A Message from our PPAMidwest President...
So long 2020 & Cheers to 2021!
WOW, what a year, right?! 2020 will go down in the books as a global doozy category 5 storm that’s for sure, but guess what? If you’re reading this then WE MADE IT THROUGH 2020 and 2021 is only 2 weeks away. That’s something to collectively celebrate!
This year was filled with a lot of really hard times for so many of our industry friends and families and my heart goes out to all that have suffered. The silver lining in the midst of the struggles is that many have learned to persevere and shine in new ways. In the end, COVID 2020 has brought us closer together as an industry, as people, as friends, and as family.
Our PPAMidwest board worked very hard to adapt this year. Without being able to host our big in-person tradeshows and social/philanthropy events, we had to find new virtual ways to serve and connect with our members. Thank goodness for ZOOM, new technology, social media, and some really fun creative minds that made it possible! Our committees did a great job coming together to execute what we could. I’m so proud of the people I get to serve with and so thankful to all our distributor and supplier members who stuck with us, tuned in, and engaged in so many ways!
2020 Highlights:
- 33 Webinars to Date
- 17 Virtual Breakfast or Lunch Sessions
- Fall Trunk or Treat Tailgate Tradeshow was a BIG hit and a welcome breath of fresh air (quite literally)! 2 parking lots, 2 cities, 39 supplier booths, 82 distributor attendees and it was FREE to all and so much fun to feel normal again (with masks of course).
- 22 NEW Member Companies
- 3 Happy Hours plus we pulled off a Holiday Social with 2 live Holiday Drink Mixologists and a fun Jeopardy game.
2021 - Bring it! I’m feeling very hopeful that our industry and world will recover and thrive once again by Q2 with new-found energy for life, growth, and appreciation for so many things we’ve missed like: travel, being face-to-face at meetings, lunches, happy hours, trade shows, and don’t forget those hugs and smiles that our very social industry does so well!
Thank you for allowing me to serve this amazing association of people as your PPAMidwest President in 2020.
May you all have a thankful, grateful, and blessed holiday season!
Kerri Nobrega
Outgoing PPAMidwest President