Women's Leadership Conference



WLC Is Sold Out - Join The Waitlist

WLC is sold out, if you would like to join the waitlist, please send an email to BaileyC@ppai.org


Featured Speakers, Moderators & Panelists

 Amelia Madl 

 Vice President Of Sales 

 PromoCorner 

 Anne Stone 

 Director, Member Engagement 

 PPAI 

 Brittany David, MAS  

 Chief Revenue Officer 

 SnugZ USA  

 Cheron Coleman 

 Vice President Product Development & Global Supply 

 alphabroder 

 Dawn Olds 

 Senior Vice President  

 HALO  

 Ellen Tucker 

 Vice President, Revenue & Expositions 

 PPAI 

 Erin Reilly 

 CEO 

 Pop! Promos 

Play Speaker Video

 Erin Stafford 

 Keynote Speaker/Author 

  

 Jaime Nolan 

 CEO/President 

 National Speakers Association 

 Jamie Watson, MAS, CPA 

 COO 

 Certified Marketing Consultants 

 Jennifer Harrison 

 Executive Director 

 Dakota Woodlands 

 Jenny Straub, CAS 

 Director of Strategic Partnerships  

 Outdoor Cap 

 Johanna Gottlieb 

 VP of Sales, Midwest  

 HALO 

 Josh Ellis 

 Publisher/Editor-In-Chief 

 PPAI 

 Kate Alavez 

 COO 

 PromoShop, Inc. 

 Kara Keister 

 Promise Keeper 

 Social Good Promotions 

Play Speaker Video

 Kelly McDonald 

 Author/Speaker 

 McDonald Marketing 

 Kevin Walsh, CAS  

 President  

 Showdown Displays  

 Laura Turner 

 VP Customer Experience 

 alphabroder Prime Line 

 Lori Bolton 

 Director Of Business Development 

 Totally Bamboo 

 Megan Spire 

 Vice President Of Sales 

 BELLA+CANVAS 

 Mori Taheripour 

 Faculty, The Wharton School 

  

 Roni S. Wright, MAS 

 Vice President 

 The Book Company 

 Sarah Unruh 

 Chief Rainmaker (CRO) 

 Sock101 

 Taylor Borst 

 Director of Marketing, Events & Public Relations  

 American Solutions for Business 


Event Agenda

Sunday, June 25, 2023

3 - 6 pm cst

Optional Meet Up and Networking

6:30 - 7 pm cst

Optional First-Time Attendee Reception

7 - 9 pm cst

Women Of Achievement (WOA) Celebration

Monday, June 26, 2023

7 - 8 am cst

Yoga

Facilitator: Roni Wright, MAS, Vice President, The Book Company

7:30 - 8:45 am cst

Breakfast

8:50 - 9 am cst

Welcome

Speaker:  Kate Alavez, Workshop Chair; COO, PromoShop

9 - 10 am cst

Beat Burnout And Sustain Peak Performance

After years of uncertainty, people from all industries and walks of life are feeling tired, disillusioned and burnt out. They want a better way to succeed and stay at peak performance without the constant hustle and grind that ultimately leads them to burn out. Helping people and organizations escape burnout is Erin’s mission with every keynote. Her five practical and easy-to-implement mindset shifts coupled with her unique and inspiring message lead to real, measurable outcomes for audiences.

Speaker: Erin Stafford, Speaker and Author

10 - 10:10 am cst

PromoSnack - Woman Of Achievement

10:10 - 10:30 am cst

Break

10:30 am - 11:30 am cst

From EX To CX: Digging into the eXperience!

Companies all over the world are finding ways to measure your satisfaction with their goods and services… And, if they are doing it right, they are taking action to improve their operations in response to your feedback.  This has become a hot topic, especially in the promotional products industry.  Please join Laura Turner from alphabroder and Amy McCray from Eskimo Joe’s Promotional Products as they map the customer journey from concept to delivery and share how their companies are listening to their customers, measuring their satisfaction, and improving their experience along the way.  It will be an engaging session that will leave you with some simple ways to start measuring customer experience in your organization.  

Speaker: Laura Turner, VP Customer Experience, alphabroder

11:30 - Noon cst

PromoSnack – Work / Life Balance And AEDs

Speakers: Lori Bolton, Director of Business Development, Totally Bamboo; Jenny Straub, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Outdoor Cap

Noon - 1 pm cst

Lunch

1 - 2 pm cst

Corporate Social Responsibility: The Time is Now

This panel discussion will examine trends, expectations and the reality of corporate social responsibility. Increasingly buyers are committed to aligning their businesses with products that elevate their social and sustainable priorities. This session will outline practical steps you can implement in your business regardless of whether you are at the beginning of your journey or far down the path.

