Gemline announced a long-term strategic partnership with Concept One Accessories, the exclusive licensee for New Balance bags.

• This will enable Gemline to offer New Balance bags to the promotional products market in the United States, and brings one of the world’s largest athletic brands and their in-demand products to Gemline’s growing portfolio of premium brand partners.
• New Balance products are being introduced as part of Gemline’s new Spring 2023 Collection.

The PPAI Expo began with a major industry announcement.

During Monday's opening session in Las Vegas, Chris Anderson, CEO of Boston-based supplier HPG (PPAI 110772, S11) announced the company's acquisition of fellow supplier Evans Manufacturing (PPAI 110747, S11), based in Garden Grove, California.

The deal brings Evans Manufacturing together with HPG and its many industry brands – Hub, Beacon, Best, Debco, BCG Creations, Origaudio, Handstands, Batch & Bodega, Mixie and SugarSpot – and adds new North American manufacturing capabilities to HPG’s portfolio with the addition of Evans’ facilities in Southern California and Nogales, Mexico.

The Acquisition

Evans was founded in 1983 as an injection molding company with a focus on retail markets. It moved into promotional products in 1992. Today, it specializes in plastics and fabric products for the promotional merchandise field.

• It operates in many categories, including healthcare, household, office, drinkware, pet, writing instruments, travel, auto, golf, outdoor, tech, spirit, school and more.
• Most of its products are designed and manufactured in-house.
• It added a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nogales in 2008. There, it produces tote bags and other cut-and-sew items. In the U.S., it produces more than 200 additional products.

The supplier has won numerous industry awards, including the PPAI Supplier Star award, and has been named to the PPAI Magazine Greatest Companies To Work For list as recently as 2021.

As part of the transaction, Alan Vaught, president of Evans, will continue to lead it as division president and is a significant HPG shareholder.

In Their Words

“The partnership with HPG represents the culmination of many years of hard work and dedicated service by the entire Evans team,” says Vaught. “I have been blessed by the talents of so many key contributors throughout the journey, and it is humbling to see this business that started as a two-person operation evolve into the respected market leader that it has become.

“I am thrilled to embark on this next chapter, in partnership with the proven team at HPG, and our shared values and perspective on the bright future of the combined Evans-HPG enterprise, and the industry, generally, has made for a seamless transition.”

Anderson says, “Evans has rightfully earned a stellar reputation for promotional hard goods and customer service excellence, which makes it a perfect fit for the HPG family. I am delighted to welcome the abundance of talent and expanded capabilities Evans has to offer and can reassure customers HPG’s philosophy is to do no harm – we will not disrupt what clearly has been working so well. We look forward to knowledge-sharing with our new team members and working together to make HPG the preeminent promotional hard goods supplier.”

Austin, Texas-based distributor Boundless Network, Inc. (PPAI 267078, D11) has announced two external C-level additions to its team. Huntley Tarrant and Ethan Rudin are joining Boundless as the company’s COO and CFO, respectively. Both Ivy League alumni have executive-level experience in the tech sector and represent a continuation of new faces in Boundless’ top brass.

Huntley Tarrant is joining Boundless as the company’s chief operating officer.

• The COO position is a newly created role that Tarrant will step into.
• The role is loosely defined as “leading all aspects of Boundless operations that drive customer success.”
• Tarrant has over 10 years of executive-level experience in the technology sector at Dell and Austin-based software company Accurent, as well as startups she had a hand in founding.
• She has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.
• Tarrant also served the role of senior associate consultant at Bain & Company, a business consulting provider.

“Ms. Tarrant has an outstanding track record developing exceptional service organizations, leading transformational process improvements, and implementing technology-based solutions,” says Dave Klotter, CEO of Boundless. “We are thrilled Huntley will be leading Boundless’ efforts in these areas, which we believe are fundamental to Boundless and its future success.”

Ethan Rudin will fill the role of Boundless’ Chief Financial Officer.

• Rudin has served key roles in financial institutions such as vice president of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., associate at JPMorgan and associate at Bank of America Securities.
• He previously held the roles of CFO of music streaming provider Napster/Rhapsody and director of corporate development for Starbucks.
• Rudin has a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School.

These hires come less than six months after Boundless named Klotter the company’s CEO. Previously, Klotter was the CEO and a board member of industry supplier TSC Apparel, which was acquired by S&S Activewear in 2021.

• Boundless was founded in 2005 and “uses proprietary tech solutions to help clients build creative campaigns and curate thoughtful products that will be kept, used and appreciated.”

“Huntley and Ethan are exceptional executives, and we are thrilled they are joining the Boundless team,” says Mr. Klotter. “They are both growth-minded leaders who will reinforce Boundless’ mission to be the premier distributor platform for the best sales professionals in the promotional industry.”

Gemline (PPAI 113948, S11) has announced leadership changes at the Lawrence, Massachusetts-based company. Frank Carpenito, currently the supplier’s president, has been promoted to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Jonathan Isaacson, currently chair and CEO, will become executive chair.

Carpenito was named Gemline’s president in 2019, following a five-year term on the company’s board of directors.

• Prior to joining the company, he spent three decades in the consumer product industry, including CEO and president positions.
• Carpenito has held leadership roles at BigMouth, Inc., Procter & Gamble, Pepsi-Cola and Newell-Rubbermaid/Berol, among others.
• He currently serves on the board of One Family, Inc., a Massachusetts non-profit committed to ending family homelessness.

