PPAMidwest Messenger - June 2026 Edition

June 2026

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR PPAM MEMBERSHIP HERE!

Fresh ideas. New opportunities. A season full of possibilities.

A Message From Our PPAMidwest President......

Dear PPAMidwest Members,

As we move into summer, I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day weekend. It's a great reminder to take a moment to appreciate the fathers, father figures, mentors, and role models who have helped shape our lives and careers. Their guidance, encouragement, and hard work inspire us both personally and professionally.

We're excited about several upcoming PPAMidwest events that provide opportunities to learn, connect, and grow within our industry.

Coming soon we will have our Emerging Professionals Virtual Event. On July 8th, Jessica Majors of The Magnet Group will be featured in our Supplier Spotlight followed by networking and collaboration. If you consider yourself a Young Professional or are new to the industry, this is a great opportunity.

In August we will have Putt Putt in KC and Bowling in Chesterfield, MO. Come out to network with other industry professionals and have some fun to end out the summer.

This fall, we'll return with our Fall Holiday Showcase in St. Charles, MO (October 20) and Overland Park, KS (October 22). These end-user-friendly tabletop shows are a great way to explore the latest trends, meet with suppliers, and engage clients. Between the showcases, join us for the PPAMidwest Golf Tournament on October 21 at Fred Arbanas Golf Course in Kansas City for a day of networking, friendly competition, and fun on the course.

Thank you for your continued support of PPAMidwest. We look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events and continuing to strengthen the relationships that make our regional association so valuable.

Warm regards,

Aubrey Weaver

2026 PPAMidwest President

We’re excited to continue the conversation with our

PPAMidwest Emerging Professionals Group!

This virtual session is designed for those newer to the promotional products industry who are looking to connect, learn, and grow alongside their peers. Our goal is to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, conversation, and professional development.

What to Expect:

Introductions – Get to know fellow attendees
Featured Supplier Spotlight: Jessica Majors, The Magnet Group
Interactive Breakout Sessions – Attendees will connect in small groups and discuss question such as:
What's one area of the industry you still find confusing?
What do you wish suppliers would talk about more?
If you could get mentorship in one area, what would it be?
What's one habit that has helped you become more successful?
Share one supplier tool, website, or resource that has made your job easier and why.

Join the conversation, make new connections,

and grow together with fellow emerging professionals!

July 14, 2026 Tuesday Learning Lab:
“New Tricks in '26: What's New in SAGE"

Join us for a walkthrough of the latest enhancements to SAGE Workplace, Websites, and Stores, as well as some existing “Hidden Gem” tools designed to help you sell more and keep your year going strong!

Learning Outcomes:

Idea & Presentation Wizards
Instant Virtual Samples
Lifestyle Images
Custom Page Builder

Read more and register

Whether you're putting your way through a mini-golf course in Kansas City or knocking down pins in St. Louis, these casual events are the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow promotional products professionals.

Space is limited, so register early and join us for an afternoon

of networking, fun, and friendly competition!

2 Great Cities/2 Great Shows...& A Golf Tournament, too!

Mark your calendars and register to attend our

upcoming Fall Holiday Showcase!

Don't miss this year's Fall Holiday Showcase which will be held in both St. Louis and Kansas City. Our annual end user friendly tabletop show format will be at two fun and unique locations that you and your customers are sure to love!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026

The Foundry Arts Centre

520 North Main Center

St. Charles, MO 63301

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026

AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk

16201 Shawnee Drive

Overland Park, KS 66223

Education: 9 am - 10 am Exhibits Open: 10 am - 1pm

For event details and registration links, click here

Get ready to swing into action!

It's time to tee off and have some fun on the fairways with PPAMidwest, your co-workers, family and friends!

10/21/2026

Fred Arbanas Golf Course

11100 View High Dr,

Kansas City, MO 64134

Whether you're a seasoned golfer or a beginner, this event promises a fantastic opportunity to unwind, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with colleagues, family, and friends in a relaxed and beautiful setting with top-notch amenities.

Tournament Details:

Registration/Check in - 8 am
Shotgun Start - 9 am
Golfer Entry Fee - $150 per person/$600 per team which includes:
18 holes of Championship Golf
Electric Cart
Buffet Lunch
Golfer's Goodie Bag
Bragging rights and prizes in various categories, including 1st and 2nd place teams, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and Longest Putt.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Snack Sponsor - $250 (Limit: 1)
Lunch Sponsor - $500 (Limit: 3)
Beverage Cart Sponsor - $500 (Limit: 1)
Hole Sponsor with sign only - $50
Hole Sponsor with exhibit space and sign - $200 (must bring all items needed for your exhibit space including table, tent, etc.)

All Sponsorships include prominent signage at the course, online promotion including company logo on pre-event marketing and the opportunity to include product in Golfer Goodie Bags or donate prizes.

