Frank Myers, president of Bolingbrook, Illinois-based supplier S&S Activewear has been named the company’s chief executive officer, effective November 1. At the same time, current CEO Jim Shannon will transition to vice chairman of S&S’s board of directors.

Myers joined S&S in 2009 and was named president last year after serving as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. He is credited with playing an integral role in the company’s nationwide expansion and acquisition strategy over the past decade, and he has supported Shannon in key company decisions. Myers and the leadership team have also been cited as instrumental in guiding the company through the pandemic, ensuring that S&S retained all of its employees during that two-year period.

“Frank is a seasoned executive. His breadth of experience makes him the ideal candidate for overseeing S&S’s next chapter, and I believe there is no one better fit to handle this position,” says Shannon. “With Frank’s leadership and the combined expertise of the executive team, S&S will continue to provide excellent service to our customers, leading the company into the future.”

Myers says, “I feel humbled to be representing such an amazing company and team. I’m grateful to lead a company with such talented and dedicated employees, and I’m very proud of what we’ve built together over the years.”

Business strategies and operational leadership at S&S are not expected to change due to the leadership transition. Myers’ major initiatives are to continue the company’s relationship-first approach and ensure everyone – employees, customers and vendors – works collaboratively to achieve growth.

"As we move forward, we will remain committed to the values and principles that have served us well in the past," Myers says. "I believe that maintaining our key relationships and focusing on collaboration will help us achieve our goals more efficiently and effectively."

S&S was acquired by private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice at the beginning of 2021. Shannon, who joined the company in 1991, transitioned from president of the supplier to CEO when the transaction closed.

Since the acquisition, S&S has added talent across the organization, notably expanding its salesforce, operations staff and executive team. Myers will lead the business alongside veterans Keith Shannon, chief revenue officer, and Brian Beale, chief technology officer, as well as newly hired executives Joy Kelly, chief human resources officer, and Christopher Kodosky, chief financial officer.

“We are thankful for Jim’s stewardship of S&S Activewear. Jim and his team have built a formidable business with multiple layers of sustainable advantage,” says John Compton, operating partner at CD&R and chairman of the board. “We are equally excited to announce the appointment of Frank Myers to CEO and a member of the board of directors. Frank has a distinguished track record of success, and we look forward to partnering with him and his team for future growth.”

VisionUSA®, the Dallas-based designer and manufacturer of customized promotional products, today announced they will add another best-selling lifestyle brand to their already impressive list. In addition to Bodum, Rocketbook, JBL and Weber we will now offer the LARQ brand to distributors, allowing companies to feature their own logos and messages on these trending products.

“We are excited to provide our customers with the opportunity to purchase branded, high-quality items from LARQ,” says Felix Soliz, owner of VisionUSA. “The addition of LARQ products differentiates us from our competitors by adding unique, attractive, sustainable, and functional items.  An example is a 25 oz. a pure, on-the-go stainless steel bottle, featuring a portable water filtration system that combines high-performance Nano Zero filter technology.”  Soliz says.  The addition of LARQ will elevate the company’s offerings and appeal to both new and current customers and will deliver clean drinking water while ending dependence on single-use plastic.   LARQ paves the way for healthy and sustainable living promoting a #DrinkBrilliantly mantra.

Thirty-year promotional products veteran Charles "Chuck" Dahlgren died Monday at the age of 70 following complications during surgery.

Dahlgren was the owner, president and CEO of Crystal D, a manufacturing company that specializes in crystal awards and gifts, after purchasing the company Ice Nine Glass Design in 1993 and renaming it.

In a statement, the company says “our hearts are broken” by the loss of its president.

Under Dahlgren’s stewardship for just under 30 years, Crystal D prided itself as a family atmosphere that did its work in St. Paul, Minnesota rather than outsourcing labor hundreds or thousands of miles away. Believing in the power of recognition, Crystal D aims to “turn emotions into memories” for its clients.

Born in Olicia, Minnesota and raised in Bird Island, Minnesota, Dahlgren attended Concordia College. His first job consisted of working on his family’s farm as a young man, which he took on as his responsibility. This sprouted his entrepreneurial spirit. Hard work was an expectation for Dahlgren, but hard work should also be recognized, he thought.

