PromoGroup (PPAI 698876, Standard-Plus) has announced the addition of Maxx Rochette as partner and vice president of strategic growth.

Rochette brings over 13 years of experience in the promotional products industry, most recently serving as vice president at Canadian Solutions for Business.

“I chose to join PromoGroup because of the people behind it, the model they’ve built and the opportunity to shape the future of distributor success in Canada,” Rochette says. “PromoGroup is Canadian-rooted and forward-thinking. We’re not here to compete with our partners – we’re here to scale alongside them.”

Alexis Gemme Piacente, partner at PromoGroup, adds, “’Maxx brings the kind of energy, market awareness and forward-thinking mindset we need to accelerate PromoGroup’s mission. He truly understands today’s distributors – what they want, what they struggle with and where they’re going. With Maxx as a partner, we’re not just expanding – we’re evolving.”

Storm Creek (PPAI 438091, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 33 supplier, has announced the launch of its 2026 Essential Catalog.

Storm Creek boasts an entirely sustainably produced product line, now backed by Certified B Corp status and an EcoVadis Gold Medal.

“This collection reflects our unwavering commitment to exceptional fabric quality, functionality and flattering fit,” says Doug Jackson, founder and president of Storm Creek. “Beyond the product itself, we’ve put significant effort into simplifying the sales process for our distributor partners, empowering them to confidently share the Storm Creek story and deliver outstanding value to their customers.”

Storm Creek is hosting two webinars focused on its 2026 catalogs. Distributors are encouraged to sign up using the links below:

• August 26
• September 12

VIEW HERE: Storm Creek’s 2026 Essential Collection

Par-One (PPAI 135556, Silver) shares that Kathy Doyle, director of operations at the Cleveland-based supplier, has been honored with the Legacy Group’s “Supplier Representative of the Year” award.

“Receiving this award from the Legacy Group is truly an honor,” Doyle says. “It’s a reflection of the incredible team I work with at Par-One and the valued partnerships we have with our clients. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent a company whose values align so closely with my own.”

Fully Promoted of Southern New Hampshire, a franchisee of Fully Promoted (PPAI 240143, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 51 distributor, was named a Top Family-Owned Business in NH by Business NH Magazine.

• The company, located in Bedford, New Hampshire, landed at No. 107, up from #109 in 2024.
• Fully Promoted of SNH also came in at No. 17 of the top 20 Fastest-Growing Family Companies in the state, achieving a 16% three-year average annual growth rate.
• Fully Promoted of SNH is owned and operated by Sal and Jennifer Calautti.

The Ohio Promotional Professionals Association is hosting a Women In Merch conference from October 20-22 at the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio.

Featured speakers:

• Kelly McDonald – nationally recognized marketing and diversity expert
• Susan Lewandowski – Bel Promo
• Kara Keister – Social Good Promos
• Shawna Trom – The Unboxing Experience
• Nikki Ahern – Canva
• Jamie Johnson and Jodie Schillinger – Maple Ridge Farms

Attendees can also expect:

• Fashion show and welcome reception
• Stretch & Go mornings with Jodie Schillinger
• Real talk roundtables
• Self-defense for women
• Bonfire conversations
• Sessions on confidence, profit with purpose, being authentic and leading with heart

Register here.

The New England Promotional Products Association has announced the “resounding success” of its recent “Day of Giving” event, which brought together industry volunteers, sponsors and community members to support local schoolchildren in need.

With the help of more than 50 dedicated volunteers, NEPPA stuffed hundreds of backpacks with essential school supplies for students in low-income communities. The effort took place across four locations in New England.

“This event was more than just giving school supplies – it was about showing students that their communities care about their success,” says Ben MacDonald, vice president of the NEPPA board of directors. “We’re grateful to everyone who volunteered their time and resources to make this possible.”

The Ripple Collective has announced a partnership with business services provider PromoPulse (PPAI 772580) to give members exclusive perks and access to PromoPulse’s Always-On Marketing Platform, which automatically sends curated social media and email marketing campaigns for distributors.

“PromoPulse and Ripple Collective share the common goal of supporting distributors, so this partnership is another step forward in that goal,” says Jason Nokes, founder of PromoPulse. “The promo industry isn’t just our main focus – it’s our only focus. Our ability to use technology to make marketing easy is the perfect fit with Ripple Collective’s problem-tackling community.”