The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) announced the winners of its annual awards during its holiday party, held this week at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, New York. The regional association presented the Supplier, Distributor, John J. Pagano Multiline Representative, Customer Service Representative, Humanitarian of the Year and other awards during the party, including the Rising Star Award and Diamond Award winners.

The SAAGNY Board of Directors established these awards to recognize those companies and individuals that best represent the ideals of the promotional advertising industry. Most of the award-winners were nominated and voted on by the association’s members in balloting conducted in September and October. A selection committee determined the winners of the SAAGNY Rising Star Award, SAAGNY Past Presidents’ Continuing Education Award and the SAAGNY Diamond Awards.

The winners are:

Supplier of the Year (less than $40 million in sales): Peerless Umbrella
Supplier of the Year (more than $40 million in sales): Hit Promotional Products
Distributor of the Year (less than $1 million in sales): All Types Advertising
Distributor of the Year (more than $1 million in sales): Barker Specialty
Supplier Technology Award: Tekweld
Distributor Technology Award: Stackable Sensations
Decorator of the Year: Insane Apparel
John J. Pagano Multiline Rep. of the Year: Josh Brooks, Brooks & Brooks
Customer Service Rep of the Year: Will Flores, Tekweld
Supplier Representative of the Year: Mike Newman, Starline
Humanitarian of the Year: Gail Deutchman, Distinctive Promotions
Rising Star Award: Alex Bowen, Barker Specialty
Past Presidents’ Continuing Education Award: Patricia Dugan, BudgetCard
Diamond Award – Goodwill/Non-Profit/Fundraising: Joyce Ponton, HALO Branded Solutions
Diamond Award – Business to Business Programs: Clearly Branded
Diamond Award – Sales Incentive Programs: Clearly Branded
Diamond Award – Internal Self Promotion/Employee Incentive Program: Stackable Sensations
Diamond Award – Distributor Self Promotion: Clearly Branded

"It is a wedding on a Wednesday,” says Paul Sprunk, SAAGNY president, quoting SAAGNY Executive Director Donna-Jean Plante. “This wonderful evening includes great food, drinks, old friends and meaningful conversations. A recent survey found 60 percent dread attending their office/industry holiday party. Not true for our holiday party; all our attendees will all be back next year! I hope more members take advantage of this great holiday tradition.”

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) represents the distributors, suppliers and decorators of imprinted promotional products in New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. The association is primarily engaged in promoting business relationships between and among industry practitioners, providing continuing education to industry practitioners and monitoring legislative activities in the three state capitals and in Washington, D.C.