame class. The annual award gives permanent recognition to individuals selected for their generous and monumental contributions of time and talent to the Association and industry.
In addition to the Hall of Fame Awards, PPAI also presented its H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award to Danny Rosin, CAS, president of Brand Fuel, and its Distinguished Service Award to Roger Burnett, CAS, founder of Social Good Promotions.
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10 Tips to Make 2023 Your Best and Boldest Year Yet
Leigh Burgess * Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor * CEO &Founder of Bold Industries Group, Inc.
Think bold, big, and get creative when it comes to planning out how to reach your goals. Here are 10 tips to help you have the boldest and best year yet!
Want to be bolder in 2023? Start by clarifying your purpose. Before you take any action, spend some time reflecting on your values and what is most important to you. Visualize where you want to be in 12 months and the kind of life you want to live. Once these goals are clearer, work to create an action plan and write it down.
Think bold and big, and get creative when it comes to planning out how to reach your goals. Consider new strategies, resources or people who can help propel you forward. Take some thoughtful risks, and set yourself up for success by making use of all the resources available to you.
One of the best ways to create your best year yet is by being bold and daring. This means taking risks, speaking up and going after what you want. When you take a risk, it can be scary, but it could also lead to amazing opportunities. Being willing to step out of your comfort zone can open up many doors that would have otherwise remained closed.
When you take a chance on a bold move, make sure you are aligning yourself with your purpose. Know your "why," and stay focused on what matters most to you. If a particular opportunity or venture doesn't align with your core values, it might be worth passing up, even if it could potentially lead to success. That success won't mean much if it doesn't align with your purpose. Read More
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PPEF Golf Tournament Fundraiser |
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PPEF Golf Tournament Raises Over $39,000
The In support of the Promotional Products Education Foundation, 112 golfers from 30+ industry companies took a swing at the Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas during the Glen Holt & Fran Ford Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament raised more than $39,000 in support of PPEF’s college scholarship program.
“Thank you to the golfers, sponsors, volunteers and all those who made this tournament happen through their support,” says PPEF Executive Director Kathlene Brethowr. “It was another momentous tournament honoring the legacies of Glen Holt and Fran Ford.”
The late Glen Holt, MAS, was a former PPAI board member and Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2010, and Fran Ford Jr., CAS, was president of supplier Castelli, a division of Magnet, and PPAI Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2018. As a dedicated supporter of PPEF, Ford launched the PPEF Glen Holt Scholarship Golf invitational in 2014. The tournament celebrates their lasting legacies with PPEF scholarships named in their honor.
The foursome of Nathan Cotter and Scott Leonard with Hit Promotional Products (team sponsor); Brent Belles with B-Squared Printing and Marketing Solutions; and Bobby Hazan with Overture Promotions won first place and bragging rights for the year – plus hats autographed by pro golfer John Daly. And one lucky golfer – Billy Booe, midsouth regional VP of sales with Geiger – got a hole in one on the ninth hole.
Event sponsors included Cap America, Fossil, Hit Promotional Products, HPG, IceMule Company, Laura Holt, Pilot Pen, Promo Marketing, SanMar, Sock101, Spector & Co. and Stormtech. All players were automatically entered into a drawing for a “Weekend in Vegas” package provided by Mandalay Bay, including a two-night hotel stay at Mandalay Bay plus a $250 food and beverage credit.
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