September 2018
PPAMidwest Board Member Spotlight
This month's Board Member Spotlight is on Aaron Kist. Kist has served on the board since 2017. Kist is employed by American Solutions for Business and has shared the following fun facts:

Q:  At which store would you like to max-out your credit card?
A: Cabela’s

Q: What was your favorite TV show when growing up?
A: Knight Rider

Q: What was your favorite toy as a kid?
A: BMX bike with yellow mags

Q: Can you play any instruments?
A: Drums & Guitar

Q: What is your favorite cereal?
A: Captain Crunch

Q: What’s the strangest talent you have?
A: Singing in an 80’s hair rock band

Q: What’s your favorite flavor of Pringles?
A: Barbeque

Q: Which way does your toilet paper hang on the wall – over or under?
A: Either as long as it’s there

Q: If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
A: Invisibility 
September 26, 2018 - Lunch N Learn featuring KiddooPROMO at Trainwreck Saloon- Come enjoy lunch as one of your favorite reps teach you the "How to's" to sell their line. What's New? - What's Hot? Great case histories that have worked; not could work. Lunch is Free to Distributors but does require a reservation. Let us know you plan to attend by registering here .

PPAMidwest News
IMAGEN Brands Welcomes Lisa LeMond as Vice President of Sales
 
Mason, OH – Prime Line ® , IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown and Vitronic, is proud to announce and welcome Lisa LeMond as Vice President of Sales. A very recognizable person in the promotional products industry, LeMond brings over 20 years of sales and sales management experience with an extensive list of solid Distributor relationships.

“ I’m excited to join this amazing team and help deliver go to market strategies that reinforce IMAGEN Brands as an industry leader. To be successful you need a good company culture, innovative product and a best in class customer experience,” says Lisa LeMond. “ IMAGEN Brands has all the three ingredients and I can’t wait to get started!”

Lisa joins our team having previously worked for Polyconcept representing Leeds, Bullet, Trimark and JournalBooks. 

“ We are very fortunate to acquire a person with this much experience in our product categories combined with the overall industry experience and success,” explains Paul Lage, President of IMAGEN Brands. Lage adds, “ I personally have had the privilege to work with Lisa previously. She’s smart, strategic, and a true professional. With her positive attitude and contagious energy, she will be a solid representation of IMAGEN Brands in the industry.”
American Solutions for Business Hosts Top-Earners Summit in Washington, D.C. 
 
Glenwood, MN - American Solutions for Business recently held its annual top-earners sales summit August 23-26 in Washington, D.C. 

Over 75 of American’s top sales people and guests were invited to attend the 3-day event. Upon arrival, they attended individual suite-style meetings with 28 participating vendors to learn and connect with each product line and offerings. Each night, American hosted a social event at a new location around the city, which provided a fun, laidback atmosphere where sales associates, vendors and home office team could network and continue conversations from earlier in the day.

“American’s constant goal is to position our sales associates for success,” explains Justin Zavadil, ASB President. “Strong relationships and education are the driving forces keeping us on a pattern of growth. We design the Summit event to help facilitate the constant connection between our sales associates and vendors.”

Attending Supplier Quotes
“This year's Summit was one of the best national sales meetings I have attended across our entire industry. From the quality of the people to the high level of detail and special touches the ASB team provided to us, we could not have asked for more. We will always attend the Summit from here on out.”
-      Ben Taylor, CMO of Bam Bams

 “The American Solutions for Business Summit is a premier event that brings together top earners as well as the best suppliers in the industry. This three-day event allows you to meet one-on-one with first-class distributors to educate and demonstrate your products. At the end of each day, there are amazing events that allow for networking with both associates and suppliers. Our business has grown with American Solutions for Business tremendously because of the event.”
-      Miles Wadsworth, President of Logo Mats

“S&S is extremely grateful and excited to work with such a great organization like ASB. This event was so beneficial because it brought together the top sales people and their vendor partners. We appreciate how well thought out, organized and put-together everything was from the beginning and throughout the entire event!”
-      Megan Zezzo, National Accounts Manager at S&S Activewear
IMAGEN Brands Wins 2 Awards at Proforma Convention
 
Mason, OH - IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown and Vitronic, was announced the winner of the prestigious Silver Supplier of the Year award on August 28 during the Annual Proforma Awards at the Proforma Convention and Family Reunion. Michele Cardello, Director of Strategic Partner Development of Proforma presented the award to Rory Campbell, National Accounts Manager, and Venus Thom, Tradeshow & National Account Coordinator. 

“ IMAGEN Brands has consistently been one of the best Suppliers within our Preferred Supplier Network year after year,” states Cardello . “ They provide innovative products with top notch customer service making them one of the go to Suppliers for Proforma Owners. We were delight to recognize IMAGEN Brands as one of our best Preferred Limited Partners of the Year for 2017. ”

“ I was honored to accept this award on behalf of IMAGEN Brands. It takes a team effort to win this award and safe to say that everyone at IMAGEN Brands enjoys working with and appreciates the relationships with the owners and staff at Proforma! ” explains Rory Campbell.

Campbell and Thom also took home the 2017 Centurion Award for having a $100K Year-Over-Year Growth. Thank you to all the Proforma owners and staff. We look forward to another great year! 
Wild Wednesday Webinars - Lunch and Learn at your desk!
 
“9 Keys to Unlocking Your First Million” presented by Bobby Lehew with commonsku
Wed, September 26, 2018 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST

It’sWhat are the keys to unlocking your first million in sales? Are there secrets? Tactics that the seasoned pros know? From selling widely into existing accounts by expanding product categories, utilizing spec samples, determining your ideal book of business, uncovering the power of tiny tasks, and implementing the fastest way to grow your sales, this webinar features nine critical keys to getting to your first million. In this session, you'll learn: 
•        What B2B buyers really want (and how it impacts your growth)
•        The #1 reason a client leaves (and how to prevent it!) 
•        The #1 way to grow your sales 
•        The secret of "ideal book" and "right fit" 
•        Growing from the top line and the bottom line
Industry News
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