Speakers:  Moderator, Anne Stone, CAE, MAS, Director of Member Engagement, PPAI; Cheron Coleman, Vice President Private Brand Product Development & Global Supply Chain, alphabroder; Megan Spire, Vice President of Sales, Bella+Canvas

2 - 2:30 pm cst

Research Roundup

PPAI conducts in-depth research into the top topics in the promotional products industry.  Hear the up-to-date research findings regarding today’s competitive marketplace, strategies, strategic marketing tools and consumer studies

Speaker: Josh Ellis, Publisher and Editor in Chief, PPAI

2:30 - 3 pm cst

Group Photo & Break

3 - 4 pm cst

Breaking Through The Fear Of Failure

If you are a woman professional who has ever felt afraid of failing, this presentation is for you.  Join us on a journey through the life of a successful woman entrepreneur who has faced her fears and come out on top. We will explore the different types of fears associated with failure, such as anticipatory anxiety, shame, and rejection, and offer strategies for building resilience and achieving your goals. Learn how to analyze potential outcomes, think positively, and have a contingency plan in place to face your fears head-on. Most importantly, this presentation will inspire you to see failure as a stepping-stone to success and help you overcome any obstacles standing in your way. Don't let fear hold you back any longer; join us and take the first step toward achieving your dreams.

Speaker: Jaime Nolan, CEO & President, National Speakers Association

4 - 4:45 pm cst

Roundtables

Dig into the topics you will hear throughout the conference. What are your takeaways about the sessions you have heard and how will these ignite and inspire you, and help you invest in yourself moving forward?

5:30 - 6:30 pm cst

Emerging Leaders Networking Event

6:30 - 8 pm cst

Dine Arounds

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

7 - 8 am cst

Energizing Morning Walk

7:30 - 8:30 am cst

Breakfast

9 - 9:05 am cst

Welcome

Speaker:  Kevin Walsh, CAS, PPAI Board Chair; President, Showdown Displays

9:05 - 10 am cst

Command Your Worth: Negotiation

This session can transform our relationships and how we communicate with each other. Contrary to what many believe makes for a good negotiator, namely, being aggressive and unemotional, author and educator Mori Taheripour challenges this conventional wisdom and offers a radically different perspective.

Speaker:  Mori Taheripour, CEO/Founder, MT Global Strategies; Moderator, Moderator Ellen Tucker, CAE, MAS, Vice President, Revenue and Expositions, PPAI

10 - 10:45 am cst

Mentors, Mentees And Champions

Mentors, champions, and those who they helped to guide will discuss their relationships, how they all benefited and grew from their connections, and the difference between each. Learn how you can become a mentor and champion or find someone to help advise you. 

Speakers:  Moderator, Kate Alavez, COO, PromoShop; Dawn Olds, MAS, Immediate Past Board Chair and Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and DEI, HALO; Kara Keister, Co-Owner, Social Good Promotions; Johanna Gottlieb, VP Sales, HALO 

10:45 - 11 am cst

Break

11 - Noon cst

Making The Finance Conversation Comfortable For Everyone

When it comes to finance, there are no unimportant questions or answers you should already know. Whether your knowledge of finance is beginning, intermediate or advanced, the panel will provide beneficial information. Bring your finance questions and you will have the opportunity to turn them in prior to the session.  

Moderators: Erin Reilly, CEO, Pop! Promos; Jamie Watson, CPA, MAS, Partner, Certified Marketing Consultants, Brittany David, MAS, Chief Revenue Officer, Snugz 

Noon - 1:15 pm cst

Lunch

1:15 - 1:30 pm cst

PromoSnack - PPEF

Speaker: Roni Wright, MAS, Vice President, The Book Company

1:30 - 2:15 pm cst

Building Your Brand With Digital Marketing

Hear a panel of experts discuss the gold standard in corporate marketing.  This conversation will share important and up-to-date information, providing the key takeaways that will allow you to present your best digital marketing brand. 

Moderators: Amelia Madl, Vice President of Sales, PromoCorner; Taylor Borst, Director of Marketing, Events & Public Relations, American Solutions for Business, Sarah Unruh, Chief Rainmaker, Sock 101

2:15 - 2:30 pm cst

Break

2:30 - 2:45 pm cst

Dakota Woodlands

Learn about the organization we will be supporting through our service project.  Hear how they support their community and all that they provide to the families in and around Eagan, MN.

Speaker: Jennifer Harrison, Executive Director, Dakota Woodlands

2:45 - 3:45 pm cst

How To Work With And Lead People Not Like You

If you're in a diverse team, you know employee differences can cause miscommunication, lower trust, and hurt productivity. . . It doesn't have to be this way! The people you work with may be from a different generation, different culture, different race, different gender, or just a different philosophy toward work and life in general, but you need to work together toward a common goal. How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You explains how to dial down the differences, smooth out the friction, and play upon each other's strengths to become more effective, more productive, and less stressed. The keys are to find the common ground and identify hidden conflicts that are hurting productivity.

