A Message from our CPPA President......
Good August my friends.
Summer is winding down, but not your regional association CPPA. We are fast moving with some great programs and events. Your board has taken an aggressive stance to create some opportunities for you to connect, rekindle relationships and to help get your clients ahead of the curve. Some are for you to relax and enjoy while others are to take your business to the next level and some are both.
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August 18th is our Pints & Promos which is a great networking event with Supplier presentations at Manor Hill Brewing, 4411 Manor Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042. The event is from 4 - 7pm. There is still time to sign up and attend so reserve your spot today!
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September 15th is our Fall Promo EXPO at Laurel Park, 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Road, Laurel, MD 20725. Schedule for the day is:
- 9 - 10am will be a great education session which will be presented by Ann Brennan of Ann’s Social Media & Marketing. Ann will provide great tips on more effective social media marketing techniques.
- 10am - 1:30pm is our classic Fall show with many of your top supplier partners and reps
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October 17 - 19th is Promotions East at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, NJ. CPPA Distributor members - make sure to use Registration Code CPPA22 to receive our discounted rate.
My friends, the year is winding down but you should not. Keep moving, stay proactive and get involved as we need you. Can’t wait to see your smiling faces at one of our upcoming events. It will be so nice to reconnect.
Remember, continued success - and together we can accomplish everything!
Cliff Quicksell, MAS+
President, CPPA
301-717-0615
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August 9, 2022 Tuesday Learning Lab:
"Multi-Task Like A Pro: How to Manage All Your Projects at Once"
Ready to tackle your projects and knock out every task in a flash? With SAGE Project Management, you can easily view and manage all projects, as well as track the status. We'll also walk you through how projects work with the CRM and order management modules to streamline your workday. You'll be ready to supercharge your efficiency and make running your business easier than ever!
Learning Outcomes:
- Ins and Outs of SAGE Project Management
- How to save time and effort with the Project Management system
- Learn how to track client's projects, stay on top of the status, and provide quick updates
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August 18, 2022
Manor Hill Brewing
Ellicott City, MD
4 - 7 pm
Join us for an afternoon of fast-moving Supplier presentations
and networking at Manor Hill Brewing
- CPPA Membership recommended but not required
- Event includes 2 drink tickets, light fare and a great time
- Pre-registration is requested
- $20/pp for CPPA members; $30/pp for non-members
- Supplier presentations (15 min each) begin at 4 pm
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August 31, 2022 Wild Wednesday Webinar: "How PPAI Promotional Products Work can Elevate Your Business"
PPAI has launched an industry outreach effort to elevate promo to businesses to ensure “Promotional Products are universally valued and essential to every brand.” In this session, you will see some of the tools you can use in your own business to take advantage of this campaign as well as be engaged in the effort overall.
or moving forward.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand why PPAI is investing to promote the industry.
- Understand how Promotional Products Work efforts can help you in your business.
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Identify specific tools your business can take advantage of.
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Mark your calendars and register to attend our upcoming Fall Promo EXPO!
CPPA is proud to bring you and your clients multiple opportunities to attend trade shows throughout our region. The Fall Promo EXPO is a great opportunity to connect with vendors and discuss projects. Also, CPPA Distributor members are encouraged to invite clients to attend as exclusive guests. Register to exhibit or attend today!
For event details and registration links, click here
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Educate, Connect and Explore at the all-NEW Promotions East
CPPA is proud to be aligned with SAAGNY and to be partnering with them on this flagship event that is sure to impress! It is with great anticipation that we welcome this show back to the East Coast!
The refreshed and reenergized Promotions East promises to deliver value to ALL participants with new experiential elements to immerse distributors and suppliers into a connected, fun, and long- awaited industry reunion complete with education on hot topics, an exhibit hall with new products and new ways to explore those products, as well as plenty of time for making meaningful connections during golf, yoga, the pool party, and more.
**CPPA Distributor members, use code CPPA22 when prompted to receive a discounted rate!
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Mark YOUR Calendar for 2023 Show Dates
With YOUR Regional Association
Details coming soon!
