Navigator Newsletter
September/October 2026 Issue
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Dear UMAPP Members,
As we move further into the year, it has been exciting to see the continued energy and engagement within our UMAPP community. We have had several successful events, meaningful conversations, and important progress as we continue looking toward the future of the association.
Our Brand Connection Expo was a great success, with strong participation from both distributors and end users. The interactions created exactly the kind of connection we hope to encourage through UMAPP events. The new approach of incorporating a breakfast before the show also seemed to be a great hit. It gave attendees an opportunity to connect, have conversations, and start the day together before the show floor opened. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event successful.
We also had another terrific UMAPP Golf Outing, helped along by some great weather. One of the highlights this year was the curated swag bag provided to attendees. A big congratulations and thank you to our Procurement Team for putting together a memorable collection of products. It was a great example of what our industry does so well—bringing together creativity, useful products, and a memorable experience.
Our Board also recently had the opportunity to meet at Dubow Textiles, and I want to extend a sincere thank you to their team for hosting us. It was impressive to see their operation firsthand and learn more about the breadth of their capabilities. Opportunities like this give our leadership team a better understanding of the businesses and people that make up our industry, while also allowing us to take UMAPP meetings to different parts of our region.
Another important initiative continues to be our search for UMAPP’s next Executive Director. I’m pleased to share that the process is moving forward. We are narrowing down the options and are hopeful that we will be in a position to make an offer soon. This is an important decision for UMAPP, and we appreciate everyone who has contributed time and perspective to the process.
As part of thinking about that future, we were also fortunate to have a number of past UMAPP Presidents join us to share their thoughts and ideas. Their experience and perspective were extremely valuable as we discussed where UMAPP has been, what has made the organization successful, and where opportunities may exist for the future. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and continue investing in UMAPP.
There is a lot happening within our association, and I continue to be encouraged by the participation and ideas coming from our members, volunteers, committees, and Board.
Thank you for your continued support of UMAPP. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events and continuing to build on the momentum we have created this year.
Sincerely,
Patrick Napurski
President, UMAPP
Owner, IDLine
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Board of Directors Election - apply for a position on the UMAPP Board by October 11
Seminar: "What Makes a Client Remember You". September 29, 2026, 3:00 - 4:30 Sisyphus Brewing. Come for the seminar, stay for pizza and drinks!
Connects Event: September 29, 2026, Sisyphus Brewing, 712 Ontario Ave W #100, Minneapolis, MN 55403, 4:30 - 7:00. Join fellow industry colleagues for a social. No RSVP required.
Webinar: "Win the Year Before it Begins" Cliff Quicksell. Wednesday, September 30.
Webinar: "The Growth Gap". Tuesday, October 13 at 11:30 am Central
Seminar: "The Bravery Effect. How Brave Leaders Create Energy, Focus and Action Through Constant Change." UMAPP partnered with the Hopkins Business Leaders Breakfast Forum to bring our members a deep discount to attend this event.
October 29, 2026, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 8:30 - 11:30 am
New and Upcoming: We are mixing things up and starting fresh with the infamous Room Show. If you know of a venue with 10-11 meeting rooms together and a space large enough to gather for lunch plus free parking in the Twin Cities Metro Area, send us an EMAIL. Likewise, a new venue for the golf tournament in August and the Brand Connection Expo Show. Things are changing!
