Brian Jolin, MAS, president of Fort Worth-based distributor Jolin Promo (PPAI 655228, D3), passed away Wednesday after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 51. 

Jolin grew up outside of Seattle in Bremerton, Washington. After graduating from Central Kitsap High School, he earned a degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1993. A resident of Texas for the past 29 years, Jolin's career saw him working as a manufacturer's representative for several lines and he established Jolin Promo in 2009. He has been a practitioner in the promotional products industry for more than 25 years and during that time Jolin helped clients representing a wide range of businesses grow their brands.

He was also a committed volunteer. As a member of the PPB Editorial Advisory Committee in 2018-2022, Jolin contributed to and advised on many of the Association’s publications. Prior to his time on the committee, he spent two years in PPAI’s Volunteer Project Pool, a venue for members to participate in an ad hoc basis on a range of short-term projects and work groups. He was also an inaugural member of distributor AIM Smarter’s Diversity Council, established in late 2020, and began working with PromoKitchen as a volunteer mentor in 2017.

Outside of the promo field, Jolin was also a long-time volunteer with Room In The Program at the First Street Mission in Fort Worth, which helps to provide temporary shelter to the homeless in the community. He also coached youth sports, served as president of his neighborhood association, was active in various roles at First United Methodist Church and was a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer. He is remembered as being very passionate about social justice issues and sought to be a good ally.

For the last several years, Jolin also had a rewarding side project during the holiday season, as the in-demand Santa Brian. Growing out of shared family passion of going all out for holiday cards, Jolin began volunteering as Santa at neighborhood events and visiting clients in costume. While the pandemic slowed things down for Santa Brian, bookings came roaring back at the end of 2021.

Most rewarding for Jolin was taking Santa Brian to visit children and adults with special needs and participating in the Secret Sleigh Project, a nonprofit that arranges surprise visits from Santa for homebound or medically fragile children.

Speaking to PPB last year, Jolin said that as a distributor, you gain by giving. “If you position yourself in business as more of a coach or guide than a salesperson and you’re giving advice, it makes your job and the company’s experience more fun.”

Jolin is survived by his wife Jennifer and son Thomas, mother Claire Wildgren, sister Rebecca Johnson, stepbrother David Woodruff and many others. 

A memorial service for Jolin will be held Friday, August 5 at 3 pm at First United Methodist Church, 800 W. 5th Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you, No. 1, get your colonoscopy, particularly if you're 45 or older or if you have symptoms; No. 2, stand up of the marginalized in our society and vote like you mean it; and No.3, lend your support to these organizations: First Street Methodist Mission, The Welman Project and Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation.