PPAI Executive Vice President Bob McLean was on the road last week, visiting several industry suppliers in South Carolina, including Pro Towels’ (PPAI 112755) Abbeville location, Loom Craft (PPAI 199097) in Belton and Aprons, Etc. (PPAI 110868) in Maudlin. These visits were opportunities to tour the companies’ facilities, meet with staff and leadership, and learn more about how the Association can serve and support them.

“I really enjoy visiting our members,” says McLean. “It allows me to learn what is happening in the industry, what their issues are and how PPAI might be able to help. It’s rewarding to be able to offer a PPAI resource that may help them successfully address an issue. I believe our members genuinely enjoy a visit from a PPAI representative and showing off their operations.”

McLean met with Jennifer Reece, senior director of marketing (above left), and Melissa Mason, human resource manager, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-headquartered Pro Towels’ Abbeville facility. Reece and Mason showed him around the almost 340,000 square-foot facility, where 150 staff members perform embroidery, screen printing and dye sublimation work for the company’s Pro Towels, Kanata Blankets and Superior Decorating brands.

At Loom Craft, Lynn Hanna, plant manager, gave McLean a tour of the supplier’s operation. Loom Craft produces U.S.-made products for the promotional products industry, custom-weaving blankets and tapestries in Belton.

Pam Pennington, Aprons, Etc.’s vice president of strategic partnerships, met with McLean at the company’s Maudlin headquarters. The supplier has been in business since 1985 and has 25 employees. McLean’s visit gave him an up-close look at its three main product lines, and screen printing, dye-sublimation and embroidery it offers distributors.