“I believe that success is a result of hard work, persistence and dedication,” said Dahlgren. “I love being part of the recognition industry because I know how great recipients feel when they receive Crystal D awards. To me, this is the ultimate feel-good experience.”

Perhaps no better testament to the company’s leader, under Dahlgren Crystal D has also been recognized as a terrific environment for employees, having been named to PPB’s Greatest Companies To Work For In The Promotional Products Industry as recently as this year, as well as in 2021 and 2019. Dahlgren himself was honored with a PPB Best Bosses award in 2012.

Dahlgren enjoyed slowing down and spending time outdoors, primarily boating on the Minnesota lakes. He joked that his favorite sports team was “whoever’s winning” and his favorite television show was American Idol. A lover of sweets, the Chocolate Volcano from Chili’s was his favorite dessert.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and his three daughters, Bridget Dahlgren, Audra Lehnert and Crystal Hoelzel, for whom the company is named, and many grandchildren.

Bridget Dahlgren and Audra Lehnert are helping to carry on their father’s legacy at Crystal D. Bridget Dahlgren works in marketing, sales and employee recognition in the company and Audra is an impressions brand manager.

Condolences to the family can be sent via a private voicemail at 651-925-3499 or private email at DahlgrenFamily@crystal-d.com. Flowers and gifts can be received at 505 Atwater Circle, St. Paul Minnesota.  

Crystal D will update its website with more information about upcoming funeral and celebration of life.

Ariel Premium Supply is pleased to share that its newly created environmental and social responsibility program has so far raised $24,782 to support key global environmental initiatives. The program, initiated in August and only 2 months old, is simple -- $1.00 is donated for every order placed by Ariel's distributor customers. Through this distributor participation, Ariel Premium and customers alike are making important contributions to the environment. With this early success, Ariel Premium committed to continuing the program to drive more awareness to protect our planet.

The donations are shared monthly between Rainforest Trust and The Ocean Cleanup. Rainforest Trust focuses on tropical-based initiatives targeting preserving land, species and indigenous peoples. The Ocean Project is dedicated to unique solutions to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Each is making a significant impact to protect and clean up our environment.

"We are very pleased to do what small part we can for the environment and preservation," says Yuhling Lu, owner of Ariel Premium. "It also allows distributors to participate and contribute to these causes through their purchasing power," she adds.

Issaquah, Washington-headquartered SanMar, the promotional products industry’s largest supplier, has begun its mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with a company-wide target.

On Wednesday the company announced that goal has been approved by Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which helps drive climate action in the private sector by aiding organizations to set science-based emissions reduction targets.

SanMar’s target for carbon emission reduction states that the company is dedicated to reducing scope 1 and 2 GHH emissions 50% per pound of product by 2030 from a 2019 base year. It also commits to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services 50% per pound of product within the same time frame.

SanMar states that many of the company’s initiatives to reach its emissions targets will focus on reducing the environmental impact of its products and engaging with suppliers to decrease the impact of their operations with an emphasis on efficient machinery, process and renewable energy.

SBTi employs a five-step proves to create tangible goals and establish pathways to reduce emissions by an amount and timetable that first the size of the company they are working with. Targets are consistent with the level of decarbonization that, according to climate science, is required to keep global temperate increase within 1.5°C to 2°C compared to pre-industrial temperature levels.

SanMar formally committed to SBTi in April of 2021, and the company’s 2030 target has officially been approved.

“Establishing audacious science-based targets is a landmark moment for SanMar and our industry,” says Emily Gigot, senior manager of sustainability at SanMar. “Collectively, we must all do our part to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and this framework provides us with a roadmap to reduce our emissions in line with climate science.”

Apollo USA is expanding into Texas. The Gardena, California-based supplier is on track to begin construction of a new facility in North Richland Hills, northeast of Fort Worth, later this year.

Apollo USA, a minority-owned company, produces an extensive range of promotional products and apparel using embroidery, heat transfer, laser etching and screen-printing processes.

• Along with its California location, it has facilities in Grove Village, Illinois, and Pennsauken, New Jersey, representing a combined footprint of 200,000 square feet between them.

• The company is led by Dora Zhang and currently employs about 250 people.