(Fall Holiday Showcase exhibitors may also register for the golf tournament
on their show registration form)

^{PPAMidwest News}

ASB Raises $10,000 for Star of the North Maternity Home at Accelerate Event

Glenwood, MN - ASB raised $10,000 for Star of the North Maternity Home during its annual Accelerate event. Through the generosity of the American family and valued supplier partners, this year’s contribution doubled last year’s donation total.

The chosen local charity, Star of the North, holds a close connection to ASB and a mission that struck a chord with attendees: “Our mission is to support pregnant women or women with children 18 years of age or older without a home in Northeastern Minnesota.”

Since opening its doors in 2019, Star of the North has welcomed mothers and families into its Duluth location and has more recently expanded with additional rooms in Hibbing. Staff and volunteers work closely with each mother to provide stability, support, and guidance as they prepare for a sustainable future.

“We’re helping moms write their stories,” shared Molly Rathke, Program Manager.

“Our hope is to go beyond housing to transform women’s lives with education, holistic medical care, and comprehensive services by partnering with our TFLN collaborative and community partners,” according to Star of the North’s website.

This charitable tradition has become a meaningful part of ASB’s Accelerate event. ASB remains committed to ensuring each gathering not only fosters professional growth and connection, but also creates a lasting and meaningful impact on the host community.

Brett Long & Tim Rosica Join Prime Line as Outside Sales Reps

Bridgeport, CT - Prime Line is adding two promo industry veterans to its outside sales team.

The Bridgeport, CT-based subsidiary of Counselor Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear has announced Brett Long and Tim Rosica as its newest outside sales representatives for the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, respectively. The hiring announcement follows the firm’s appointment of Paige Millard, who last month joined Prime Line as a West Coast account executive.

Long comes to the firm with over 20 years of outside sales management and national accounts experience in the promo industry. Most recently, he served as a national account manager at Charles River Apparel.

He also spent seven years at Counselor Top 40 supplier The Magnet Group as a regional account manager and nearly three years at Counselor Top 40 supplier Goldstar, where he achieved a 40% territory increase during his tenure.

Rosica, meanwhile, joins Prime Line with more than 25 years of promo experience as the principal of Rosica Marketing and a longtime partner at Paul Sprunk Associates.

He has scaled sales volume from $1.5 million to $7.3 million. He has also earned the Multi-Line Rep of the Year award several times from the Chesapeake Promotional Products Association, Three Rivers Advertising Specialty Association and Virginia Promotional Products Association.

Prime Line said these hires signal its commitment to strengthening its presence across markets and providing support to distributor partners.

“We are focused on positioning Prime Line as an absolute powerhouse in the promotional products space, and that starts with putting the absolute best people on the field,” said Eric Levin, general manager at Prime Line.

“Following the addition of Paige Millard to our team last month, bringing Brett and Tim onboard underscores our strategy of attracting heavy-hitting, elite industry talent.”

Vantage Apparel Joins Thousands of Volunteers for
Clean Ocean Action's 41st Annual Beach Sweep

Avenel, NJ - Vantage Apparel proudly participated in the 41st Annual Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep, serving not only as a statewide sponsor of the event, but also as an active volunteer team helping remove debris from New Jersey’s coastline.

This year’s event brought together more than 6,000 volunteers across 40 beaches spanning 130 miles of New Jersey coastline. Together, participants collected nearly 170,000 pieces of litter and debris. Perhaps most notably, 83% of all items collected were plastic; an ongoing remind of the important of reducing waste and supporting sustainable solutions.

For Vantage Apparel, the event aligns closely with company’s commitment to environmental responsibility through its Earthwise Collection, which incorporates REPREVE® recycled performance fabrics made from post-consumer plastic water bottles.

Vantage’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond product innovation. The company has earned an EcoVadis Bronze Medal, recognizing its ongoing efforts in environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, sustainable procurement and corporate social responsibility. “Through initiatives such as the Earthwise Collection and community partnerships like Clean Ocean Action, we continue to invest in programs that create a positive impact both within and beyond the promotional products industry,” said Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage Apparel.

As with every Beach Sweep, volunteers uncovered a few unusual finds among piles of litter. This year’s collection included a wedding ring, a full quart of milk, and even a whole watermelon. And with these unexpected discoveries generating laughs among volunteers, the event’s mission resonates throughout. The data collected during each Beach Sweep helps Clean Ocean Action identify pollution trends, advocate for environmental policies and drive meaningful change throughout the region.

“Our team members and their families live here, children take their first steps in the sand here, and millions of beachgoers vacation here every year,” states Watson. “This event is more than just doing something good for the planet. It’s a chance to make a visible impact and contribute to something larger than ourselves.”

Since its inception in 1985, Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweep program has become one of the nation’s most impactful environmental stewardship initiatives. Over the past four decades, volunteers have dedicated more than one million hours and removed nearly nine million pieces of debris from New Jersey beaches and waterways.

