Community
PPAI is driven by members like you. Industry volunteers play an essential role in defining our strategy and shaping the industry. Volunteering your time for a committee or action group is a great way to make an impact on your business, your association and the entire market.
Mission
Volunteer Mission Statement
Through volunteering, we serve as subject matter experts and advocates to help PPAI fulfill its mission of being the voice and force to advance the promotional marketplace for the benefit of our community.
Composed of dedicated industry volunteers, these groups consistently meet to support and guide the PPAI staff in providing exceptional service to our members.
The Awards and Recognition Action Group engages members by ensuring the relevance, prestige, and overall experience of the industry’s most recognized and coveted awards.
Committee Chair: Kelli Denes
Staff Liaison: Kathlene Brethowr
The Corporate Responsibility Committee provides insights regarding sustainability to help PPAI educate members and maximize the adoption of sustainability best practices. This includes providing significant insight for the Responsibility Summit agenda.
Committee Chair: Brian Campbell
Staff Liaison: Elizabeth Wimbush
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Action Group increases the visibility of underrepresented groups within the industry’s workforce and inspires industry business leaders to embrace inclusive, unbiased business practices.
Committee Chair: Latisha Marshall
Staff Liaison: Kathleen Burr
The Government Relations Action Council supports and drives the industry in identifying and influencing legislation and regulations affecting the promotional products industry at all levels of government.
Committee Chair: Zack Ottenstein
Staff Liaison: Rachel Zoch
Details regarding the International Committee will be available soon.
Staff Liaison: Mason Linn
The Leadership Action Committee (LAC) is responsible for seeking, vetting, and developing qualified industry professionals to serve and perform in a leadership role on the PPAI Board. The LAC submits recommended board candidates to the Nominating Committee.
Committee Chair: Chris O'Connor
Staff Liaison: Kathlene Brethowr
The Professional Development Committee provides advice and direction on education opportunities that will speak to the PPAI member base to advance the knowledge and professionalism of the promotional products industry. Additionally, the committee is responsible for ensuring the integrity and professionalism of the PPAI certification program and communicating the program’s value to industry practitioners.
Committee Chair: Karie Cowden
Staff Liaison: Jessica Gibbons-Rauch
The Product Responsibility Action Group provides insights regarding product safety and responsible sourcing, to help PPAI educate members and maximize adoption of responsible product responsibility best practices. This includes providing significant insight for the Responsibility Summit agenda.
Committee Chairs: Brian Campbell & Victoria Sierra
Staff Liaison: Rachel Zoch
With the support of industry member companies and individuals, the Promotional Products Education Foundation provides college scholarships to promotional products industry employees and their children to support general studies and industry-related educational goals.
Committee Chair: Lisa Hubbard
Staff Liaison: Mason Linn / Renae Ward
The regionals’ interests and needs are represented, in part, by the Regional Relations Committee. The RRC is the channel for clear communication and collaboration between regional associations and PPAI. Our goal is to build a strong and connected community, facilitate conversations and support regionals through education and advocacy to advance the promotional marketplace.
Committee Chair: Aubrey Conklin
Staff Liaison: Jill Begun
The Strategic Foresight Action Group is a combination of supplier and distributor members that provide insights on strategic topics to the President and Board of Directors as requested by the President or Chair of the Board.
Staff Liaison: Alok Bhat & Michele Schwartz
The Sustainability Action group provide insights regarding sustainability, to help PPAI educate members and maximize adoption of sustainability best practices. This includes providing significant insight for the Responsibility Summit agenda.
Committee Chair: Emily Gigot & Laura Smith
Staff Liaison: Jonny Auping
The Technology Committee is responsible for providing technology-related education and guidance to PPAI staff and association members to enable a more efficient industry.
Staff Liaison: John Twist
The Icon Advisory Group will review all nominations for the Icon Awards and recommend up to two candidates for the PPAI Hall of Fame, up to two candidates for the PPAI Distinguished Service Award, and up to one candidate for the H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award, as the slate for presentation to the PPAI Board of Directors.
Committee Chair: Sherri Lennarson
Staff Liaison: Kathlene Brethowr
PPAI Professional Development
Access the industry’s most respected training programs and sharpen your promotional products expertise. Our refreshed online education program makes it easy and fun to strengthen your industry résumé.