Apollo USA’s Texas facility is expected to open in summer 2023, with 70,000 square feet spread across production and office space. The supplier plans on hiring approximately 50 new staff members in Texas.

“Texas has always been in our expansion plans. Now is the right time, and we are ready,” says Zhang. “The new facility allows us to better cover our Midwest client base and in Texas, which we have been lacking.”

The Texas location will support a range of capabilities, including embroidery, heat transfer and woven labels and patches, as well as drop shipping and kitting of Apollo’s entire product line.

After two consecutive years of being held in a virtual format, the Leadership Development Workshop (LDW), hosted by PPAI and the Regional Relations Council (RRC), returned to Grapevine, Texas Tuesday for a live, in-person event to bring together regional association leadership.

This week marks the 23rd year of LDW fostering relationships among regional associations.

“Everyone’s excited to be back on site in-person again and to be able to see each other face-to-face,” says Jill Begun, PPAI’s professional development manager. “Everyone was ready to come.”

While the event, held at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, took on a traditional conference format on Tuesday and continues Wednesday with roundtables, breakout sessions and guest speakers tackling specific topics, Monday’s registration was followed by a three-hour roundtable training session held for regional executive directors only.

This session was an informal but fairly exhaustive informational session going over topics that executive directors of regional associations confront routinely. Bob McLean, chief financial officer of Axiom Plus and former vice president of PPAI, joined the roundtable to go over tax requirements, allowing each executive director in the room to ask follow-up questions and clarifications.

“It is vital to the executive director community to have this time to talk and share ideas,” says Sue Selseth, executive director of the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Products (UMAPP). “This is how we learn things. We work so independently. We don’t have IT departments. We don’t always have co-workers to ask for advice, so this is where we learn from each other.”

Executive directors from New England to California and regions everywhere in-between are using the week’s training sessions to discuss hyper specific logistical issues and broad practical concerns that allow for both comparing of methods and expert advice. 

“This is the only opportunity we have all year long to all be in one room and idea share,” says Cassondra Franze, executive director of Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS). 

The Executive Director Roundtable Session was followed by an opening dinner attended by the PPAI Board of Directors and staff. LDW continues Tuesday and Wednesday with guest speakers and roundtable sessions tackling many of the core issues that PPAI believes the promotional products industry should remain focused on, including corporate social responsibility and digital transformation.

“It’s a wide variety of topics,” Begun says. “Everything from legal guidelines to best practices for digital marketing. It’s going over Promotional Products Work and sustainable practices. It’s kind of encompassing everything.”

Between those educational sessions and during lunches and dinners, however, regional association executive directors will continue to take advantage of the in-person networking opportunities, according to Franze.

“The best part of LDW is all the side conversations and all the networking that happens outside of the education,” Franze says.

Polyconcept North America (PCNA) is excited to announce a new partnership with SONY, offering three of the iconic brand’s most popular portable speakers – just in time for gift season. With the addition of SONY, PCNA strengthens its industry-leading lineup of over 50 retail brands.

“SONY has unmatched brand recognition around the globe, with a history of innovation and product excellence spanning many generations,” says Mindy Hoffmann, PCNA Senior Category Director. “We’re committed to offering the best assortment of technology and electronics brands, and SONY gives distributors a valuable new option within our portfolio of premium portable speakers.”

SONY believes PCNA is an ideal partner for the promotional products channel.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our new relationship with PCNA,” says Shelly Colla, SONY National Sales Manager-Premium Incentive & Military. “As the world’s leading consumer electronics brand, we wanted to partner with one of the world’s top promotional products suppliers. We trust PCNA to provide high-quality customization of our products and quickly deliver orders to distributors and their customers.”

PCNA is offering three popular portable Bluetooth® speakers, all with EXTRA BASS™ technology for powerful sound, as well as an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating – an essential feature given the trend of people spending more time outdoors.

Hoffmann adds that SONY also gives distributors the ability to serve another big trend: retail brands.

“The trend in corporate gift-giving has clearly shifted toward well-made, premium-quality products, even at slightly higher price points,” Hoffmann says. “Choosing these types of gifts – gifts people would buy for themselves – creates a real connection that’s well worth it.”