The Vernon Company Taps Michelle Flesher To Lead Corporate Programs

Newton, IA - Michelle Flesher has joined Counselor Top 40 distributor The Vernon Company as corporate programs director. Flesher brings more than two decades of experience in B2B and enterprise account management to the Newton, IA-based firm, with a specific background in managing complex customer programs. Most recently, she served as a strategic account manager at ODP Solutions for more than eight years. Before that, she spent 15 years at Office Depot, where she managed a $6 million portfolio of B2B accounts.

“Michelle brings an exceptional level of experience in managing complex, multifaceted customer programs and aligning cross-functional teams toward a common goal,” said Lisa Hubbard, vice president of sales and marketing at The Vernon Company and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of most influential people in promo. “Her strategic mindset, communication skills and collaborative approach made her a natural fit for our organization.”

In her new role at Vernon, Flesher will lead and support Vernon’s corporate programs business. She’ll be responsible for helping customers develop long-term scalable solutions while strengthening program execution and collaboration, according to The Vernon Company.

Looking ahead, Flesher said she hopes to help create efficient processes that support both customers and sales teams while contributing to Vernon’s continued growth.

“I was drawn to The Vernon Company because of its strong reputation, relationship-driven culture and commitment to delivering creative customer-focused solutions,” Flesher said.

“My goal is to help build scalable, efficient program processes that make it easier for our sales teams and customers to succeed,” she added. “Ultimately, I want to help make Vernon stand out in the marketplace through the value we provide, the service we deliver and the relationships we build.”

Want to earn points and join in on the fun?

Simply complete the easy request form to have your points credited

for the activities you participate in. For live events and activities, your attendance will automatically be recorded and points assigned, provided you are an active member of PPAMidwest. For recorded webinars, referrals and completion of PPAI Certifications or renewals, simply complete the easy request form to have your points credited.

It is that simple! (click on above image for more information).

^{Industry News}

2026 Woman of Achievement Recipient

PPAI Media

PPAI Names Renee Jones, MAS+, 2026 Woman of Achievement Recipient

The Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, said, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” Psychologists refer to this as the “helper’s high,” meaning those who spread joy mirror that happiness and promote a community of support and encouragement. And Renée Jones, MAS+, has cultivated quite a community.

For the woman who signs her emails with “Be Happy,” there is no greater gift than to lift up others, extend a helping hand and cheerfully give back to her industry and community.

Since 1983, when Jones took on her first volunteer roles with the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and the Department of Veterans Affairs, two organizations closest to her heart, she has been (and in some cases, still is) a hands-on volunteer for nine organizations in her home state of North Carolina. In addition to the DAVA and DVA, she is mail call coordinator for Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area and active in Wilmington Central Rotary and Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a past volunteer for Wilmington Women of Purpose and several other organizations.

“As a founding member of Wilmington Women of Purpose, she helped raise $24,800 to support five local nonprofits, demonstrating her ability to bring people together for meaningful impact,” says Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS+, CEO of Competitive Edge, and one of five previous WOA winners who nominated Jones for the honor or wrote letters of support.

When Jones volunteers, it’s not just in name. She’s all in. Every time. Over the years, her work with the DAVA led to increasing responsibility, including heading the 250,000-member organization as national commander.

AI Is Changing How Your Business Shows Up on Google - Take These 5 Steps to Adapt

Michael Quoc • Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor • Founder and CEO of Product.ai

These five operating shifts will decide whether AI agents recommend your brand or quietly route around it.

Every founder running a commerce business in 2026 is asking some version of the same question. Is the playbook that got me here still the right one for the next decade? The honest answer for most operators is no.

Commerce discovery has inverted twice in the last 17 years. The first inversion was the social era. Community-driven discovery rerouted traffic away from the search-and-display playbook. The second was the SEO era. Content depth and link equity determined which brands customers ever found. Each inversion rewarded the founders who restructured first and punished the ones who waited until the new playbook was obvious. By then the playbook already belonged to someone else.

The third inversion is the agent era, and it is happening right now. Agents weight a different stack of signals from the ones that drove Google rankings for the last 15 years. Their behavior is unlike a human shopper’s. They read claims, weigh evidence and make a decision. The brand that cannot back its claims gets skipped without warning.

2026 PPAI Responsibility Summit

PPAI Advance

Registration is Open For Responsibility Summit 2026

The branded merch industry is evolving – along with its risks and opportunities.

Designed for professionals, across functions, who are navigating the complex landscape of responsibility. The PPAI Responsibility Summit 2026 delivers practical insights to help you lead, manage or communicate on emerging trends and regulations across product design, ethical sourcing, supply chain due diligence, environmental impact and regulatory compliance.

This year, Summit moves to Denver, Colorado, offering improved access from both coasts while staying well connected to the broader industry. This shift creates a more balanced travel experience, as well as an opportunity to visit a leading city in climate and sustainability practices.

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