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Let’s Go! PCNA Partners With Hydro Flask®
Pittsburgh, PA – Polyconcept North America (PCNA) is excited to announce a partnership with Hydro Flask, an award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel drinkware and soft good innovations. With the addition of Hydro Flask, PCNA strengthens its industry-leading lineup of over 50 retail brands, just as distributors are gearing up for year-end gift season.
“This is a brand our distributors have been looking for, and we couldn’t be happier to have it for them,” says Liz Haesler, PCNA Chief Merchandising Officer. “We’re committed to offering distributors the best, most diverse assortment of leading retail brands, so Hydro Flask is a perfect fit.”
Founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask inspires active outdoor lifestyles with two simple words: Let’s Go! From being a top seller of water bottles in sporting goods and outdoor (according to third-party data) to soft good innovations, Hydro Flask’s delightfully simple designs and go-anywhere durability deliver the perfect temperature when you need it. With its bold, bright colors and high-performing products, Hydro Flask has put more than 50 million reusable water bottles into the hands of consumers to foster a connection to the outdoors through the joyful, healthy, and environmentally conscious lifestyle it represents.
“Partnering with PCNA is a no-brainer,” says Michelle Bertocchi, Hydro Flask Sales Manager, Customization. “As one of the world’s top-selling brands of reusable water bottles, we wanted to partner with one of the world’s top promotional products suppliers. We trust that PCNA will offer an unmatched ability to customize our products and quickly deliver orders to distributors and their customers.”
PCNA is bringing five of the most popular Hydro Flask styles to the promotional products market: three bottles, a coffee mug, and a tumbler. Inventory will arrive in mid-September, but distributors can see the new products and find information about preordering now on PCNA.com.
Haesler adds that Hydro Flask gives distributors an opportunity to capitalize on several key gift trends in the promotional products space: retail brands, premium quality, insulated drinkware, and products for the outdoors.
“The trend in corporate gift-giving has clearly shifted toward well-made, premium-quality products, even at slightly higher price points,” Haesler says. “Choosing these types of gifts – gifts people would buy for themselves – creates a real connection that’s well worth it.”
Hydro Flask will also be part of ProudPath™, the PCNA platform that helps distributors meet their customers’ environmental and social responsibility objectives. Along with reducing single-use plastic water bottles through its #RefillForGood platform, the Hydro Flask giving program, Parks For All, supports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and investing in public green spaces so people everywhere can live healthier, happier, and more fulfilled lives.
“We’ve made a commitment to only partner with retail brands that share our commitment to environmental and social responsibility,” Haesler says. “This is just one more way that Hydro Flask is a perfect fit, and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with them.”
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HALO Makes Three Tech-Forward Additions To Executive Leadership Team
Sterling, IL – HALO Branded Solutions recently announced three key talent acquisitions aimed at strengthening the company for the future.
Hemant Kumar will take on the role of executive vice president, chief financial officer. Amit Gaur will be the company’s senior vice president, chief information officer. Rose Arendarczyk joins the organization as senior vice president of business transformation.
The Additions:
Each of the hires is meant to grow the company’s technological strength. HALO CEO Marc Simon said the moves “will enhance our cultural emphasis on ingenuity and innovation.”
- Kumar will report directly to Simon. He has worked across a variety of industries and in organizations around the world, most recently serving as CFO of Sol-Millennium Medical, a high-growth global healthcare company. Previously, he held senior finance leadership roles for Baxter, American Express and Delphi Automotive Systems.
- Gaur will report to Kevin Pollack, HALO chief operating officer. He brings more than 20 years of technology, e-commerce, and omni-channel retail experience. He previously served as chief information officer for On-Campus Marketing and has held senior level technology roles at Cherrydale and Fanatics.
- Also reporting to Pollack is Arendarczyk, whose role will have her overseeing a new function at the company with an emphasis on enterprise project management, business technology and organizational change management. HALO calls her a veteran leader in business transformation, who most recently was vice president of the enterprise project management office at Trustmark Companies.
Simon called the additions of Kumar, Gaur and Arendarczyk a result of HALO’s financial growth.
“Our growth has allowed us to both attract and invest in additional experienced leadership,” Simon says. “We are thrilled at the immediate and longer term impacts they will provide to the growing services we provide to our clients.”
