Women’s Leadership Conference

Erica Dhawan is an internationally recognized leading authority, speaker and advisor on 21st century teamwork, collaboration and innovation. Named as one of the top 50 management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, she is the author of two bestselling books, Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence and Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance. As we continue to experience an increasingly digital world where work practices are changing at a blistering pace, Erica shares innovative strategies to unlock the collective power of teams, build a culture of trust across any distance and create authentic engagement to ensure competitiveness. Rated #1 on the Top Women Keynote Speakers list, Erica frequently appears in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal. Erica speaks on global stages ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos, to the US Army, to companies such as Coca-Cola, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, and Cisco. She holds degrees from Harvard University, MIT Sloan, and The Wharton School.

Kristy Grant-Hart is the founder and CEO of Spark Compliance. She’s a renowned expert at transforming compliance departments into in-demand business assets. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books and has advised Fortune 100 companies on international compliance and has created, implemented, and revamped compliance programs for major companies in Europe and the United States. Before launching Spark Compliance, Kristy was the Chief Compliance Officer at United International Pictures, the joint distribution company for Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures. Kristy graduated summa cum laude from Loyola Law School in California. She holds certification as a Corporate Compliance and Ethics Professional – International and is a member of the California Bar.

SHELLEY PAXTON Former CMO of Harley-Davidson | Chief Soul Officer | Speaker, Advocate, and Simon & Schuster Author

Think Brené Brown meets Biker Babe, with a dash of Liz Gilbert. Shelley is a 26-year advertising and marketing veteran whose legacy is imprinted on iconic global brands like McDonald’s, Visa, and HarleyDavidson. At the pinnacle of her career, as Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson, she was shocked to find herself feeling success-empty instead of success-full. That awakening led her on a profound journey that became her mission, business, and bestselling book, Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life. Now Chief Soul Officer, she works with leaders and teams to advocate for redefining success in ways that celebrate humanity, wellbeing, and soul. Her influential work is an empowering antidote to corporate burnout, attrition, and disengagement. It’s gained recognition on platforms like NBC, CBS, Forbes, Inc., and Thrive Global, making her a respected thought leader, advisor, and sought-after keynote speaker who’s been called “the next Brené Brown” by Chip Conley, NY Times Bestselling Author, Former Airbnb Exec, and Founder of MEA. Her energizing and actionable keynotes are creating undeniable ROI (Ripples of Impact) in lives, businesses, and culture.

SHELLEY IS ON A MISSION TO LIBERATE A BILLION SOULS FROM SUCCESS-EMPTY TO SUCCESS-FULL.

She’s based in Chicago and obsessed with mental health advocacy and the color orange.

Latisha Marshall is the Senior Vice President of Operations at ePromos Promotional Products, LLC, where she leads with strategy, intention, and a proven track record of driving results. With 20 years of experience in the promotional products industry, Latisha is recognized for her ability to turn operational challenges into scalable solutions and build high-performing teams that deliver excellence at every stage. 

Latisha is passionate about building smarter systems, developing people, and aligning cross-functional teams to achieve business goals. 

Beyond her work at ePromos, she is an active leader in the industry. She currently serves as Chair of the PPAI Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Task Force and sits on the board of the Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA), where she is dedicated to uplifting and evolving the promotional products community. 

Brittany David, MAS is the Chief Revenue Officer at SnugZ USA. She is a 19 year veteran of the promotional products industry. Brittany served on the PPAI board of Directions from 2016 – 2020, serving as Chairman in 2019 and various committees throughout the years. She is a PPAI Fellow and was awarded the PPAI Woman of Achievement in 2023. Her involvement in the promotional products industry has landed her on many advisory boards and various committees. 

Brittany also volunteers for Adopt a Native Elder and serves on the Global Leadership Scholarship Fund Committee, whose mission is to empower Utah’s young students from different backgrounds to participate in critical global conversations with peers through expense covered international conferences and events. She is a member of IWF – International Woman’s Forum and recently became a certified yoga teacher. 

Brittany David, MAS, received the 2023 Women of Achievement award for her contributions to the industry. Additionally, she is recognized as a PPAI Fellow and has been honored with the Supplier Visionary award by A Woman’s View.

Melissa (Mel) Bettua is the Director of Sales at HPG, where she has built her promotional products career for over 12 years. In her current role, she leads the execution of growth and business development strategies across the enterprise, with a specialized focus on the Hub and Mixie brands. 

Her leadership extends well beyond sales targets — Mel plays a key role in guiding the day-to-day operations and developing the talent of HPG’s powerhouse sales team. She also collaborates cross-functionally across departments, from marketing to production, ensuring alignment and momentum at every level of the business. 

Outside the office, Mel is all about family, yoga, and the outdoors. She enjoys training her energetic Fox Red lab, Maverick, and is always on the lookout for the next great coffee shop to explore. 

Debbie Abergel has spent over 25 years shaping the promotional products industry as a visionary leader and trusted mentor. As Chief Strategy Officer at Nadel, she has been a part of the team that has driven the company’s growth, leading the 2022 rebrand and the recent renovation of its headquarters, which has so far garnered two prestigious architectural awards, including the Building of the Year Award from Interior Design magazine. Debbie also leads the Nadel Cares initiative, benefiting organizations like the Assistance League of Los Angeles. Known for her mentorship and advocacy for women and minorities in business.  

Debbie’s influence extends beyond her role at Nadel. Among her accolades, she has served various boards including the Dickies Advisory Board and was elected to the Promotional Products Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2018. In 2022, she received the prestigious Counselor Woman of Distinction Award and is a perennial member of Counselor’s Power 50 list. 

