PPAI’s membership reached a new milestone on January 3 with confirmation of its 15,000th member company—an all-time high for the Association. It’s a fitting accomplishment for the industry’s trade Association which marks its 115th anniversary this year.

“PPAI is now 15,000 corporate members strong,” says Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO, who attributes the growth to several factors. “Our members understand the compelling benefits of Association membership and the proven value it brings their businesses; they also know that as member-owners they have a key role in guiding the success of the promotional products industry.”

Ox & Pine (PPAI 725830), a supplier of handmade leather goods in McKinney, Texas, has been identified as the 15,000th member. The three-year-old company is new to the promotional products industry. Its president, Stephanie Brown, who is exhibiting for the first time at The PPAI Expo this week, learned about the promotional products industry through the friend of a friend who is a distributor. “I decided it would be a great way to grow my business, so I called PPAI,” she says. “My goal is to get at least one or two corporate orders per month to build up my business. If I could get five or six going from the show, that would be awesome.”

Bellantone says this latest milestone reflects the collaborative efforts of the Association’s staff, board and engaged volunteers to serve the industry and its members. “In growing our membership, PPAI has expanded its capacity to serve the promotional products industry—from representing our members’ needs in Washington, D.C., to product responsibility, creating awareness and influencing buyers on promotional products as a smart and proven advertising medium.”