SONY will be part of ProudPath™, the PCNA platform that helps distributors meet their customers’ environmental and social responsibility objectives. Through its Green Management 2025 initiative, SONY has clearly defined sustainability targets for reducing its environmental footprint by 2025, with the ultimate goal of a zero environmental footprint.

“We’ve made a commitment to only partner with retail brands that share our commitment to environmental and social responsibility,” Hoffmann says. “This is just one more way that SONY is a perfect fit, and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with them.”

Hurricane Ian struck western Cuba this morning and is on a path to reach Florida soon. The storm is currently a Category 3 hurricane – meaning continuous winds between 111-129 mph – and has put approximately8 million people in western and central Florida under a hurricane watch.

Promo industry companies in the affected area are battening down to protect their employees and property, temporarily suspending some operations until it passes.

The Storm

Ian is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The storm is forecast reach Florida as a Category 3, but intensity, timing and its track remain subject to change.

Currently, about 2.5 million Floridians are under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders. Additionally, tornado watches have been issued in parts of South Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West, until Tuesday evening.

An Industry Prepares

Preparing for the disruption of the storm, Hit Promotional Products has announced that it is anticipating some staffing and shipping limitations. The St. Petersburg-based supplier is temporarily suspending its operations on September 28-29. Its 24-hour service is suspended effective immediately and until further notice, and an additional two-to-three business days of production time will be added to its standard service. The company will release further updates should the situation change.

The Tampa Bay area is home to several industry suppliers. Koozie Group has already announced that due to Hurricane Ian, it is extending its production times temporarily by three business days and will suspend 24-hour service on pens and drinkware. Industry companies also potentially in the storm’s path include Gempire, Lorente and MP Direct, among others.

Shipping through and from Florida may be impacted by Hurricane Ian. Both UPS and Fedex have updated their service alert pages with new information on the storm’s effects.

Industry companies affected by Hurricane Ian can share any service changes or outages with PPAI and the promotional products industry.

Suppliers, reps and business services providers can login to my.ppai.org and update their status at any time. For a full listing of companies that have shared the effects of the storm, click here.

PPAI has announced the recipients of its 2023 Icon Awards – PPAI Hall of Fame inductees Carol D. Aastad, MAS, and Mary Ellen Sokalski, MAS; PPAI Distinguished Service Award recipient Roger Burnett, CAS, and PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award recipient Danny Rosin, CAS. These awards celebrate the accomplishments of those who have gone above and beyond in service to the promotional products industry, the Association and their communities.

Recipients of the Association’s most prestigious awards will be recognized at the Chair’s Leadership Dinner at The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, on Monday, January 9, 2023, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

The PPAI Hall Of Fame

Celebrating individuals who have demonstrated monumental and selfless efforts and devotion to the promo industry, induction into the PPAI Hall of Fame gives permanent recognition to those whose creative spark and tireless dedication have helped the Association and industry prosper.

Aastad retired from Geiger, where she served as division manager, in 2008. She began her 29-year career in the promotional products industry at Ben Davis Advertising Delaware as a salesperson, before founding her own company, Harlan & Davis, Inc. in 1982. Prior to joining Geiger in 2006, she served as vice president and general manager of Forrester-Smith, Inc.

A frequent volunteer in the industry and her community, Aastad joined the PPAI Board of Directors in 2001 and served as its chair in 2004. While chair, she was part of the original group of women who conceived and championed the creation of the PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference. In 2009, Aastad was presented with both the PPAI Woman of Achievement and the PPAI Distinguish Service Awards, and in 2016, she was named a PPAI Fellow.

“I was privileged to work alongside Carol for over a decade,” says Jo-an Lantz, MAS, Geiger president and CEO, and Aastad’s nominator. “Carol is a true leader. She is hard working, empathetic, smart, effective, focused on outcomes, fun, creative, curious and a mentor.

“Eventually Carol retired, only to focus her time and attention on becoming an advocate for children in the foster care environment. This isn’t easy. Helping children, many who have lived a life of neglect, all with uncertainty, is daunting. Carol became passionate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. All of which exemplify the qualities of a PPAI Hall of Famer.”

Sokalski has been a part of the promotional products community since 1981. She joined the industry with ASI as a copywriter, and by the end of her 16-year tenure served as its director of marketing advertising. She then spent another 16 years with Bodek & Rhodes as director of marketing communications. After Bodek & Rhodes’ acquisition in 2014, she founded the Scarlett Marketeer agency to offer creative services to distributors, suppliers and other businesses without an in-house marketing department.

