Koozie Group (PPAI 114187, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 11 supplier, has announced that its Classic Collection Digital Widebody Uni-Color Message Pen has been officially nominated in the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made In Florida contest.

“Koozie Group assembles 40 writing instruments in our Clearwater, Florida-based facility,” says Pierre Montaubin, CEO of Koozie Group. “We’re proud of our dedicated team and their commitment to excellence, and this shines a spotlight on our expertise in the writing instrument category.”

Popular voting takes place June 17 through July 1, and the top 32 products will move to bracketed competition on July 15. Votes can be cast daily here.

Starline (PPAI 112719, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 27 supplier, welcomes Kristopher Kingston as the new director of information technology.

• Kingston began his career at Lockheed Martin, where he spent more than a decade specializing in satellite communications.
• In 2015, he joined Amazon, where he spent a decade helping shape and scale the tech infrastructure behind both Amazon’s fulfillment centers and its retail website.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kris to the Starline team,” says Jeff Hassler, president at Starline. “His extensive background in both operational and customer-facing technologies brings fresh perspective to our IT strategy, and we’re excited for the expertise and innovation he’ll bring to the organization.”

Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 14 supplier, has promoted Marci Newsom and Jeff Kranz to the position of national account manager.

Newsom has been with Vantage for 23 years and has most recently served as regional sales manager for the Western Region.

• She’ll now oversee national accounts, including BAMKO, BDA, Boundless Network, Nadel and Peernet.

Kranz, who has been with the company for 12 years, most recently managed the Central Region in the same capacity.

• He’ll now lead national account relationships with Geiger, HALO, Proforma and Staples.

“Marci and Jeff have consistently demonstrated a passion for customer success and a commitment to excellence,” says Sean Macilvain, vice president of business development at Vantage Apparel. “Their promotions reflect not only their individual accomplishments but also Vantage’s continued investment in building strong, strategic partnerships with our national accounts.”

Storm Creek (PPAI 438091, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 33 supplier, has announced three strategic hires: Amy Mazer and Dan Jenne as national account managers and Jocelyn Yang as technical designer.

• Mazer, a member of the Promotional Products Association Southwest’s board of directors, most recently served as national sales manager at Perry Ellis International.
• Jenne, who has over two decades of sales leadership experience in the promotional products industry, most recently served as strategic sales manager at BEL Promo, managing major national accounts.
• Yang joins from Kohl’s, where she led product development for several apparel categories, including women’s sleepwear and men’s wovens.

“These new hires reflect our continued investment in people, relationships and product,” says Teresa Fudenberg, CEO of Storm Creek. “Amy and Dan bring strong national sales expertise that will elevate the experience we provide our distributor partners, and Jocelyn’s technical talent will help us continue to create sustainable apparel that performs at the highest level.”

Charles River Apparel (PPAI 111644, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 39 supplier, has announce its role as an Official Sponsor of the 2025 Pan-Mass Challenge and PMC Unpaved.

• Since 1980, the PMC has raised over $1 billion for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with 100% of every rider-raised dollar going directly to cancer research and patient care.

“We’re incredibly honored to support the Pan-Mass Challenge and the powerful mission it represents,” says Barry Lipsett, CEO of Charles River Apparel. Lipsett has personally participated as a PMC rider for 20 years, raising more than $136,000 and embodying the company’s dedication to the cause.

“Cancer has touched so many lives, including my own family,” Lipsett says. “Partnering with the PMC is deeply personal for me, and it’s a meaningful way for all of us at Charles River Apparel to help advance the fight against this disease.”