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American Solutions for Business Senior Leadership Members Earn Diversity & Inclusion Certification
Glenwood, MN – American Solutions for Business’ senior leadership team members have completed their Diversity, Equity & Inclusion certification from Stanford University. Through a six-module course, members of American’s highest level of management have set the precedent for their employees by committing over 10 hours per week to create a better understanding of DEI in the workplace.
“The course was much more relevant to the workplace than others that we looked at,” explained Justin Zavadil, President of American. “Not only did we have the opportunity to understand what diversity meant to us individually, but we were also given the opportunity to analyze how it fit into the structure of our organization.”
In addition to interviewing others regarding how DEI has had an impact on their lives, the course also included assignments such as diversifying your workplace and reanalyzing the language of job applications in order to appeal to both masculine and feminine audiences.
“The DEI certification process through Stanford University is outstanding,” expressed Amy Spychalla, VP of Strategic Operations Support. “I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned and apply it to every aspect of my life – both personally and professionally. Our Senior Leadership Team is embracing what we’ve learned and putting it into action.”
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PPAI Executive Vice President Steps Down |
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Bob McLean Stepping Down After 14 Years At PPAI
After 14 illustrious years, PPAI Executive Vice President Bob McLean, CPA, CAE, CEM, is stepping down from his role at the Association and embarking on a new chapter as a consultant. He will continue working with PPAI in that capacity through 2022 while also collaborating with clients in a wide range of business management areas. “Fourteen years ago, I didn’t even know there was a promotional products industry,” McLean says. “Today, I have grown to love and respect the industry and the hardworking and creative professionals in it.” Read More
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7 Tasks Every Leader Must Master
Chris Mayfield * Entrepreneur Leadership Network VIP * Founder and CEO, Jotform
Leading and managing people is a learned skill. If you're seeking to be a better leader and create a high-performing organization, master these seven tasks below:
1. Assess and monitor team climate
Climate is about shared beliefs and perceptions of groups regarding the attitudes that characterize the group. Inside an organization, the climate is a bottom-up concept and the responsibility of front-line leaders. Climate can change quickly, depending on the actions of front-line leaders.
Climate is different than culture. An organization's culture is defined by the shared assumptions, values and beliefs that govern how people behave in the organization. Culture is a top-down concept and the responsibility of senior leaders. An organization's culture can only change slowly over time.
Morale is critical in both climate and culture. The team's morale determines their confidence, willingness and discipline to succeed, especially while facing challenges and adversity.
If front-line leaders are not doing their jobs, it is possible to have a lousy team climate inside a great organizational culture. Of course, the opposite can also be true. It is certainly possible to have a positive team climate in a not-so-good culture.
2. Earn and give trust
When leaders earn the trust of their people, it contributes to a favorable climate. People are naturally skeptical of their leaders. It takes time for leaders to earn trust.
When people trust their leaders, they are more willing to accept the influence of those leaders. Leaders who extend trust are more likely to be trusted.
Leaders earn trust when they are willing to be authentic and vulnerable. Authenticity is about being transparent and not pretending to be somebody you are not. Authenticity means showing up as your true self and being willing to connect with others as you are. Authentic leaders value their people's diverse ideas and experiences, and they can have an open and honest dialogue with them. Vulnerability is susceptibility to new experiences, thoughts, changes and uncertainty. Leaders must accept risk in expressing their imperfections, admitting fault and discussing the unknowns with their team. Being authentic makes a person vulnerable. Being vulnerable is a strength that takes courage.
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Product Responsibility Summit 22 |
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September 18 - 20, 2022 ~ Newport Beach, CA |
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Get The Information You Need to Know
The promotional products industry is an industry like no other. And that means we need content like no other—especially when it comes to product responsibility and safety.
PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit provides just that - content targeted at the topics you care about in promo. At this Summit, you will have the opportunity to hear from subject matter experts during sessions such as:
- Country Risk Assessments
- PFAS Deep Dive
- CBP Enforcement Updates
- Waste Diversion Solutions
And so much more, all focused specifically on the promotional products industry.
Whether you are new to compliance or have been in the industry for a long time, PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit will provide you will all the information, tools, and strategies you need to stay Product Safety Aware. See all the details and register at ppai.org/summit.
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