Nearly 200 women in the branded merchandise industry gathered at the Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee this week for PPAI’s Women’s Leadership Conference.  The three-day event featured keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, networking opportunities and unique branded merchandise experiences.

This year’s mission was to highlight women creators and women-owned businesses.

  • Saint Kate houses a large collection of modern art in collaboration with the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
  • Its residence artist is Julia Bradfish, a contemporary abstract artist based in Milwaukee.


For the conference, the hotel bar featured two signature cocktails using alcohol from women-owned companies. Additionally, the guest speakers were all from women-owned agencies. This intentional choice created an inclusive environment, a hallmark of WLC.

Making A Difference

Beyond featuring women-owned brands, WLC gave back to women in Milwaukee. On Monday attendees were invited to assemble feminine hygiene kits for Milwaukee Diaper Mission, a nonprofit focused on providing free period products and diapers to more than 29 community partners each month.

The attendees placed more than 26,525 products into over 1,000 kits, enough to support the Milwaukee community for about a month and a half. A representative from Milwaukee Diaper Mission commented on WLC’s efforts:

“I was truly blown away by everything your group accomplished… Your team worked so efficiently that we could barely keep up! At one point, we had to make an extra trip back to the warehouse because your volunteers were assembling kits faster than we anticipated and we were running low on supplies. It was incredible to watch their energy, teamwork and dedication in action. They absolutely crushed it.”

WLC is focused on bringing people together and networking.”

Tiffany Anderson, CAS

Corporate Channel Director, DRI DUCK Traders

There was also a presentation about the Promotional Products Education Foundation, which uses industry donations to fund scholarships for adult education of branded merch professionals or their family members. To date, more than $4 million in scholarships have been assigned through the foundation.

The presentation helped raise enough money to fund two scholarships to bring first-time attendees to next year’s WLC. Learn more about who won this year’s scholarships here.

  • More than half of this year’s attendees were first-timers.


Vulnerability, Inspiration & Education

Keynote speakers included conscious leadership expert Ginny Clarke, former director of executive recruiting at Google; and Sarah Baldeo, Ph.D., an AI neuroscientist, bestselling author and the CEO of ID Quotient.

There were also panels featuring some of the most successful and experienced women in the industry covering AI, rebranding, burnout, boundaries, taking risks and various leadership skills. The roundtables allowed attendees to connect with each other, as discussions gave way to vulnerable moments of attendees sharing their struggles, journeys and triumphs.

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Attendees also were provided with built-in breaks for more networking with refreshments and exclusive merch activations, which included tote bag customization from HPG, PPAI 100’s No. 7 supplier, and custom candle making from business services provider Single Serve Merch.

“WLC is focused on bringing people together and networking,” says Tiffany Anderson, CAS, corporate channel director at Kansas-based supplier DRI DUCK Traders and a member of the Women’s Leadership Conference Work Group. “PPAI does a really good job of making sure that this is specifically focused on the ability to network and learn and grow from each other.”

‘Queen Of Promo’

Renée Jones, MAS+, CEO of North Carolina-based distributor A Creative Touch, is affectionately known as the “Promo Queen” and on Tuesday evening received the 2026 Woman of Achievement Award.

We must continue to open doors, offer seats at the table, advocate for one another.”

Renée Jones, MAS+

2026 PPAI Woman of Achievement

This award is given to a woman who has made a large contribution to the industry as a leader, role model, colleague and trailblazer. Jones is the 23rd recipient of the award and was introduced by her longtime friend Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS+, CEO of Competitive Edge, and one of five previous WOA winners who nominated Jones for the honor or wrote letters of support.

During her speech, Jones gave some advice to women in the industry: “We must continue to open doors, offer seats at the table, advocate for one another and ensure that the next generation of women leaders see unlimited possibilities for their future.”

Her closing line was delivered with her signature positivity: “When you cannot find the sunshine, you be the sunshine.”

  • WLC 2027 will take place June 21-23 in St. Petersburg, Florida.