Looking for a volunteer opportunity that appeals to your volunteer interests, or expertise? Take a moment to review the areas of volunteerism PPAI offers to its members. Industry members can serve in different capacities depending on the level of service one is willing to commit. The four key areas for PPAI volunteers to serve in are the Volunteer Committees, Advisory Groups, Task Forces and the Volunteer Resource Pool. Information on each service area of the PPAI volunteer engagement model are listed below. Take the time to discover the opportunities that best fit your desire to serve.

Address ongoing and essential strategic missions important to the Association, or industry:

• Broader strategic assignment
• Fixed term for members
• Fixed meeting schedule
• Regular reporting to the Board of Directors
• Fixed size
• Fixed job description

The Awards & Recognition Committee reviews all recognition categories to determine relevance in the changing marketplace and makes recommendations for revisions, updates and additions to PPAI award categories, content, eligibility and judging criteria on an annual basis. New awards and recognition concepts recommended by other committees, advisory groups, task forces, or members are reviewed on a collaborative basis. Committee members will support and advocate for the value of the Association’s awards and recognition programs. Committee members may be asked to participate in the annual awards judging processes based on an individual’s relevant industry.

PPAI Liaisons: Carol Gauger, MAS, Christina Sanders

The Certification Committee is responsible for enhancing the integrity, ensuring the professionalism and communicating PPAI certifications to industry practitioners and end buyers.

PPAI Liaison: Jennifer Crowfoot

The Distributors Committee proactively assists staff in initiating and administering programs and services, serves as an advocate for and is the voice for distributor members/owners.

PPAI Liaisons: Tina Filipski, Sandy Mendoza

The Leadership Advisory Committee is responsible for seeking, vetting and developing qualified industry professionals to serve and perform in a leadership role on the PPAI Board. The Leadership Advisory Committee submits recommended Board candidates to the Nominating Committee.

PPAI Liaison: Carol Gauger

The Market Research Committee (formerly the Marketing Information and Research Committee) is a body of industry professionals, ranging in backgrounds and expertise, positioned to guide and refine PPAI Research objectives and support the overall framework surrounding survey design, data collection and analysis, peer review and results dissemination. Volunteers provide key insight from the member community to articulate relevant research that best fit the needs of the industry

PPAI Liaisons: Keith Vincent, Mo Das

The members of the PPB Editorial Advisory Committee are industry professionals who work daily on the industry frontlines. They serve an essential role in observing and reporting on trends, industry concerns and news and act as informed sources for innovative ideas. The members of the committee are vital to the progress and effectiveness of PPAI’s media assets.

PPAI Liaison: James Khattak

The Professional Development Committee provides advice and direction on developing relevant educational opportunities that speak to the diverse PPAI member base in order to advance the knowledge and professionalism of the promotional products industry.

PPAI Liaisons: Jody Mello and Jennifer Crowfoot 

The mission of the Regional Association Council is to enhance the success of the regional associations through Representation, Advocacy and Communication.

PPAI Liaisons: Carol Gauger and Dana Geiger

The Suppliers Committee serves as a voice for the supplier member community in providing knowledgeable counsel and direction to the PPAI Board and staff in initiating and administering programs and services that impact industry suppliers.

PPAI Liaisons: Alan Peterson, Ellen Tucker

The Technology Committee is responsible for providing technology-related education and guidance to PPAI staff and members to enable a more efficient industry.

PPAI Liaisons: Paul Elfstrom, Vicki Sypien

PPEF provides college scholarships to promotional products industry employees and their children.

PPAI Liaison: Sara Besly

Advisory Groups are focused on specific tactical assignments and offer flexibility with time commitments, meetings, group size and multiple volunteer opportunities:

• Focused tactical assignment
• Normally recurring
• Flexible term
• Flexible focus for action group category
• Flexible meeting schedule
• Occasional reporting to the Board of Directors
• Flexible group size

The purpose of this special interest council is to focus on government relations and to serve as a volunteer group to assist the efforts of PPAI and the regional associations in influencing legislation and regulations affecting the promotional products industry.

PPAI Liaisons: Anne Stone

The purpose of the Product Responsibility Advisory Group is to offer advice and feedback to PPAI regarding product safety and responsibility, including state and federal regulations and member education.

PPAI Liaison: Anne Stone

The Public Relations Advisory Group focuses on and supports the advocacy efforts of the Association, specifically those public relations initiatives that are designed to promote and create greater awareness of the power of promotional products as a mainstream advertising medium and the value of working with certified promotional products professionals to develop highly effective marketing and branding campaigns.

PPAI Liaisons: Kim Todora and Keith Vincent

The Volunteer Resource Pool is open to all active PPAI members. Participants may be asked to join standing committees, task forces and advisory groups; complete surveys; participate on conference calls; serve on focus groups; work on a "Shared Volunteer Program" project with a regional association; or offer their feedback, ideas and opinions about Association programs and services in a variety of other ways.

Task Forces are assigned to review and evaluate strategic initiatives, or issues determined by the Board to have a significant impact for the Association, or industry:

• Normally strategic issue
• Normally one-time/non-recurring
• Board-assigned with special budget allocation
• Reports recommendations to the Board