Speaker: Kelly McDonald, Speaker and Author, McDonald Marketing 

3:45 - 4 pm cst

Closing Remarks

5:30 - 7:30 pm cst

Community Service Project And Closing Celebration

Hosted By Storm Creek And Closing Reception Sponsored By PPAI

Join us to help ignite, inspire, and invest in the local community by participating in a service project that will benefit Dakota Woodlands, an organization that empowers displaced families on their journey to independence. We will put welcome and farewell kits together, network with each other, and enjoy some food and drinks.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

8 am - 12:15 pm cst

Optional Tour - Showdown Production Facility And Corporate Headquarters

For distributor attendees only


Hotel & Travel

Omni Viking Lakes Hotel
2611 Nordic Way, Eagan, Minnesota, 55121

Group Rate: $219.00 per night 

The cut-off date to book at hotel room is Tuesday, May 30, 2023. After this date, PPAI cannot guarantee available rooms. 

Airport Information 

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Distance From Property: 6.6 miles


Represented Companies

3M Promotional Markets HPG
4Imprint Imprint Engine
Adelante Community Development Infinity Headwear
Advertising Specialty Institute IPROMOTEu
AIM Smarter LLC Kite Meeting Management, LLc
alphabroder Prime Line Koozie Group
American Ad Bag Co. Maple Ridge Farms, Inc.
American Solutions for Business OrderMyGear
Anything Goes Promotions Outdoor Cap Co, Inc.
Barker Specialty Company Pop! Promos
Beacon Promotions, Inc. Prisma Graphic
Bel Promo PromoCorner
BELLA + CANVAS PromoShop Inc
Botanical PaperWorks Quality Resource Group, Inc.
Cap America, Inc. S & S Activewear
Caps Direct SAGE
CE Competitive Edge LLC Showdown Displays
City Apparel SnugZ USA
CPS / Keystone Line (Custom Plastic Specialties LLC) Social Good Promotions, Inc.
Crystal D SOCK101
DistributorCentral, LLC St Regis Group
DRI DUCK Traders Starline USA, Inc.
Fey Promo Stay Visible, An IPROMOTEu Affiliate
Geiger STG Marketing, Inc.
Gemline Storm Creek
Grapevine Designs LLC STRAN & Company, Inc.
Halls & Company The Book Company
HALO Branded Solutions Thumbprint
Hirsch  Totally Bamboo
Hit Promotional Products  

WLC 2023 Sponsors






Frequently Asked Questions

Who may register for and attend this event?
To register for any of PPAI’s live education events, you must be a PPAI Member or Associate, meaning that you own or are employed by a company that manufactures, imports or resells promotional products. Each registration requires an individual login. 

What is included in my registration fee?
Conference registration includes all education sessions, the welcome reception on Sunday evening, breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks, and dinner on Monday evening and breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks on Tuesday.

What is NOT included in my registration fee?
Conference registration does not include optional pre-conference outings, or hotel and travel expenses. 

What plans do I need to make?
Hotel: You are responsible for reserving your hotel room. See the Hotel & Travel page for information about the hotel and our reduced group rate.
Travel: You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements to and from the conference location. 

Pre-conference outings:
Attendees love to network and explore the city together. If you are someone who plans to arrive early, be sure to watch for opportunities to join your peers to relax and explore the city.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Refunds will be issued, minus a $150 processing fee, up to and including Friday, May 12, 2023. After Friday, May 12, 2023, refunds will not be issued. Refunds will not be issued for conference no-shows. All cancellations must be emailed to Bailey Catone at BaileyC@PPAI.org

Privacy
By registering for the conference, you agree to have your basic information published on the official attendee list and to have your photo taken at the event. Please contact Kathlene Brethowr should you wish to be removed. 

Consent To Use Photographic Images
Registration and attendance at and/or participation in PPAI's North American Leadership Conference or any Association meetings or events constitute an agreement by the registrant to fully consent to PPAI’s use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant’s or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproduction and audiotapes of such events and activities.

Questions Regarding Membership
Please call 888-I-AM-PPAI (426-7724) or email PPAI Membership.


WLC Workgroup

 Amelia Madl 

 Vice President Of Sales 

 PromoCorner 

 Becki Heinen 

 Director Of Customer Success 

 Delegate CX 

 Cheron Coleman 

 Vice President Product Development & Global Supply 

 Alphabroder 

 Emily Codner 

 Director Of Affiliate Services 

 iPROMOTEu 

 Erin Reilly 

 CEO  

 Pop! Promos 

 Kate Alavez 

 Chief Operating Officer 

 PromoShop 

 Meghan Kory 

 Director of Southeast Sales  

 Hit Promotional Products 

 Roni Wright, MAS 

 Vice President 

 The Book Company 

 Sara Unruh 

 Chief Rainmaker 

 Sock101 

 Susan Lewandowski 

 Managing Director 

 BEL Promo