Margie Price

Margie Price, MAS

Long-time industry leaders Margie Price, MAS, and Joel Schaffer, MAS, were inducted into the PPAI Hall of Fame on Monday night during the Chairman’s Leadership Dinner at The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas.

Joined by their family members and many industry friends who were on hand to celebrate, Price and Schaffer were honored for their many years of service to PPAI and the industry as former members of PPAI’s Board of Directors and numerous committees, and for their years of leadership to their respective regional associations. Both were presented with custom trophies crafted by R.S. Owens, Inc.

Price, president of distributor Premiums Plus, Inc., has served on the PPAI board twice—once as the RAC delegate and again as a director. She has served as a member and chair of the Promotional Products Education Foundation and was instrumental in the creation of the first Women’s Leadership Conference in 2005 and chaired the event twice. She is also a five-time participant in PPAI’s Legislative Education and Action Day and currently serves on the PPAI Government Relations Action Council. Being inducted into the PPAI Hall of Fame is the pinnacle award for Price who previously received the 2011 Woman of Achievement Award, the 2012 PPAI Distinguished Service Award and the 2012 H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award.

Last year’s Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Slagle, presented the award. As past president and CEO of PPAI, Slagle, who retired in 2011, worked with Price in a number of capacities during his 15 years with the Association. “Margie’s outstanding and exemplary track record as a successful businesswoman, a dedicated volunteer, a selfless humanitarian, a consummate mentor, an inspiring leader, and a loving caregiver serves as a standard to which others can only aspire,” said Slagle in introducing Price.

“She possesses all of the qualities one might expect in a recipient for this award, but she rises just a bit above most of us when we explore some of the reasons she has been selected. Her list of volunteer positions from her regional association and PPAI are extensive and impressive. I can say with confidence that Margie served on more PPAI and regional committees, task forces and boards than any other volunteer—ever, including two terms on the PPAI Board of Directors.”

He also spoke about the millions of dollars she has helped raise to fight cancer in her home city of St. Louis through an organization she has led for a number of years, and the many lives she has impacted through her similar dedication and service to other local groups.

Joel Schaffer, MAS

Joel Schaffer, MAS

The second Hall of Fame inductee, Joel Schaffer, MAS, president of supplier Soundline, LLC, has been deeply involved in the promotional products industry for the past 47 years. He was inducted into the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York Hall of Fame in 2002, that same year, was presented with the Marvin Spike Professional Lifetime Achievement Award by ASI. He was also inducted into the SAAGNY Foundation Hall of Fame in 2005 and received PPAI’s Distinguished Service Award in 2011.

His son and daughter, Brett Schaffer and Allison Schaffer, who both work in the industry, praised their father’s contributions to their lives and careers, before passing the microphone to  nominator Paul Kiewiet, MAS, who presented Schaffer with the award. A previous Hall of Fame inductee himself and current executive director of the Michigan Promotional Products Association, Kiewiet previously served with Schaffer on the PPAI board.

“The recurring theme in his life is, ‘When can we start?’ He has a strong bias for action and it has led to an incredible legacy for driving industry growth, greatness and innovation,” said Kiewiet. “If you’ve ever spent any time with Joel, trying to capture all of his ideas is like trying to drink from a firehose. I’ve never met a more creative and quick-thinking fountain of ideas than this man. I’m so glad he never stopped pushing because some of the best programs in our industry and our Association are the brainchild of Joel Schaffer, MAS.

“I think the defining attribute of a PPAI Hall of Fame inductee is that person must make an indelible impact on our Association. Artwork standards, supplier forums, traveling supplier shows, the SAAGNY Foundation, Regional Association Council, Expo Valet Express, Business Recovery Program—each of these programs has Joel Schaffer’s signature activator and energy to thank for seeing the light of day.”

Since 1977 PPAI has been presenting its highest award, The Hall of Fame, and Price and Schaffer join 80 other distinguished leaders who have been inducted over the past 40 years.

Read more on the contributions and achievements of this year’s top recipients in PPB’s January issue.