Teresa Moisant, MAS (center), here with past recipient Jo-an Lantz, MAS, and her nominator, Brian Porter, was presented with the Woman of Achievement Award at WLC's opening dinner.

Teresa Moisant, MAS, owner and president of Moisant Promotional Products, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was honored Monday evening with the 2017 PPAI Woman of Achievement award. The presentation was the highlight of the opening event at the PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Moisant is the 11th recipient of the award that recognizes those who lead the way in the advancement of women in the industry, exhibit outstanding leadership and make significant contributions to the industry and community.

Long an active leader in the promotional products industry, Moisant is a well-known volunteer, mentor, speaker and industry advocate who has coached countless young industry professionals to help them grow both personally and professionally.

In accepting the award during the conference’s opening dinner, Moisant said she was humbled to share the stage with the 10 previous honorees, whom she called her heroes. She also gave credit for her accomplishments to her many industry friends and colleagues who she said provided her a helping hand along the way.

“I have always believed that the more you help others to get to the top, you get closer to your goals,” she said. “I am where I am today because people helped me. I was mentored by some really great guys, they looked out for me, they opened doors, they advised me, they gave me the opportunity to grow. I was so lucky and am very appreciative of what they did for me.”

Brian Porter, vice president of North American sales at ProTowels, presented the award. Porter, who has known and worked with Moisant for many years, was one of three individuals who nominated her. Other nominators were Joe Fleming, president of Hub Pen Co., and Nancy Jolly, vice president of sales at In Stepp Marketing. Porter says, “I'm humbled and honored to have been asked to introduce the industry’s ‘one true mom’ as the 2017 Woman of Achievement Award winner. As a very young, green, naive rep, Teresa was there for me, as she has been for so many others, and showed us that this industry is about more than branded products, it's about the people, the promotional family. Teresa is truly deserving of this honor!”

Moisant (center right) joins an exclusive club, as only 11 women in the promotional products industry have been recognized with the PPAI Woman of Achievement Award. Recipients in attendance Monday night included (from left) Jo-an Lantz, MAS; Sheri Lennarson, MAS; and Roni Wright, MAS.

Moisant spoke from her heart as listeners cheered from their seats and frequently raised their glasses to toast her remarks. She wrapped up her thoughts by challenging conference attendees to look for ways to get involved and provide a helping hand to others. “It is so much easier when you have others around you who are there to help you, but remember you have to start it off with you giving first,” she said. “I think all of us can make that commitment. We can start right now—here at WLC. Open our eyes, extend a hand, make the first move—and it’s the beginning of the ‘good life.’”

Moisant’s contributions to the promotional products industry also won her PPAI’s Distinguished Service Award in 2016 and she has been honored by The Journal Record as one of six of Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEOs and also as one of 50 Women Making A Difference. In addition, she has twice been named Ambassador of the Year by PPAI.

In 1990, Moisant founded her distributor company with her late husband, Bill, and has grown it into a $2.5 million enterprise that has received numerous accolades. Among the honors, the company was recognized three times by the OKC Chamber of Commerce as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies and was named the Best Promotional Products Company in okcBiz magazine’s annual Best Of Business for 10 consecutive years—from 2008 to 2017. Moisant Promotional Products was also named Distributor of the Year in 2000 by Urban League Supplier.

Moisant is the 11th recipient of the PPAI Woman of Achievement award. Previous winners are Carol Aastad, MAS; Margaret Custer-Ford, MAS; Margie Price, MAS; Mary Ann Farmer, MAS; Janelle Nevins; Roni Wright, MAS; Jo-an Lantz, MAS; Maribeth Sandford, CAS; Sheri Lennarson, MAS, and Mary Dobsch, MAS.

Read more about this celebrated leader and volunteer in PPB’s September issue.