Sarah Greenway is a passionate leader in the promotional marketing industry and currently serves as Vice President of Sales at DelegateCX. With a strong focus on building authentic relationships and driving strategic growth, she helps companies scale through smart hiring and global team integration. 

Prior to DelegateCX, Sarah spent 13 years at PPAI Top 100 Distributor, Pinnacle Promotions, where she led the Corporate Programs division—overseeing implementations and guiding strategic growth for enterprise-level accounts and company stores. 

A proud University of Georgia graduate (’07), Sarah now calls Charlotte, North Carolina home, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Outside of work, she enjoys running or reading a good book and proudly embraces her role as a full-time swim mom. 

Roni is a well-known presence in the promotional products industry, recognized as a dedicated volunteer, engaging speaker, PPAI Board Member and former Chair of the PPEF Education Foundation. She’s also a proud recipient of both the PPAI Hall of Fame and Woman of Achievement honors. A passionate advocate for women, healthy living and consultative selling, Roni brings her whole self to every event — often sharing her latest book recommendation or insights from life outside of work. 

One of Roni’s greatest personal passions is yoga, which she credits with transforming her life inside and out. Her practice even took her all the way to India, where she studied under yoga master Sharath Jois at the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore during extended stays in both 2014 and 2015. 

An avid traveler and adventurer, Roni has explored destinations like Italy, Switzerland, Iceland and New Zealand. She’s equally at home in the wilderness, preferring a tent and a dehydrated meal over a fancy hotel. Her love of hiking led her to step out of her comfort zone and complete a 175-mile backpacking trek around Lake Tahoe. 

Whether tucked into a sleeping bag or curled up at home, Roni always ends her day with a good book! 

Roni Wright, MAS was adorned with the MAS distinction, earned distinction as a PPAI Fellow and was celebrated with the 2013 PPAI Woman of Achievement award and the 2007 Distinguished Service Awards. Additionally, she was honored as the YESSA Young Executive of the Year and TRASA Volunteer of the Year and MVP.

Kim Sandifer joined HALO in 2020 as the company’s first HR Business Partner, bringing over 20 years of experience leading HR and operational teams at Fortune 500 companies. She played a key role in building a people-first, performance-driven culture and in scaling the HR Business Partner function.  

In 2023, Kim was named Chief Human Resources Officer,  She champions a culture where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered, with a focus on inclusion, well-being, and performance. Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from Elmhurst College and is an alumna of the Smith College Leadership Consortium. A proud Chicago native, she lives with her husband Michael, and celebrates the successes of their daughter Mykala in HR and son Jabari in fashion. 

Britney Godsey, Chief Revenue Office at Gold Bond, Inc. has over a decade of experience in the promotional products industry. She has spearheaded successful initiatives like the “One Tree Planted” give back program and the PPAI award-winning influencer kits. Britney has received various awards, including the PPAI rising star, Pyramid awards, and multiple social media trend setter spotlight awards.   

Ellen Tucker, CAE, MAS, is the Vice President of Revenue and Expositions at PPAI and has been with the Association for over 10 years.  She spearheads PPAI’s entire revenue stream and marketing, oversees professional development initiatives and orchestrates the industry’s largest trade show, The PPAI Expo.

Susan Lewandowski is a dynamic leader in the promotional products industry, currently serving as Managing Director at BEL Promo. With over 35 years of experience, she has played a pivotal role in rebranding and reinventing BEL Promo into a top-tier supplier, driving significant sales growth and earning preferred vendor status with major distributors. 

Recognized as a Counselor 2024 Woman of Distinction, 2023 Women in Print and Promo honoree, and 2024 and 2025 Promo UPFront Powerhouse of Promo, Susan is passionate about mentorship, leadership, and empowering women in business. 

A strong advocate for fostering inclusive workplace cultures, she actively supports women’s leadership initiatives. When she’s not driving industry innovation, she enjoys time by the ocean, reading, and cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Kara Keister, MBA, MAS, Promise Keeper at Social Good Promotions, started her promotional professional career on the distributor side 14 years ago in sales.  She was on the OPPA Board in 2015 and served as President of the Board 2017-2019.  Kara has participated in LDW and LEAD, and was elected to the RAC Board in 2020, playing a pivotal role in the shift from RAC to the Regional Relations Committee.  In 2022, Kara was appointed to the PPAI Board of Directors as the RRC Delegate.

Kate Alavez is the President of PromoShop, Inc., where she leads people operations, technology strategy, and ESG integration. A champion of workplace innovation, she’s known for reimagining how teams thrive. Kate was named Distributor Person of the Year, serves on the PPAI Board of Directors, and was featured on the 2024 Counselor Power 50 list. She holds an MBA from CSU Monterey Bay and speaks to teams about how to build and support high-performance, people-first cultures.   

Vera Muzzillo is the CEO of Proforma and joined the organization in 2000.  She has been heavily involved and recognized in the printing and promotional products industries, community organizations, as well as the franchising arena through her many professional affiliations and awards over the past few decades. 

Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS+ is the CEO of Competitive Edge. She started her company in 1993, and Competitive Edge provides promotional products, premiums and business gifts for local and national companies both large and small. Mary Jo’s success is driven by her belief in high quality customer service and going above and beyond customer expectations. Her vision to develop a successful business in her industry and community has gained her numerous awards and national recognition including being named one of the “Top 500 Woman Owned Businesses in the United States” and “Top 50 Places to Work in the Promotional Products Industry.” 

In 2021, the 40-year industry veteran was named PPAI’s Woman of Achievement, and she previously served as the Association’s Board Chair in 2017-2018.