Initiatives
Public Affairs
The latest information on regulatory and compliance issues, including legislation, agency rulemaking and court decisions, important to the promotional products industry and the companies and professionals who work within it.
PPAI's Public Affairs Initiative
PPAI strives to provide leadership to advance corporate responsibility efforts in the promotional products industry. The Association stays up to date on the current concepts, responsibilities and corporate standards for manufacturing, importing and exporting products in the global arena. Its resources bring industry members best practices to ensure consistency across an organization’s product quality program and meeting end buyers' expectations for safety, social and environmental assurances.
The Issues
PPAI is tracking legislation, agency rulemaking and court decisions that may affect the promotional products industry. While the primary focus is on U.S. laws at both the federal and state levels, PPAI also monitors developments in Canada, Europe and other areas of concern for the industry. Some of the issues the Association is following include:
Import/Exports: There are numerous concepts, responsibilities and corporate standards for importing and exporting products in the global arena. PPAI is tracking the procedures and processes required for an organization comply with all applicable import, export, and trade compliance laws of the United States and other countries in which they conduct business.
Product Safety/Quality: PPAI has gathered resources focusing on quality management to ensure consistency across an organization’s product safety program. These programs typically focus on implementing and monitoring four quality components – planning, assurance, control and improvement.
Sustainability: PPAI has gathered resources focusing on sustainability to help organizations decrease their carbon footprints, reduce waste and comply with sustainability regulations, such as emissions reporting.
Import/Export Resources
When importing or exporting there are numerous U.S. and international trade laws and regulations to observe. These laws and regulations cover trade embargoes and economic sanctions, anti-boycott, cargo security, import classification and valuation, product/country of origin marking, and free trade agreements. The complicated and ever-changing nature of these laws and regulations often make them difficult for organizations to understand and apply. Without proper guidance, organizations can experience common pitfalls which may result in substantial penalties, fines, delayed cargo, or even product seizures.
Product Quality Resources
A quality management program requires the development of policies and procedures that will guide and serve as a practical tool for the implementation of an organization’s quality program.
Government Relations Action Council
The Government Relations Action Council (GRAC) was established to support and drive the industry in identifying and influencing legislation and regulations affecting the promotional products industry at all levels of government. It's volunteer members come from a broad cross section of the promotional products industry's businesses and organizations.
Chris Alfano
Joe Brown
Dustin Downing
Ryan Feigenblatt
Jeremy Holley
Andrea Kramer
Matthew Price
Zack Ottenstein
Ottenstein joined The Image Group in 2016 and became president of the Holland, Ohio-based firm in 2020. During his tenure, Ottenstein has led the company’s transformation into a vertical-focused marketing solutions business. Prior to promo, he served as an investment analyst and director of marketing communications for Welltower, a $40 billion-plus enterprise value company. A 2018 PPB Rising Star, he is currently a board member for several local nonprofits and is also a highly involved member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
Product Responsibility Summit
A must-attend event for any promo professional or company trying to navigate product safety and compliance regulations in the industry, PPAI Product Responsibility Summit is centered on critical sustainability and safety concerns. Explore the associated business implications, challenges and opportunities across unique areas of interest, connect with fellow compliance and sustainability pros, and chart a course for your company’s continued progress.
The 2025 PPAI Product Responsibility Summit will be held September 15-17 in Newport Beach, California.