PPAMidwest Messenger - December 2025 Edition

December 2025

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR PPAM MEMBERSHIP HERE!

Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season

and a Successful New Year!

A Look Back at My Year as PPAMidwest President.....

Finishing my term as President of PPAMidwest has given me the chance to pause and take stock of what this year really meant. Serving in this role was an honor, and I’m genuinely proud of what we accomplished together.

Walking into the presidency, I was excited about the work ahead. By the end, that excitement had evolved into real admiration for the people around me. Our board showed up with clarity, commitment, and a level of teamwork that made every project feel purposeful. We tackled new ideas, strengthened our programming, supported our members, and kept the association moving forward in a meaningful way.

What stands out most from this year is the collaboration. No drama, no ego contests, no needless hurdles. Just a group of people doing the work well and doing it together. That’s something I deeply appreciate, and it’s the reason our progress felt steady and genuine.

To the board: thank you for giving your time, your perspective, and your follow-through. Working with you made the responsibility lighter and the outcomes stronger.

To our members: thank you for staying engaged, for sharing feedback, and for being the heartbeat of this association. Everything we do comes back to supporting you, and your involvement keeps PPAMidwest relevant and thriving.

As I hand things over to Aubrey Weaver, I’m proud of the year we had and confident in the direction ahead. I’m not disappearing; I’ll stay involved and continue supporting the work we’ve started. It’s been a privilege to serve, and I’m grateful for the experience.

Here’s to the year behind us and the opportunities waiting just ahead.

Amelia Madl

2025 PPAMidwest President

January 13, 2025 Tuesday Learning Lab: “The Hidden Cost of Hustle: Why Burnout is Silently Killing Sales Performance in Promo"

The promo world moves fast—tight turnarounds, demanding clients, and constant multitasking are just part of the job. This session skips the obvious and goes straight to solutions: how to rebuild the clarity, energy, and emotional capacity that nonstop hustle has drained. Instead of talking about “stress,” we’ll focus on practical tools that help sales professionals immediately regain focus, follow-through, and momentum.

Drawing from both Sam's years inside the promotional products industry and his work in Emotional Fitness, Sam will teach simple, science-backed resets that restore mental bandwidth in real time. Attendees will learn how to stabilize their nervous system during high-pressure days, strengthen resilience, and create a performance rhythm that boosts creativity, client experience, and sales results—without working more hours.

Key Takeaways / Learning Outcomes:

Use fast, practical Emotional Fitness tools to reset clarity and energy during busy sales cycles.
Rebuild cognitive and emotional capacity so follow-through, creativity, and decision-making stay sharp.
Strengthen resilience with techniques that prevent overwhelm from piling up.
Establish a sustainable performance rhythm that supports higher sales without more hustle.

Read more and register

SAVE THE DATES

For PPAMidwest's 2026 Shows!!

Where Quality Suppliers Meet Quality Distributors

and Get Quality Results!

This show is the COMPLETE promotional products experience featuring

the most professional Suppliers and Distributors in the industry.

Our annual Spring Product Premiere will be held in

Kansas City on 3/24/26 and then in St. Louis on 3/26/26.
This is not an end buyer event.

2 Great Cities/2 Great Shows!

These end user friendly tabletop shows will once again be at two fun

and unique locations that you and your customers are sure to love!

Our annual Fall Holiday Showcase will be held in St. Louis on 10/20/26 and then in

Kansas City on 10/22/26. We will also be hosting our annual golf tournament between the shows in Kansas City on 10/21/26.

Mark your calendars for both of these awesome show series and

watch for registration details to come in the next few weeks!

^{PPAMidwest News}

A Great Time was had by all at the PPAMidwest Holiday parties!

Thank you to everyone that attended PPAMidwest's Holiday Parties on either 12/2/25 at The Soda Museum in St. Charles or on 12/4/25 at Martin City Brewing Co in Kansas City. What a great time catching up and celebrating the Holiday season with our awesome members!

A special thank you to all that brought items to be donated to Feeding America! Your generosity will go a long way to help those in need and is truly appreciated.

PPAMidwest PhD Award Recipient Announced at the 2025 Holiday Parties

The PPAMidwest Board of Directors added Education as a focus to our regional association's strategic plan. In an effort to encourage participation and reward active members, the PPAMidwest PhD (Promo Honors Designee) award program was developed.

Annually, one outstanding member will be rewarded with the PhD Award. Throughout the year, points are awarded for activities as detailed on our point structure which you may find here. Each November, the PPAMidwest Board of Directors will review the points standings and determine the recipient, based on the top point earner(s) and a vote, in the event of ties.

And the 2025 Winner is........

Congratulations to our 2025 PPAMidwest PhD award recipient Sheila James Barnes with The Chest! So very well deserved!

PPAMidwest will continue to offer exciting and ongoing educational programs and your participation can lead to awesome recognition! Make sure to attend our events and participate in our webinars and activities to earn your points so that you might be our 2026 recipient!

American Solutions for Business Continues Partnership with Non-Profit HEART

Edwards Garment Promotes Brian Deissroth to VP of Sales - Promotional & International

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.

^{Industry News}

Pantone Color of the Year

PPAI Media

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.

PPAI 2025 Rising Stars

PPAI Media

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.