Breakout Session: Unlocking Engagement: Smart Strategies To Create Motivated, High-Performance Connections

Kate Alavez is the Chief Operating Officer at PromoShop, Inc. where she is responsible for people operations, human resources, and logistics. On a mission to reimagine the relationship between employees and employers, she is focused on creating outside‐the‐box solutions to business challenges and creating synergies between team members as a means to a happier workplace. Before taking on her role as COO, Kate worked as the Director of Human Resources and Operations, gaining experience in infrastructure build and employment law. Kate has been a strong supporter of community efforts and has served on boards for the Specialty Advertising Association of California, the Foundation Board (a 501c‐3 benefitting students of specialty advertising industry members), and The El Segundo Nursery School Group. Her passion for service and leadership began to bloom in her undergraduate years at Loyola Marymount University. She studied English while at LMU and worked on The Loyolan as well as served in leadership roles for Sigma Tau Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta.

Erin Reilly is the CEO of Pop! Promos, a full-service branded merchandise supplier, featuring a product line of full-color and Pantone matched products. Co-founded with her best friend turned business partner Sterling Wilson while in college in 2012, Reilly and Wilson quickly grew their business from selling sunglasses from their dorm rooms to one of the industry’s leading rapid importers. The company employs over 125 team members between their offices in Philadelphia, Manila, New Delhi, and Shanghai. Pop! Promos has been voted Philadelphia’s #1 fastest-growing company and earned spot #135 on the INC 500 list. With numerous industry awards including ASI’s Supplier Entrepreneurs of the Year, Peernet Creative Supplier of the Year, Nadel Creative Supplier of the Year, ASI & PPB’s Best Places to Work, PPAI’s Fastest Growing Supplier, and PPAI’S Silver Pyramid Award, Pop! Promos continues to push the boundaries of the promotional product industry, serving its clients to the highest standards by living its motto every day: Custom Made Simple™. Reilly holds a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in International Studies and History and a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University in History.