November 2018
PPAMidwest Board Member Spotlight
This month's Board Member Spotlight is on Tiffany Kanak. Kanak has served as the PPAMidwest Executive Director since the beginning of 2014. Kanak has shared the following fun facts:

Q: How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?
A: Probably 10 years old. I have a shoe habit......

Q: Can you play any instruments?
A: I play the piano

Q: Which way does does your toilet paper hang on the wall - over or under?
A: Definitely over!

Q: What was your favorite toy as a kid?
A: My bike....I rode it everywhere

Q: What was your childhood nickname?
A: Tiffy

Q: What is your favorite cereal?
A: Reese's Puffs

Q: What’s your favorite flavor of Pringles?
A: BBQ

Q: What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?
A: I don't know if it is nerdy but I love to read

Q: If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
A: Be invisible
PPAMidwest News
IMAGEN Brands Welcomes Liza Sachs as District Sales Manager

Irving, TX - HUB IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown and Vitronic, is excited to announce and welcome Liza Sachs as District Sales Manager - East. A promotional products industry veteran, Liza brings over 20 years of sales and sales management experience with an extensive list of solid distributor and supplier relationships.
 
“ I am so excited to join the IMAGEN family. It’s a wonderful company with a strong family of brands and a great team ,” says Liza. “ In my 20+ years of experience in the promotional products industry, I have spent time on the supplier side and in the past 6 years I have had the opportunity to work on the distributor side. This experience has given me a unique vision to the needs of the distributor and I am confident that background will help IMAGEN continue to grow as a leader in the industry .”
 
Liza joins the team having most recently worked as Southeast Regional Vice President at HALO Branded Solutions on the distributor side, and began her career in 1996 with BIC Graphic as a Sales Manager on the supplier side.
 
“ We are delighted to welcome Liza to the IMAGEN Brands Sales Management Team. Her previous experience on both the supplier and distributor side provides a powerful perspective that will assist with the continued development of our sales team ,” says Lisa LeMond, Vice President of Sales at IMAGEN Brands. “ Liza is a well-respected and known industry leader, we are fortunate to have her a part of the IMAGEN Brands family .”

American Solutions for Business Senior Leadership Volunteers at Local United Way

GLENWOOD, MN – The American Solutions for Business senior leadership team volunteered at the local United Way this week in Alexandria, MN. They packaged boxes of food for children and families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. The following day, a team from American delivered these boxes to the local elementary school, where they will be distributed.

This effort is part of a company-wide campaign to raise money for the United Way. American’s goal is to raise $10,000 overall.

“We’re strongly rooted in our community, and these efforts can truly change people’s lives,” explains Justin Zavadil, ASB President. “We’re excited to participate in such a worthy cause.” 
Wild Wednesday Webinars - Lunch and Learn at your desk!
 
“Tips on Selling Uniform Apparel” presented by Brett Garran with Edwards Garment Company
Wed, November 28, 2018 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST

This Brett Garran will bring his deep experience selling apparel as wearable branding for organizations and teach you how to identify good prospects and target uniform opportunities. He'll share with you what industries are the best for you to pursue and who inside the organization to contact and what questions you need to ask to qualify them.

Attendees will:
  • Lean about the market for these programs
  • Learn how to sell against the large uniform dealers and laundry companies
  • Will gain confidence leading with apparel at every future meeting. 
Industry News
Promotional Products Education Foundation 

We Want YOU To Help Us Celebrate #GivingTuesday


#GivingTuesday is a national holiday celebrated around the world where people come together to give back. Giving Tuesday is celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and this year the date to remember is November 27.  
This year, Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) is participating in Giving Tuesday to raise money for college scholarships for those with parents in the promotional products industry. Since 1989, PPEF has awarded more than $1.9 million in college scholarships to 1,013 students. This year, PPEF has awarded $200,000 to 132 recipients. 

Let's Get Social - Share the reason you support PPEF with a #unselfie. 
Here's how: On a piece of paper, write why you are supporting PPEF, take an unselfie with the paper in front of your face and post it to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media to raise awareness for PPEF's Scholarship Fund. Don't forget to use the hashtags #givingtuesday and #PPAIunselfie.  

Donate now and show off your  #unselfie
What These 5 Billionaires Would Tell Their Younger Selves
Deep Patel •  VIP Contributor • Entrepreneur

Success is when you're certain you know what you would have done differently.

Remote As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy to know the right thing to do once we can look back. Sometimes we wish we could go back and handle issues differently, or we think we could avoid certain problems altogether if only we had known what to do.
Of course, none of us can go back in time, and all those setbacks and mistakes give us valuable lessons that make us who we are. Without having lived through something, mistakes and all, you wouldn’t have the experiences and perspective necessary to become who you’re meant to be. Nevertheless, who hasn’t wished they could go back and tell their younger selves something?
Affinity Partners 

How You Fit In At The AMA

No one likes to feel like an outsider. We get it.

That's why we want you to know that the American Marketing Association is your professional home. Through more than  70 local chapters across North America, you can connect with other professionals in your community to learn the latest marketing trends, make new business contacts and find volunteer opportunities.
Because the AMA is a PPAI Trusted Affinity Partner, you can take advantage of discounts on membership and national events.

We believe your voice is important in building a marketing community that understands what a truly integrated marketing strategy looks like. We hope when you join the AMA you will feel like you've found kindred spirits who are ready to make a difference in the industry.
Ready to learn about all the AMA member benefits ? Click below to get started.