The Association has announced this year’s recipient of the 2025 PPAI Woman of Achievement Award: Vera Muzzillo, CAS, CEO of Proforma, PPAI 100’s No. 3 distributor.

For 15 years, PPAI has awarded women who’ve spurred the industry forward. Their outstanding leadership, dedication and talent have impressed peers, empowered other women and energized entire communities.

Muzzillo will be recognized at a special ceremony during the Women’s Leadership Conference, held at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa in Coronado, California from June 23-25.

headshot of vera muzzillo

Vera Muzzillo, CAS

CEO, Proforma, PPAI Woman Of Achievement

‘Far Reaching Impact‘

Muzzillo has been the CEO of Proforma for 24 years, leading the company through exponential growth and innovation.

  • Proforma has been named a top five distributor in each year of PPAI 100’s existence.
  • During her tenure as CEO, the Cleveland-based firm grew from $20 million to $650 million, becoming the largest family-owned distributorship in promo.


The Woman of Achievement Award will fit in with a number of awards and recognitions that Muzzillo has had bestowed upon her and Proforma over the past 20-plus years. Her dedication to being someone who has reached out and helped women in this industry, continuing to create opportunities and offer mentorship, is perhaps most praiseworthy.

“Vera is one woman in the print and promotional products industry, but her contributions have impacted the lives of many,” says Marissa Jansen, director of brand identity at Proforma, who nominated Muzzillo for the award. “Her efforts have had far-reaching impacts, influencing people and processes, building better relationships and creating stronger communities. Vera has not only raised the bar; she has set a new standard of excellence in the industry.”

Her efforts have had far-reaching impacts, influencing people and processes, building better relationships and creating stronger communities.”

Marissa Jansen

Director of Brand Identity, Proforma

As a volunteer, Muzzillo has stepped up and helped PPAI serve its mission to its members and the industry at various points when the Association needed her expert guidance.

  • She served a director-at-large role for PPAI from 2020-2022, lending her ear and voice beyond that term.
  • PPAI has also been fortunate to have Muzzillo as a technology liaison, part of a training task force and consulting on membership engagement.
  • In a time of crisis, Muzzillo served on a Pandemic Task Force, advising on key decisions to help the Association navigate through uncharted waters.


Proforma has grown into one of the entities that influences the direction that promo goes. That has happened under Muzzillo’s watch. Her eye for innovation has benefited more than just the company she continues to lead.

“Vera’s keen business sense, intentional mindset and ability to look to the future have made her one of the most influential women in the print and promotional products industry,” says Jansen. “She made a strategic decision to invest in the expansion of technology at Proforma, hiring a team of more than 80 in-house dedicated experts to help develop the groundbreaking proprietary technology platforms of ProVision and ProStores.

These systems not only changed the technology landscape for Proforma but also set a new standard of operations for the print and promotional products industry.”

To register for PPAI’s Women’s Leadership Conference, click here.