10:00 AM | The PPAI Expo 2023 Conference Day Welcome
Speaker: Dale Denham, MAS+, President and CEO, PPAI

 

10:16 AM | Pushing Your Envelope: How To Overcome The Self-Doubt Of Imposter Syndrome, Once And For ALL!  You’re talented, accomplished and successful. People think you have it all together. Yet you still think to yourself “Oh my gosh! I don’t know what I’m doing! And everyone is about to figure it out! They’re on to me!” You may suffer from the Impostor Syndrome or the Impostor Phenomenon. It’s estimated that 70% of all people suffer from this. Maureen will share proven strategies, called the “Fraud-Free Framework” that will silence that impostor voice so you can enjoy your own success and begin to believe you really are as smart as everyone thinks you are. 

Speaker: Maureen Zappala

 

11:11 PM | Diversity, Inclusion And Bias: Measuring Progress, Improving Performance, And Increasing Productivity
Does your organization need to be able to measure its success with diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias efforts? James Pogue’s model will help you do just that. James will share the latest research around bias and its impact in the workplace and clarity the connection between diversity, inclusion, bias and organizational success. James will identify practical steps to move forward, recognizing that the first step is often the most difficult.

Speaker: James Pogue, PhD

 

12:06 PM | The Pitch
Think The Voice-style competition with a promo twist! It's sure to be nothing but promo magic! Watch a replay of The Pitch where supplier participants give their best promotional product pitch to win over our judges Amanda Clay, Danny Rosin, Memo Kahan, John Vo - and of course, potential clients like you!

Judge(s): Amanda Clay, VP of Sales, Walker-Clay, Inc.; Danny Rosin, Co-President, Brand Fuel; John Vo, Owner/President, Whoopla; Memo Kahan, President, PromoShop, Inc.   

Pitchers:   Andrew Spellman, Incoming Board Chair and Vice President, Therabody; Ben Drysdale, Western Region Account Executive, Raining Rose Promos; Chris McCasland, Co-Founder, City Bonfires; Michael Opalski, Co-Founder, City Bonfires; Jodie Schillinger, Executive VP, Maple Ridge Farms; Jamie Johnson, National Sales Executive, Maple Ridge Farms; Molly Neises, National Sales Executive/Customer Service Team Lead, Maple Ridge Farms; Meg Erber, Outside Sales, S&S Activewear; Rener Gracie, Chief Executive Officer, Gracie University; Natalie Boyatt, Chief Executive Officer, Bevee, LLC.;  Pete Ackerman, Owner/President, Trailform.

 

1:00 PM | Own The Brand, Own The Business
The buyers of promotional merchandise have evolved and changed which means that it's no longer good enough to simply sell them products with logos on them.  In this session, Bill Petrie will explain how to fully own every aspect of your client's branding and marketing efforts making you an indispensable resource for years to come.

Speaker: Bill Petrie, Founder and Creative Director, brandvite

 

1:55 PM | Digital Transformation: Take Charge Of Your First Impression
Highlight essential information and show what makes your distributor unique and right to the next generation of buyers. Learn how to 10x sales while easily connecting with new customers. Whether you’re looking for foot traffic or web traffic, use this knowledge to generate the ultimate referral source. To get the most out of your Google Business Profile, you must optimize it. Here we will talk about some quick and easy ways to do that. Creating this free profile is a great way to increase your visibility across Google. Information from your Google Business Profile appears in Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping. A Google Business Profile helps ensure that people find your business when looking for products and services.  

Speaker: Malik Hemani, Principal, Creative Director, Graphic Stylus, LLC

 

3:02 PM | Maximizing Your Time Management by Evaluating And Segmenting Your Clients
Time management for small business entrepreneurs is one of the greatest challenges; therefore, being more strategic and at the same time, differentiating oneself is more critical than ever. Both clients and prospects are looking for a higher level of marketing expertise, far beyond what is found in a catalog or online – they are looking for relevant messaging. This session will unveil the vertical marketing strategy through the segmentation and classification process. This process improves time management, boosts sales, improves profitability, and increases loyalty among your clients – truly a must-see.

Speaker: Cliff Quicksell, MAS+, MASI, President and CEO, Cliff Quicksell & Associates.

