LEAD-Local-California-Group Industry professionals (from left) Harris Cohen, MAS, president of supplier of All In One; Neil Levitt, president of distributor I.D. Me Promotions; Stacy Weiss, MAS, president of distributor Your Choice or Mine; and Jon Henrickson, CAS, partner at multi-line rep firm Henrickson and Associates, joined PPAI in Sacramento to represent the industry at L.E.A.D. Local California.

On August 25, PPAI staff joined industry professionals at the state capitol in Sacramento for L.E.A.D. Local California. L.E.A.D. Local is part of PPAI’s state-level legislative outreach efforts to deliver the message of the promotional products industry to state legislators.

PPAI Public Affairs Director Anne Lardner-Stone and Government Relations Manager Seth Barnett were joined by Jon Henrickson, CAS, partner at multi-line rep firm Henrickson and Associates; Neil Levitt, president of distributor I.D. Me Promotions; Stacy Weiss, MAS, president of distributor Your Choice or Mine; and Harris Cohen, MAS, president of supplier of All In One.

LEAD-Local-California-Visit L.E.A.D. Local participants Stacy Weiss, MAS, and Harris Cohen, MAS, with State Senator Jeff Stone, one of the 16 meetings the group held during their day at the state capitol.

 

L.E.A.D Local California is PPAI’s fourth state-level government outreach and was conducted in collaboration with the Specialty Advertising Association of California (SAAC) and the Promotional Marketing Association of Northern California (PMANC). During their day at California’s capital, participants conducted meetings with 16 legislators and their staffs.

“I felt our state lawmakers were very receptive, although I think our industry has its work cut out for it,” says Levitt. “They don’t yet know who we are. This visit was step one: giving them an education on our industry and opening their eyes to it. We made them aware of how valuable we are as a resource to them and how effectively the industry’s products can be used to promote their interests, and how their comments on promotional products can have an effect on California’s businesses. This was the first step, next up is establishing the relationships we made in Sacramento.”

Barnett adds, “The reception to our efforts was some of the best we have had on a state level. This was amplified by the fact that we reminded state officials that almost 10 percent of our industry works within the state of California. This makes an impact when speaking about what they can do to help our industry remain productive on a state level.”

PPAI will continue to work with SAAC and PMANC to ensure L.E.A.D. Local remains part of their government relations plans. To learn more about L.E.A.D. Local in your area and PPAI’s legislative action, visit www.ppailaw.org.