Earlier this month, the PPAI board of directors and the Association’s executive leadership gathered in Utah for the board’s Spring meeting. While in the state, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE; Vice President of Business Development Alan Peterson and PPAI Board Member Perry Wehrle, MAS, visited the headquarters and factory of West Jordan-based supplier SnugZ USA to meet with its leadership and learn more about its operations.

“The opportunity to have Paul and Alan visit from PPAI was priceless,” says Brandon Mackay, SnugZ USA president. “I know I can speak for everyone at SnugZ USA and say that we absolutely love visitors and the chance to show off all our amazing and talented employees. About 90 percent of our employee-base does not have the chance to visit customers or go to Expo, which made the visit thrilling for many. We hoped they loved seeing us as much as we loved seeing them. It was truly a great day.”

Bellantone, Peterson and Wehrle, along with Brittany David, MAS, vice president of sales at SnugZ and PPAI board chair, visited with employees across all of the company’s departments and toured the entire facility. During the tour, they watched the lip balm and hand sanitizer production processes, from the chemical compounding to mixing, filling and decorating the products. They also saw the company’s dye sublimation process along with screen printed lanyards and the handmade Traverse items, from full hides to cutting, sewing and debossing.

David says, “We try to keep as much production as we can in house. It allows for quality control, flexibility on customization, maximizing capacity and, most importantly, jobs and opportunities for employees. Our people are the secret sauce.”

The trio also took part in a live-casting on the supplier’s private, employee-only Facebook page. David adds, “We love having guests tour our building and taking a look behind the scenes. We truly appreciate the education and perspective Paul shared. It’s always nice to hear an outside perspective, especially from someone so well respected.”