 

On-Demand | CSR, The Case For Diversity, Equity, Inclusion And Belonging (DEIB)
Would you plant a garden with only one type of plant? What is a gardener's responsibility in making sure all of their plants thrive? Come to this session, where you will learn why diverse teams working in an environment of equity, inclusion, and belonging drive the best business results. This session's panel includes perspectives from PPAI members leading the DEI charge within their organizations and the owner of a consulting firm whose sole purpose is to help organizations build inclusive programs, through inclusive leadership coaching and evidence-based tools.

Speaker(s): Dawn Olds, MAS, Immediate Past Board Chair and Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and DEI, HALO, Johanna Gottlieb,  VP Sales, HALO and Kara Keister, Co-Owner, Social Good Promotions, Natalie Tenner, Credit Manager and Chair: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action Council, SanMar, Sonya Kaleel, Founder and Principal Consultant, The Inclusion Practice.

 

On-Demand | Sell Promotional Products And Have A Positive  Environmental Impact – Your Clients Are Asking 
How can promotional products being sold have a positive impact in a world where waste generation and disposal are a problem?  Your clients want to know this answer, along with what you are doing to help resolve this serious issue.  In this session you will gain valuable insight into how you continue seeking business success in the promotional products industry, while still considering where the products will end up.

Speaker: Ashlee Baker, Principal & Waste Diversion Specialist, Waste Not Consulting

 

On-Demand | The Art of Wickedly Creative Product Design, Packaging, And First Impressions 
Jason Lucash, founder of Origaudio will share his tips and lessons for how to make yourself, your products, and your brand stand out in a crowded space. Over the last decade Jason has taken the industry by storm by launching cutting edge products in ultra-creative packaging and helped Origaudio stand out from other suppliers in the promo industry. In this session he will dive into how he did that, the importance of packaging, why first impressions matter most, and where the inspiration for his creativity comes from.

Speaker: Jason Lucash, Managing Partner, Two Days Apart, LLC

 

On-Demand | Promotional Products Work
PPAI has launched an industry outreach effort to elevate Promotional Products and educate buyers on the value of our advertising medium through research, education, networking, and events.  In this session, you will see some of the tools you can use in your own business to take advantage of this campaign and increase sales.  Learning Outcomes:1. Understand how Promotional Products Work efforts can help you in your business and grow sales. 2. Identify specific tools your business can take advantage of.  3. Understand why PPAI is investing to promote the industry. 

Speaker: Lindsey Davis, MAS, Director of Business Development, PPAI

 

On-Demand | Online Marketing Master Class
Online marketing offers many different tools to help you increase your sales and profits.  Come to this Online Marketing Master Class to learn from those who are doing exactly that.  This panel discussion will share tips, expertise, platforms and a step-by-step overview of how to put a successful campaign together.  Join this session and heighten your online marketing knowledge to the benefit of you and your company. 

Speaker(s): Kirby Hasseman, CEO, Hasseman Marketing & Communications; Charity Gibson, National Accounts, Peerless Umbrella; Javier Melendez, National Account Executive, Walker-Clay; Brandon Pecharich, Director of Sales Marketing, Branded Logistics

 

On-Demand | DEI:  The Value Of Certification
While corporate contracts are one of the most effective ways for companies in the promotional products industry to grow their profit and impact, too many are profoundly struggling to start or scale their corporate work.  Unclear about how to get in the door or turn an intial contract into a recurring one, many often find themselves hustling for introductions and networking with the wrong people. Learn how diversity certification can help a diverse business owner (i.e., woman, minority, LGBTQ, veteran, or disabled) accelerate their business success if they understand how to get certified and leverage their certificaiton once they are certified.  If you are a company who is not able to become certified, learn how you can partner with those who are and benefit from those relationships.

Speaker(s): Elise Lindborg, CEO and Business Development, Brand|Pride, Kathy Cheng, Founder, Redwood Classics Apparel, and Heather Cox, President, Certify My Company, Rhoda Hassad, Supplier Diversity Manager, MGM Resorts International

 

On-Demand | Digital Transformation: Industry Service Provider Review, PDX, Cybersecurity—PromoSnacks 
There are so many different aspects to digital transformation, and each one can influence your sales and your customers.  This session takes some of the hottest topics and provides much needed information on each. Discover the details, facts, stats, and data regarding Industry Service Providers, PDX and Cybersecurity, and learn the different ways these can affect your business, reputation, and growth.

Speaker(s): Chris Alfano, SVP, Business Technology, AIA Corporation, Nick DiNicola,  CAS, Digital Transformation Manager, PPAI, Pat Patton, CAS, Manager, Distributor Relations and Membership, PPAI