PPAI’s 2021 board election opened today and runs through September 28. The nominees for the board class of 2026 are Chris Anderson, CEO of Braintree, Massachusetts-based supplier HPG, and Denise Taschereau, co-founder and CEO of Vancouver, British Columbia-based distributor Fairware Promotional Products. Election results will be available in early October.

In 2019, the Association launched a new approach to its board election with the transition from a ballot vote to a selection process by presenting one distributor and one supplier to the membership for an approval vote. Nominees for the board of directors are proposed as a slate and confirmed by the membership through an election and are no longer individually elected by popular vote. PPAI made this change as it provides a better opportunity to constitute a board of directors with a balanced skillset and experience best suited for leading the Association into the future. The selection process also eliminates the time-consuming, peer-to-peer competition, applies strategic foresight and brings transparency to the process.

Anderson and Taschereau have been selected for their unique experience and balanced skillset of competencies that align with the board’s current focus and strategic plan. Each has also been extensively evaluated by the Leadership Advisory Committee and the Elected Directors Nominating Committee. If approved by the membership, they will begin their four years of board service in January 2022.

Click here to view the candidates’ career highlights, skills and education, and see how they describe their leadership style and the strengths they will bring to the board.

Each PPAI member company’s voting contact is eligible to cast a vote for the slate. Voting will be done electronically, and a new 2021 username and password has been emailed to each member company’s voting contact.

On August 24, PPAI held a webinar, “Get to Know Your Board Nominees,” in which PPAI President and CEO Dale Denham, MAS+, and Board Chair Todd Pottebaum, MAS+, introduced this year's nominees. The free session is available here for on-demand viewing.