In the 2026 PPAI 100, 25 distributors earned High Marks for Professional Development. In other words, a quarter of the PPAI 100 distributors have committed to encouraging their teams to grow through industry-specific courses and engagement.
- Scoring for this category includes the total number of CAS, MAS and MAS+ certified employees on each company’s roster, with added credit given for the more advanced certificates.
“We want our team to build careers here, not just jobs,” says Christine and Marc Puglisi, co-owners and CMO and CEO, respectively, of ePromos, PPAI 100’s No. 35 distributor. “When people feel that their growth matters to the organization, they stay, they contribute and they bring their full selves to the work.”
Christine & Marc Puglisi
Co-Owners, ePromos
‘A Deliberate Investment’
For many of the PPAI 100 distributors who earned High Marks in Professional Development, employees continue to grow in their respective roles and within the company through programs focused on nurturing careers. In order for those to succeed, they can’t be static. It’s not as simple as plugging in employees. It’s a feedback loop, and programs like these evolve with personnel.
“At iPROMOTEu, professional development is a deliberate investment in our people, our culture and the long-term strength of our business,” says Tammi Ouillette, vice president of HR at iPROMOTEu, PPAI 100’s No. 4 distributor. “This year, we made leadership development a focused priority by launching monthly training modules shaped by direct feedback from our teams, so the topics we cover are genuinely relevant to the challenges they face.”
Tammi Ouillette
VP of Human Resources, iPROMOTEu
At American Solutions For Business, PPAI 100’s No. 11 distributor, that investment means collaboration with higher education programs to ensure that the employees that seek out learning get it in a structured way with expert teachings.
“Through a new partnership grant with St. Cloud State University, all employees also have access to monthly professional development courses covering topics such as communication, difficult conversations, Excel and more, reinforcing ASB’s belief that investing in employees’ growth drives both personal and company success,” says Kate Murray, ASB’s communications and public relations specialist.
Kate Murray
Communications & Public Relations Specialist, ASB
The Puglisis claim that opening up as much opportunity and recognition to your staff as possible sets up your company for success. You build a strong culture, they say, and perhaps most importantly for distributors, you’re putting customers in a position to always be well taken care of.
“If you take care of your people, your people take care of everything else, especially your clients,” Christine and Marc Puglisi say. “That has always been our philosophy at ePromos. It’s not something we just say; it’s something we actively invest in. Launching our first Emerging Talent cohort and expanding access to PPAI certification programs are two of the most meaningful things we’ve done this year.”
Creating Opportunities And Removing Barriers
Professional development is technically available to anyone, especially in the branded merch industry, which offers countless education opportunities through PPAI Advance. Earning those credentials, and the knowledge that comes with it, can do wonders for someone’s career.
- Sometimes, the best thing an employer can do is not get in the way of that ambition.
- It takes energy and time to learn beyond one’s immediate responsibilities. The onus is on the company to create the structure that makes it reasonable for an employee to achieve professional development.
“From a leadership standpoint, we view professional development as both an expectation and a shared responsibility,” says Thomas Goos, MAS, president and CEO of Image Source, PPAI 100’s No. 23 distributor. “We create an environment where curiosity and continuous learning are part of the culture. In fact, 30% of our team members have earned a TAS, CAS or MAS designation. Our role as leaders is to support that, remove barriers and create opportunities for our people to grow.”
For iPROMOTEu, that structure looks like a communication channel that flows both ways between leaders and the employees that report to them.
Don’t Miss A Thing: SUBSCRIBE To PPAI Newslink
“By putting learning into practice and building a peer-to-peer network where leaders regularly connect, collaborate and exchange perspectives, we’re creating a culture of continuous growth,” says Ouillette. “That ultimately benefits not just our team, but the affiliates and partners who count on us every day.”
ePromos sees professional development as holistically connected to everything that follows. The company values public recognition, taking opportunities to reward employees for their development, which starts with the work they put in through education and attentiveness.
“Recognition is woven into our culture at every level,” Christine and Marc Puglisi say. “Our Circle of Excellence, Spotlight Awards and Gold Star Program celebrate the people who go above and beyond every day, across every department. And this year, 60 employees will attend our President’s Club, an experience that honors both our top sales performers and the colleagues recognized through our Circle of Excellence and Spotlight programs.
“That cross-functional celebration is intentional. Great work looks different across an organization, and we want every corner of this company to feel seen.”
Thomas Goos, MAS
President, Image Source
Ultimately, these distributors know that the industry is changing at a rapid pace, and it’s a collective effort to keep up.
“Professional development is a core priority at Image Source,” Goos says. “It is intentionally built into our strategic plan because we know our growth as a company is directly tied to the growth of our people. Investing in our team ensures they are not only keeping pace with industry change, but staying ahead of it, bringing fresh thinking, new capabilities and greater value to our clients.”
