Founded in 1902 by F.L. Vernon, The Vernon Company (PPAI 109323, D11), has a long history in the promotional products industry. Now under its fourth generation of family leadership, the company has grown to support customers in a wide range of businesses from its Newton, Iowa, headquarters. It’s also been an active supporter of the promo industry as well. The late Bill Vernon, father of current President and CEO Chris Vernon, MAS, is a past board chair of PPAI – then the Specialty Advertising Association International – and an inductee into the Association’s Hall of Fame.

Along with its support of its staff professional growth, as recognized in its PPAI 100 ranking, The Vernon’s Company’s emphasis on education extends to the Promotional Products Education Foundation as well. It established a William F. “Bill” Vernon Named Scholarship with PPEF, for outstanding students with parents working in the promo field.

Founded in 1996 and based out of a 250,000-square-foot facility in Michigan, Mercury Promotions & Fulfillment (PPAI 261357, D10) lands itself on the inaugural PPAI 100 list as a company with tremendous recent growth and core mission that focuses on responsible decision making.

As part of a corporate diversity initiative, the distributor created a First Tier Program to expand its ability to support diversity and broaden the economic and growth prospects for minorities and women.

After almost 70 years in business, Los Angeles-based distributor Jack Nadel International rebranded itself as simply Nadel (PPAI 107145, D12) to better reflect its evolution from a promotional marketing firm to a full agency of talent and brand promotion. “It used to be about positioning the merchandise; now it’s about sharing your story – culture, ethics, sustainability, community, financials, etc.,” says Debbie Abergel, Nadel’s chief strategy officer. For example, the company dedicates a section of its website to sharing its sustainability efforts, from taking pledges to cut emissions by half, working with freight carriers to offset carbon emissions and earning a 2023 EcoVadis Silver Medal, which the company says is “just the start” as it aims for platinum certification.

Don’t let the name fool you – San Diego-based National Pen (PPAI 107176, D12) offers a broad range of promotional products via Pens.com and its global network of facilities across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. With a special focus on small businesses and personal service, the company offers a one-year quality guarantee and expert guidance from its customer care team. National Pen also gives back to communities around the world, from donating face masks during the pandemic and writing instruments to schools to partnering with local charities to donate food, clothing and other needed items. The company has also committed to become carbon neutral by 2040 by reducing energy consumption and emissions, as well as other green initiatives.