As president, Carpenito was responsible for the day-to-day running of Gemline. As president and CEO, he will retain overall responsibility for all functions, day-to-day operations and the implementation of the company’s strategic plans. He will also play an increased role in supporting Isaacson’s efforts in the industry and community.

Isaacson, as executive chair, will shift his focus toward Gemline’s vision and strategy, continuous improvement and industry outreach.

• He intends to also expand his efforts to support the supplier’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

“Gemline has achieved tremendous growth over the last three years under Frank’s day-to-day leadership, despite a very challenging environment,” says Isaacson. “I am confident that, by staying true to our core values, delivering an exceptional customer experience, innovating relentlessly, and developing our internal teams, Frank will ensure we continue to grow and prosper and consistently exceed the expectations of our distributor partners.”

Carpenito says, “I am honored that Jonathan has entrusted me to lead Gemline. Gemline holds a very special place in the industry thanks to Jonathan’s many years of exceptional leadership. He continues to be a well-respected leader and visionary in our industry, while also serving as an effective mentor to me and many others across our company.

“I look forward to continuing to partner with him and the entire Gemline team to realize our ambitious strategic goals.”

American Solutions for Business has announced new members joining their Vendor Advisory Board, effective January 1, 2023.

Since 2019, the Vendor Advisory Board has continued to assist in propelling American into a future that successfully collaborates with suppliers and distributors in a way that both sides are heard and appreciated. Although the inaugural team served an extra year, members moving forward will serve a total of two years.

“We feel great about where this board has brought us thus far,” says Dana Zezzo, VP of Marketing, Vendor Relations & Events. “The impact that these individuals have already made towards our approach to the relationships we’re building with our suppliers is incredible.”

Incoming members for 2023-2025 include: Kim Newell (Gold Bond), John Abbott (Abbot Label, Inc.), Mark Gammon (Cap America), and Kevin Mullaney (PDF Print).

They will be joining the following members that will be rolling off in 2024: Marc Held (alphabroder), Dan Taylor (BamBams), Melissa Ralston (Koozie Group), Beth Marston (Navitor), Jarod Thorndike (SAGE), Kevin Walsh (Showdown Displays), Roni Wright (The Book Co.) and Bob Saunders (Wise).

Edwards has added to their outside sales team by hiring Brian Deissroth as director of national accounts.

• Deissroth comes to Edwards after serving as the senior key accounts manager at Augusta Sportswear Brands. Prior to that, he worked as the Eastern regional and Canadian sales director at Vantage Apparel.

• With much of his career being in the uniform industry, Deissroth brings the knowledge and expertise to help Edwards distributors grow their business as well as land and execute complicated uniform programs for major uniform purchasers.

• “We are excited to add Brian to our team. He is a proven expert in driving growth for the promotional industry,” says Jose Gomez, president and CEO at Edwards. “His drive for success will be a key part of our increased efforts to get more and more distributors to succeed with the support our products and services provide.”

• Deissroth was named a PPB Rising Star in 2019 and SAAGNY 40 under 40 in 2021. He is currently involved in the Regional Relations Committee (RRC) and Government Relations Advisory Council (GRAC).

3M today announced it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. 3M will:

• Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025. 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products. It will help facilitate an orderly transition for customers. 3M intends to fulfill current contractual obligations during the transition period.
• Work to discontinue use of PFAS across our product portfolio by the end of 2025. 3M has already reduced our use of PFAS over the past three years through ongoing research and development and will continue to innovate new solutions for customers.
• 3M's decision is based on careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of the evolving external landscape, including multiple factors such as accelerating regulatory trends focused on reducing or eliminating the presence of PFAS in the environment and changing stakeholder expectations.

Cintas Corporation and three of its employee-partners were recently recognized for their ongoing commitment to workplace safety and health and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Association’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

• Myron Harper, Cintas corporate safety and health senior manager, and Meghan Moberly, Cintas first aid and safety regional service manager, have been awarded the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association (VPPPA)’s prestigious SGE of the Year honors for their respective VPP Regions.
• Additionally, Bobby Hunzicker, general manager at Cintas’ First Aid & Safety Location 479 in Kansas City, was recently recognized with VPPPA’s Star Among Stars Award for Region VII.

Proforma recently sponsored the tree lighting event at the May Dugan Center, a foundation that provides comprehensive services and programs to individuals and families throughout the Cleveland area.

• The May Dugan Center aims to enrich and advance the lives of people and their communities by providing essential items such as food, clothing, furniture, and household goods.
• Proforma also participated in the community giveback event with a local chapter of The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army boasts more than 150 years of service to the Cleveland community, dedicating the winter season to holiday giving.
• “As members of the local community, we want nothing more than to support and uplift those who need it most,” explained Doug Kordel, President of Proforma. “We will continue to do good unto our community and hope our actions will continue to spread cheer.”

Showdown Displays’ customer success team was awarded Contact Center World’s 2022 Global Gold award recognizing the Best in Customer Service in the world.

• This is the 18th annual celebration of CCW’s annual awards honor the most innovative call center solutions and individuals of the past year, recognizing superior innovation, outstanding customer experiences, creativity and execution.
• “We are honored to be recognized for the outstanding efforts of our Customer Success team.” said Kevin Walsh, president of Showdown Displays. “Each and every day they collaborate our reseller partners, answering questions and providing solutions. Their efforts in creating personal connections delivers remarkable results for both our customers and for the company. It’s a proud day for Showdown Displays and for our team.”