Tekweld (PPAI 266346, Standard-Plus) has announced the addition of Craig Wallace as director of national accounts.

• Wallace is a 25-year industry veteran who was most recently vice president of sales at Cap America.
• Previously, he held sales leadership roles at SnugZ USA and Sweda.

“Craig is the ideal addition to Tekweld from a business development standpoint,” says Gregg Szpicek, senior vice president of sales at Tekweld.

ACS Affiliate Services, a division of Altitude Group and a subsidiary of AIM Smarter (PPAI 230461, Platinum) – PPAI 100’s No. 17 distributor – has announced the promotion of Melinda Marr to vice president, following her tenure as director of marketing and strategy.

• Since joining ACS in 2021, Marr has played an integral role in shaping the company’s brand identity, marketing programs and long-term growth strategy.
• With more than 30 years in the promotional products industry, spanning both distributor and supplier sectors, she brings a well-rounded perspective to affiliate success.

“Melinda has been a driving force behind ACS since our early days,” says Nikki Stella, CEO of AIM Smarter. “Her strategic insight, deep industry knowledge and unwavering commitment to our affiliates growth have helped shape who we are today. As we look to the future, her leadership will be essential to taking ACS to the next level.”

Chocolate Chocolate (PPAI 111668, Standard-Base) has announced the hiring of new president Justin Walford and the transition of longtime president Ken Strong to board member and advisor.

• Walford has more than 20 years of business-to-business and consumer leadership experience, previously holding executive roles at G3 Genuine Guide Gear, Icebreaker Merino Clothing, Hillberg & Berk, Pelican International and Everbranch Capital Group.

“During the last 18 years, Ken led Chocolate Chocolate to become the most innovative chocolate decorator in the promotional industry,” says Walford, adding that Strong oversaw the introduction of fully custom packaging and roboticized production lines.

“We’re committed to growing as a supplier to the promotional products industry,” Walford says. “We look forward to working with our multi-line sales reps, our distributor partners and the industry-at-large to bring our premium decorated chocolate to more projects and more end-users in the years ahead.”

City Bonfires (PPAI 814515, Standard-Base) has partnered with Mr. Beast’s Feastables chocolate company as the official flame of choice for its summer s’mores sweepstakes with Target.

• Five hundred winners will receive the s’mores kits that include Feastables chocolate and the supplier’s signature smokeless bonfires.
• City Bonfires’ products are also included in influencer boxes being sent to Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian and other celebrities.

For more information on the sweepstakes, click here.

Atlantis Headwear (PPAI 753003, Standard-Plus) partnered with Melloblocco, the world’s largest international bouldering gathering, to create a cap for the event’s 21st year, which took place from May 7-10 in Italy’s granite valleys of Val di Mello and Val Masino.

During the design process, Atlantis aimed to create a product that reflected the outdoor spirit of the event.

• This led the design team to choose the Erie: a lightweight, breathable and water-resistant cap perfect for outdoor activities under the sun.
• From recycled mesh to dry-tech sweatband, this product meets a clean, versatile aesthetic.