ASB Hires Gordon Klepec as Regional VP of Strategic Operations Support



Glenwood, MN – American Solutions for Business welcomes Gordon Klepec Regional VP of Strategic Operations Support (SOS).

In this role, Klepec will be responsible for supporting ASB sales associates in business development and strategic sales opportunities. He will work on a regional and national level to help qualify opportunities, prepare for large customer presentations, provide consultation in business planning, prospect planning and more.  

"I’m very happy to have Gordon on our team,” shares Amy Spychalla, VP of Strategic Operations Support. “Gordon understands our industry from many different angles and will bring a fresh perspective to help ASB and all our stakeholders grow to the next level.”

Klepec was most recently Chief Sales Officer for distributor, SOLV for the last four years and was the VP of Sales and Marketing for print supplier, Wright Business Graphics, from 2006 to 2020.

“I’m excited for my new role and having the awesome opportunity to work for American,” says Klepec. “I’ve always had the greatest respect for ASB, its leadership and associates. Everyone is always authentic, professional, and easy to work with. It feels as though this role at American was designed for me and my skillset. I have an extensive knowledge of printed products, electronic solutions, eCommerce platforms and now, with my last 4 years running a $10 million distributorship, an intimate knowledge of promo and apparel. I look forward to working with American’s sales associates, experienced and novice, to help them grow their business and close some deals!”  

Midnite Snax & City Bonfires Unveil New Candle Collection



Bethpage, NY – Midnite Snax® is proud to announce our NEW City Bonfires® Candle Collection! Our collaboration with City Bonfires® elevates corporate gifting to a new level with these two collections of Custom Wellness and Corporate Color Candles.

Each candle is made in the USA by City Bonfires® with 100% natural soy wax, cotton wicks, and the highest quality fragrances. This collaboration marries the warmth of City Bonfires® signature glow with Midnite Snax® expertise in delivering exceptional promotional products. The Corporate Color Candle collection includes ten different options, with popular corporate colors and long-lasting fragrances to choose from such as Black (Espresso Mocha) and Medium Blue (Blueberry Pancake).

The Wellness Candle collection includes relaxing fragrances and calming hues in four of the most in-demand, spa-like scents: Cucumber Melon, Ocean Breeze, Lavender, and Fresh

Linen. Each has a soothing color, like Light Blue and Lavender Purple, reminiscent of its scent.

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AAkron Line Named Exclusive Supplier of A.T. Cross



Providence, RI – AAkron Rule Corporation, a pioneering force in the promotional products industry, recently announced that they have been named the key Supplier partner of A.T. Cross Writing Instruments. This strategic collaboration solidifies AAkron’s commitment to providing top-tier offerings in the promotional products sector. While A.T. Cross will continue its in-house decoration processes as well, AAkron will serve as the primary channel for distribution, enhancing accessibility to A.T. Cross writing instruments for businesses in the promotional products market.

Stan Dohan, MAS, MASI, AAkron Executive Vice President adds, “A.T. Cross is an iconic writing instrument brand, and the gold standard in pens for over 150 years. We are so excited to exclusively represent Cross in the promotional products industry. We cannot be more pleased to have the opportunity to add our award-winning, decorating, full color, and laser engraving to deliver a premium, packaged writing instrument line for our valued distributor customers.”

“A.T. Cross is excited to partner with AAkron and their experienced professional team. Our two companies share a common goal in delivering the highest quality products combined with exemplary service,” adds Andrew Boss, A.T. Cross North American Sales Manager.

Boundless Names New CEO

Austin, TX – Boundless recently announced that it has a new CEO: Aaron Hamer.

Hamer is an experienced executive with a background in private equity, investment banking and C-Suite corporate leadership and finance. He’s been an operating partner at Treaty Oak, one of two private investment firms that acquired Boundless in 2021. As such, Hamer has already been working with the Boundless team for several years on growth and transformation initiatives.

“I am really excited about our opportunity to deliver on our vision of being ‘the best home for the best salespeople in the industry,’” Hamer said. “We are making significant investments in technology, team and capabilities that will make that vision a reality. Boundless is such an incredible business with an infectious culture; it is exactly the kind of business anyone would be lucky to lead, as there are exceptional people working together to do incredible things.”



Former CEO Dave Klotter, who was appointed in July 2022, is no longer with the company. “I am really thankful for Dave’s leadership and the mark he’s left on Boundless,” Hamer said.

WLC is Headed to Nashville!

Music City will host the PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference in 2024 where attendees will celebrate 20 years of empowering women leaders. WLC is one of the promo industry’s most pivotal events of the year. Women, in every stage of their career, gather to share empowering business advice, triumphs and their hopes for the future.

WLC is designed to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in today's constantly evolving business landscape.

• Captivating keynote speakers
• Interactive roundtables
• Influential women-led panel discussions
• Life-changing connections 

Explore a variety of resources aimed at personal and professional growth, encouraging you to challenge your perspectives and find practical insights for your career journey.



View the Conference Outline Here

7 Proven Ways to Reduce Wasted Time in Your Daily Life Chad Willard * Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor * Founder & President of Pacific Capital

Here are seven tried-and-true strategies you can use to reduce wasted time in your life starting now!

In today's fast-paced world, time is your most precious asset, yet it's alarming to realize how much of that we devalue. Did you know that the average American dedicates 6-8 hours daily to their phones and TV? That's almost a full 120 days per year! This underscores how easy it is to squander our attention.

Life is too short, and your relationships are too valuable to spend one-third of it looking at screens. Drawing from my personal experiences, this article explores seven ways to minimize wasted time, leading to a more fulfilling life.

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Does Augmented Reality Have A Future In Promo?

Virtual reality has been teased as the future of human leisure since the days of The Jetsons. Now that we have caught up to that future, and VR headsets are available for purchase, the general public seems to have mixed feelings. Some people want to try out the experience for curiosity’s sake and while others judge or poke fun at anyone willing to pay large sums of money to wear the not-so-subtle gadget.

That dynamic was on display upon the release of the highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro last month, with public responses including quite a bit of negative or embarrassing press.

This leaves some promo suppliers in a quandary. Will VR equipment represent a future opportunity for high-end promo or is it an expensive fad? Some suggest that being prepared to offer branded VR options is a way to cater to a generation that will only grow in influence.

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