Snapshots (6)

Bellantone Connects With UMAPP, Member Companies In Minnesota

In March, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, traveled to Minnesota, where he joined the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) 2016 Fire & Ice Show, and visited the Eagan, Minnesota, headquarters of supplier Webb Company (UPIC: WEBBCO). Webb Company President Dan Webb led the tour, visiting all areas of the company across its two manufacturing and decorating locations.

PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, (second from right) and his son Ben (center) met with Webb Company President Dan Webb (right), Distributor Relations Manager Patty Batalden (left), Sales and Marketing Administrator Sarah Hobson (second from left) and National Key Account Manager Dan Ball, MAS, during a visit to Minnesota for a tour of the supplier's facilities.

UMAPP’s Fire & Ice Show at Canterbury Park’s Expo Center drew attendees from across the region for networking and education and a trade-show floor featuring more than 130 exhibitors.

Bellantone joined the show at a professional development breakfast session before the show floor opened. His town hall session, “Success In An Era Of Transformation,” drew an audience of more than 50 suppliers and distributors.

PPAI Executive Vice President Bob McLean Joins AMPPRO’s Annual Trade Show In Mexico City

PPAI Executive Vice President Bob McLean traveled to Mexico City in March for Mexico’s promotional products event, La Expo de los Promocionales, hosted by the Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de la Promoción, A.C. (AMPPRO). Running March 2-4, AMPPRO’s event was held at Mexico City’s World Trade Center.

McLean joined AMPPRO leadership and other dignitaries in cutting the ribbon to mark the show’s opening.

McLean’s trip, his fifth visit to the AMPPRO event in recent years, was an opportunity to learn more about the companies and people within Mexico’s promotional products industry, and to explore ways AMPPRO and PPAI can collaborate.

Proforma Holds Inaugural Annual Planning Retreats, Energize Summits

Proforma (UPIC: PROFORMA) recently concluded its first Annual Planning Retreat, formerly known as Proforma’s Regional Meetings. The seven-city event—Las Vegas; Cleveland; Parsippany, New Jersey; Toronto; Dallas; Chicago and Tampa—in January and February connected Proforma owners with suppliers, and provided selling technique education and opportunities to network with industry experts.

Proforma’s annual meetings featured a new format to facilitate more group sharing and collaboration, and motivational presentations.

PPAI Leaders Meet With Members In New York

Before they arrived in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for Expo East, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, and the Association’s Board Chair Tom Goos, MAS, president of distributor Image Source, Inc., met with industry companies in New York. The visits were opportunities to touch base with members and learn more about their perspectives on business, the market and what’s in store for the industry.

PPAI Board Chair Tom Goos, MAS (left) and PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE (right) met with Zagwear CEO Toby Zacks during their time in New York

Axis Promotions President Larry Cohen hosted Bellantone and Goos during their visit to the distributor's headquarters in New York City.

While in New York, Goos and Bellantone joined Image Source Senior Account Executive Greta Mantell during a visit with client David McPhedran.