A strong advocate for education within the industry, Sokalski has been a frequent and passionate speaker at PPAI events. She has led numerous volunteer committees and served on the PPAI board in 2001-2005. Sokalski received the PPAI Distinguished Service Award in 2008, the PPAI Woman of Achievement Award in 2018 and was named a PPAI Fellow in 2016.

“For 15-plus years, Mary Ellen was my boss at Bodek and Rhodes and she was not like any other professional I ever met,” says Julie Heller, now of Geiger and Sokalski’s nominator. “She educated the entire company about how different this industry was and I watched her teach both practitioners and volunteers on how to help the industry better understand itself, its buyers, and the art of effective out-of-the-box marketing.

“She was also vigilant about volunteering and actively recruited others to give back as well. She was the pebble that started hundreds of ripples in the volunteer pond for more than 40 years.”

The PPAI Distinguished Service Award

The annual PPAI Distinguished Service Award is presented to Association members who consistently contribute their skills and expertise toward the betterment of the organization. Through volunteer service or by offering their leadership to PPAI, these are members who have generously given the gift of their energy, time and enthusiasm.

Burnett, founder of Social Good Promotions in Sandusky, Ohio, has been an advocate for and volunteer and educator in the promotional products industry for more than a decade. He was a long-time volunteer with the Regional Association Council, a Legislative Education and Action Day participant on Capitol Hill and at the state level in Lansing with L.E.A.D. Local, and a frequent speaker at PPAI and regional events.

Burnett is also a “Founding Chef” of PromoKitchen, a 501c3 non-profit and all-volunteer platform for education and mentorship in the promotional products industry. In 2018, he founded PromoCares, a volunteer initiative to lift up and recognize companies in the promo marketplace that use their businesses for social good. In 2016, Burnett was named a PPAI Fellow and 2018 was recognized as the PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year Award recipient.

“Roger has been a willing and tireless contributor to initiatives meant to make our marketplace better,
stronger and capable of competing with the best our competition has to offer,” says Rosin, Burnett’s nominator. “In standing up for our efforts to be seen as a worthy marketing investment, he brings passion, creativity and a strong vision to execute on what needs to be done today while keeping a healthy eye on the future.

“His efforts have inspired countless others to action, and his willingness to stay ahead of topics gives us all the opportunity to learn from those efforts.”

PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award Recipient

The PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award, named after the late H. Ted Olson, MAS, PPAI president emeritus, represents what Olson stood for – volunteerism inside and outside of the promotional products industry.

Rosin, co-president and co-owner of Raleigh, North Carolina, distributor Brand Fuel, has worked in the promotional products industry for more than 30 years and in that time has been an active volunteer. He has been a speaker and panelist at numerous industry events, served on several PPAI volunteer committees and sat on the Association’s board in 2017-2021. He is also a PromoKitchen founding chef.

Rosin has lent his energies to several efforts, in and outside the promotional products industry, to improve communities nation-wide. In 2001, he co-founded Band Together NC, a 501c3 volunteer-driven non-profit whose mission is to use live music as a platform for social change. Band Together puts on the Southeast’s largest music event for charity and has so far donated more than $11 million to local causes in the Raleigh-Durham area. In 2019, he became an executive board member of A Place At The Table, a pay-it-forward nonprofit café that provides community and good food for all, regardless of means.

Within the promotional products industry, Rosin is a co-founder and board member of PromoCares, and a co-founder of Reciprocity Road, an industry buyer’s group representing $220 million in spending with a 1.5% rebate going to the Promotional Products Education Foundation and Children’s Miracle Network.

“Danny Rosin is a tireless connector, an experimenter, a dreamer, community leader and entrepreneur,” says Burnett, Rosin’s nominator. “His work has helped countless people and brands realize higher aspirations that will have positive and sustainable impact on both for profit and nonprofit organizations.

“He is a rising-tide-lifts-all-promo-products kind of leader. He is a true force when it comes to mattering and impact. He finds what matters and connect the dots with success through impact through the industry, the staff, the suppliers, the customers – the community.”