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Nexacap, Supplier
Jon Hodgins
jon@nexacap.com
3TEN Designs, Supplier
Sam Ringstad
info@3tendesigns.com
J. America Wholesale, Supplier
James McCollough
jmccollough@jamericablanks.com
SourceEazy, Supplier
Russel Karim
russel@sourceeazy.com
Elliot Barry Company, Supplier
Lisa French
lisa@ebarry.com
One Offs Plus, Supplier
Anthony Apodaca
sales@oneoffsplus.com
Rival Branding LLC, Supplier
Trent Marquardt
trent@rivalbranding.com
PromoPros USA, Supplier
Dan Rusch
promoprosusa@gmail.com
T-Shirt Tycoon, Supplier
Lake Tankersley
lake@ttycoon.com
Next Level Apparel, Supplier
Kaili Campbell
kailic@nextlevelapparel.com
Bond Branded Gear, Distributor
Chris Heine
chris@bondbrandedgear.com
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3D Apparel, LLC, Distributor
Willie Zimberoff
zbakery@gmail.com
Lane Seven Apparel, Supplier
Linda Yilmazian
linda@lanesevenapparel.com
Totally Chocolate Promo, Supplier
Kristina Beal
kristina@totallychocolate.com
Hand Armor Gloves, Supplier
Jon-Paul Rosenwald
jp@handarmorgloves.com
Diamond Imprints, Supplier
Adrian Baker
abaker@diamondimprints.com
Compass Industries, Supplier
Gary Rosenberg
gary@compasspromos.com
Quake City Casuals, Inc., Supplier
Isabella Chan
isabellac@quakecitycaps.com
BamBams, Supplier
Rustin Luedtke
rustin@bambams.com
Thumbprint, Distributor
Lizzie Cohen
lcohen@thumbprint.com
Outdoor Cap Company, Supplier
Kizzy Hill
kizzy.hill@outdoorcap.com
Peacock Promotions, Distributor
Scott Ainsworth
scott@peacockpromotions.com
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Imagine saving hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars on orders throughout the year. UMAPP's digital coupon book from nearly 200 suppliers is loaded with deals for distributors, like 10% off entire orders, end-quantity pricing, free setups, and plenty more.
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8 Ways to Help and Support Your Co-Workers
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Reprinted with permission from PPAI Media
The day is more enjoyable and things just run better when people help each other. Lending a hand is especially helpful when deadlines are piling up or someone is handling a tough campaign. Showing up for your co-workers brings all kinds of benefits, from improved morale to decreased stress.
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. . . A blood test detects Parkinson's decades before symptoms? A simple blood test assisted by machine learning can identify subtle biological changes that take place years or event decades before the first noticeable signs of Parkinson's disease (PD). Study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, published in npj Parkinson's Disease.
. . . Antarctic penguins and seals join the endangered list? The emperor penguin population is expected to be halved by the 2080s, and fur seal numbers are down 50% since 2000. Melting sea ice is reducing food availability . . . and penguins rely on sea ice for breeding and during molting season. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Cambridge, UK, https://UYCB.org
. . . Work from home may affect mental health. Mental distress increased significantly between 2011 and 2024. Working remotely accounted for roughly one-third of that increase. People whose jobs could be done from home spent more days entirely alone, socialized less after work and felt less connected to colleagues. Analysis of more than 588,000 workers by researchers at Harvard University, University of Virginia, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, published in Science.
"If I turn out to be particularly clear, you probably misunderstood what I've said."
Alan Greenspan, 13th Chair of the Federal Reserve, 1926-2026
Reprinted from The Bottom Line Personal Subscription Publication
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Maple Ridge Farms and their new partnership; Innovative Office Solutions and Nick Augustine; Bill Bywater, Banker's Advertising; NC Custom; Dubow and Burnside Announcement; ASB raises $11,000.
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| | What is Loop Marketing (and why it matters) | | |
Reprinted with permission from PPAI Media
Ever heard of loop marketing? It’s the idea that everything you put into the world should teach you what to do next. You publish, watch what happens, learn from it and immediately adjust. You don’t set it and forget it. It’s a constant feedback loop that keeps your marketing aligned with what actually works.
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You are receiving this email because you have participated in our events, joined our mailing list, and/or are a UMAPP member. The Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) is a promotional professionals regional association for companies and staff in the states of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Western Wisconsin.
One company membership in UMAPP covers all staff. Visit UMAPP.org for more information.
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Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals admin@umapp.org
UMAPP.org | 651-734-9767 (landline)
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