Steven Meyer, MAS, was managing a drugstore in Willmar, Minnesota, in 1998, when he received a phone call from Jim Moore, MAS, principal at then-supplier Molenaar, inviting him to an interview. Meyer didn’t know Moore and wasn’t looking for a job, but a mutual friend, Dan Hansen of Hansen Advertising, thought Meyer would be a perfect fit for selling promotional products.
Meyer was not at all interested in sales, but he says Moore’s pitch and professionalism captivated him and sealed the deal. In exchange for training Meyer, Moore stipulated that he had to get involved in a regional association.
“Part of our agreement was that I would volunteer for UMAPP, and someday, if I was lucky, I might be able to get on a PPAI task force or committee,” Meyer says. While attending PPAI’s 1998 Summer Show in St. Louis, he watched a board presentation and was immediately hooked.
Meyer became an active participant in the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals, which ultimately led to his election to its board in 2003. He went on to serve as vice president in 2008 and then as president in 2009. At the same time, he volunteered for PPAI, starting on the Suppliers Committee and Membership Committee in 2002.
Steven Meyer, MAS
PPAI Hall of Famer
Over the next decade, Meyer served a term, and sometimes two, on most of PPAI’s committees, advisory councils and work groups. He also was an industry speaker and a participant in PPAI’s Legislative Education and Action Day on Capitol Hill.
In 2009, Meyer was elected to the PPAI Board of Directors, becoming chair in 2012. But his love for industry service wasn’t yet satiated. After his board service was complete, he continued to give of his time and talent to the Promotional Products Education Foundation, among other initiatives.
Working with PPEF reopened his eyes to the ongoing need to fund industry scholarships, and he realized he could use his broad network to attract donations. An avid hiker and biker, Meyer set an ambitious goal for himself. In 2024, he rode his bike more than 600 miles on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and raised several thousand dollars for PPEF.
- After working at Molenaar for 15 years, Meyer left the company when it was sold in 2013. He spent a few months at QuickPoint before relocating to Dallas the next year to help launch supplier RiteLine.
- In typical “Steven Meyer style,” he was drawn to volunteer with the Promotional Products Association Southwest, where he served as a board member in 2016, vice president in 2017 and board president in 2018.
- Following six years at RiteLine, Meyer departed the company to take on his final industry role. He joined the startup team at Arch Promo Group in 2020, helping to grow it to 10 brands before his retirement last fall.
“Steven’s dedication to the growth and integrity of our industry is both exemplary and inspiring,” says Steve Ehlert, national general manager at Arch Promo Group, PPAI 100’s No. 28 supplier, and Meyers’ nominator for the PPAI Hall of Fame. “What sets Steven apart is not just the breadth of his professional experience but the depth of his generosity in sharing it.”
Steve Ehlert
National GM, Arch Promo Group
Asked how his more than two decades of volunteer service have helped shape him, Meyer says, “Leading regional trade associations and serving on the PPAI Board made dramatic changes in my life. Most of all, the interaction with other members and directors is invaluable. Those experiences taught me so much about myself, increased my confidence and opened my eyes to a whole new level of the industry.”
Meyer recalls that for nearly half of his time in the industry, he was serving on either a regional board or the PPAI board – and it was an irreplaceable experience.
“Without those roles and the interaction with other members, the regional executive directors and the staff at PPAI and fellow board members – whether we are talking about a personal or business relationship – my career would have been less fulfilling. Volunteering gives back so much more than it takes,” he says.
His proudest achievements on the PPAI Board included helping to establish the first Green Task Force and trimming the board from 18 to 11 directors, thus reducing expenses and making each voice more valuable and accountable. His biggest delight, however, has been helping others flourish.
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“Most of all, I’ve had an opportunity to listen and share with others,” he says. “To say less and listen more. To be a mentor but also receive and appreciate a different viewpoint. Whether it’s someone new to the industry or an old friend, each has something to share.”
Meyer says the distinction of being named to PPAI’s Hall of Fame is still sinking in. “When I look at others who have been recognized in this way, I’m a bit hesitant. But, thanks to good friends like [Hall of Fame inductees] Mary Dobsch and Teresa Moisant, I’ve learned that each person gives of themselves in different ways and that gift can be valued differently by any person,” he says.
“Being acknowledged with this honor means that I am part of the fabric of this industry and that my peers felt my contributions made a difference,” Meyer adds. “It also means that I share this award with so many who helped me. Thank you to all my friends, co-workers and peers for this once-in-a-lifetime moment.”
