See who has moved in—and up—in the promotional world.

Distributors

American Solutions for Business (UPIC: AMER005)—William Johnson, promoted to vice president of business development

Proforma (UPIC: PROFORMA)—Pamela Crouser, business development advisor

Representatives

Incentives West (UPIC: IDEAWEST)—Steve De Mars, supporting clients in Arizona, Southern California and southern Nevada

Suppliers

The Antigua Group (UPIC: antigua1)—Michelle Michelsen, CAS, national sales manager

Edwards Garment Co. (UPIC: EDWARDSG)—James McCollough, vice president of sales

Goodhope Bags (UPIC: GOOD0004)—Clark & Clark to represent the company in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska

Lancer Label (UPIC: LANC0002)—Steve Kostichka, operations manager

Logo Mats, LLC (UPIC: MATLOGO9)—Miles Wadsworth, promoted to president

Olympus Group (UPIC: OLYMPUS)—Jason Ahart, chief operating officer

Quinn Flags & Banners (UPIC: Quinn)—Bruce Kolbrener, vice president of sales

Spector and Co. (UPIC: SPEC0038)—Dustin Smith, regional sales manager

Terry Town (UPIC: TERRYTWN)—Aaron Bradley, strategic national account manager

Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc. (UPIC: Victorinox)—Melissa Casey, mid-Atlantic regional sales manager for corporate markets

Vitronic (UPIC: ACHIEVER)—Joe Gavern, regional sales manager for the West Coast

In Memoriam: Maxwell M. Bentley

Industry veteran Maxwell M. Bentley passed away on July 28. He was 93. Bentley founded a number of industry companies during his time in the promotional products business, including Maxwell Bentley Mfg. Co., EM Stevens Corp. and Hill Novelties Corp. The promotional products industry runs in Bentley’s family, with his son Mitch operating the distributor Pride-Mark Promotions, Inc., which celebrates its 43rd year in business this year, and his younger son, Richard, who retired from his distributor Marketing Designs, Inc. in 2006 after 24 years.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bentley enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941 after graduating from the City College of New York. He was stationed in New York City, Virginia Beach, Virginia and elsewhere before being deployed to the South Pacific as the communications officer on the LST Flotilla Command Ship.  He served until the end of the war, was at the invasion at Okinawa and visited Nagasaki in 1945 before returning to the United States. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with star), and the World War II Victory Medal.

Bentley was one of the founders of the Malverne Jewish Center in Malverne, New York, where he lived for 29 years. He also contributed to a number of charities over the years. An avid golfer and bridge player, Bentley regularly attended the theater and other live events. He exercised and enjoyed water aerobics through his 93rd birthday, and he traveled extensively, including several trips around the world during which he designed and manufactured gifts for his businesses.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Enid Bentley; his children, Mitchell and Karen Bentley, Richard Bentley and Patti Bentley; his grandchildren Scott and Erin Bentley, Jill and Chris Saint, Steven and Elizabeth Bentley, Kristin and Nick Kray, Lauren and Aaron Aggerwal, and Jennifer and Brendan Lynch; his nine great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Jeffrey Lawrence, and Marilyn Stiegler, devoted family friend.

In Memoriam: John “Jack” Goessling

John “Jack” Goessling passed away on August 18 at the age of 87. His father established Quick Point Pencil Company—now Quick Point, Inc. (UPIC: QUICKPT)—in 1928. Goessling joined the company as a young man and went on to run the supplier.

Goessling was born in St. Louis, Missouri and attended John Burroughs School, then Princeton University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1950. His career after college included working for Argon at the University of Chicago, and for Dow Chemical on military special projects. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Honolulu, before returning to St. Louis to run the family business.

Quick Point employees remembered Goessling’s dedication to his company, where he continued to oversee daily operations even after retirement.  “Jack had a very hard time not visiting his friends at Quick Point,” a company statement read. “He was truly loved and will be missed tremendously by those who knew and loved him.”

Goessling’s leisurely pursuits included bird hunting and the outdoors, and he listed beekeeping, gardening and winemaking among his interests. He also served on the boards of Commercial Bank, Kieffer Paper Mill and the John Burroughs School.

Goessling was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy. He is survived by their six children; Margaret “Pandy” Reiser, Jill Dowd, Gay Goessling, Karen Goessling, John Goessling, Jr. and Wendy Wolfsberger; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held September 3 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the John Burroughs School or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.