Workshops | 7:30 - 8:20 am

Sustainable Marketing: Navigating the Greenwashing Trap
Speaker: Brianna Mazze, Vice President, Compliance & Sustainability, St. Regis Group
Track: Sustainability & Responsibility
Session Description: Marketing eco-friendly products? Avoid the greenwashing trap. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to communicate sustainability authentically, navigate regulations, and showcase genuine eco-features without exaggeration.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers L

LinkedIn Workshop: Building Leads and Relationships

Speaker: Stacy Garrett, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Ideation Creative Brand Management
Track: Sales
Session Description: Ready to level up your LinkedIn? Join this hands-on workshop to build a standout profile, find your prospects, and connect authentically—without being pitchy.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers J

Welcome & General Session | 8:30 - 9:45 am

Boosting Sales with the Experience Mindset: Driving Growth Through Employee and Customer Alignment
Speaker: Tiffani Bova, Keynote Speaker and Advisor. Former Chief Growth Evangelist at Salesforce
Session Description: In the competitive world of promotional products, driving sales growth isn’t just about your products—it’s about how your employees and customers experience your brand. Tiffani Bova, celebrated business growth strategist and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of *The Experience Mindset*, delivers a high-energy keynote tailored to help sales-focused organizations unlock their full potential.
Designation: MAS 2.0
Location: Mandalay Bay Ballroom J

Breakout Sessions | 10 - 10:50 am

Eco-Savvy Selling: Presenting Sustainable Options and Value in Every Pitch
Speaker: Abe Anteby, President, Threadfast Apparel; Kate Nash, Director of Sales & Marketing, Raining Rose Promos; Mandi Rudd, Director, New Markets, Genumark; Moderator, Elizabeth Wimbush, Director, Sustainability & Responsibility, PPAI
Track: Sustainability & Responsibility
Session Description: Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a sales strategy. Learn how to craft eco stories that transform everyday items into profitable, customer-winning upsells.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers J

From Strategy to Execution: How to Build a High-Performance Sales Team
Speaker: Joseph Sommer, Founder and President, Whitestone
Track: Strategy
Session Description: Transform your sales strategy. Discover the three sins of sales management, build a thriving sales culture, and turn your team into a revenue-driving powerhouse.
Designation: MAS 1.0
Location: Breakers L

AI Tools for Distributors
Speaker: Angela Taylor, Vice President of Customer Engagement & Digital Solutions, AIM Smarter
Track: Tools & Technology
Session Description: AI can be a game-changer for small distributors, but only if used wisely. Learn what AI can do, what to avoid, and which affordable tools will boost your efficiency without the overwhelm.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay D

A Tactical Toolkit for the Modern Marketer

Speaker: Bill Petrie, Founder & Creative Director, brandivate
Track: Branding & Marketing
Session Description: Sales is no longer king. Today, it’s marketing that drives revenue. Learn how to embrace the digital savvy, client-first mindset that’s out-pacing the outdated sales playbooks and creating true connection.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay F

Mastering the Art of Customer-Centric Sales
Speaker: Dan Edge, President, Peerless Umbrella; Katie Kailik, National Account Manager, Peerless Umbrella
Track: Sales
Session Description: Great sales start with great service. Join Dan Edge and Katie Kailik as they explore how customer-centric strategies can transform your sales leadership.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers H

Breakout Sessions | 11 - 11:50 am

Streamlining Success: Automation Solutions for Distributors

Speaker: Eric Granata, Founder, PromoPilot, LLC.
Track: Tools & Technology
Session Description: Discover how accessible automation tools can handle your daily busywork for you, simplifying complex processes and minimizing mistakes. This session will help you take back your time, focus on what matters most, and drive meaningful growth—no tech expertise needed.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers J

Gen Z Speaks: Bridging the Gap for Authentic Connections

Speaker: Ben Drysdale, CAS, National Account Manager, Gold Bond, Inc.; Halle Moore, Marketing Coordinator, PromoCorner; Jade Crider, Inside Sales & Social Media Coordinator, Hasseman Marketing & Communications; Moderator, Josh Pospisil, MAS, Vice President of Business Development, AIA Corporation
Track: Sales
Session Description: Discover Gen Z's fresh perspective on the promo industry. From buying habits to workplace dynamics, this session opens the door to understanding the next generation of professionals and their vision for the future.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay F

Discover Untapped Potential: Using Advanced Gap Analytics to Propel Your Success in 2025
Speaker: Meg Erber, Director of Sales, Proforma
Track: Strategy
Session Description: Bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be with a hands-on GAP analysis and planning session. You’ll create a transformative vision for your business and life, complete with actionable steps and a resource guide to get you there.
Designation: MAS 1.0
Location: Breakers L

Maximize Success Utilizing the Micro-Moments of Joy Merchandising Method

Speaker: Vicki Ostrom, CEO, Trendependent
Track: Trends & Research
Session Description: Glimmers—those micro-moments of joy—aren’t just sparks of happiness. They’re the secret to marketing and merchandising success in 2025 and beyond. Vicki Ostrom teaches us how joy transforms brands.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers H

Improving Company Culture Through DEI Support & Awareness
Speaker: Kim Sandifer, Chief Human Resource Officer, HALO; Natalie Tenner, Credit Manager and Chair, IDEA Council, SanMar; Vera Minot, Creative Director, Southwest Solutions; Moderator, Sarah White, COO & Co-Founder, Fairware
Track: Sustainability & Responsibility
Session Description: Improving company culture isn’t about mandates or mission statements; it’s about commitment. Real change happens when leaders take action. Natalie Tenner, chair of SanMar’s IDEA Council is championing DEI initiatives from the top while balancing her day-to-day as a Credit Manager, she proves that impactful change starts with leadership. Vera Minot, who introduced DEI into her family-owned business, challenges traditions and reshapes priorities. Through her external involvement, Vera has made hiring with diversity in mind a priority, showing that small businesses can lead big transformations. Kim Sandifer brought a new perspective to the promotional products industry. Now at HALO, she focuses on hiring and training with the precision and insight of a seasoned C-level HR leader. Moderated by Sarah White, these voices illuminate how intentionality, awareness, and action can weave DEI into the fabric of any workplace. The result? A company culture that doesn’t just support diversity but thrives because of it.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay D

Lunch Session | Noon - 1:20 pm | Ticket Required

Fuel Your Growth, Insights From Successful Distributor Executives
Speaker: Debbie Abergel, Chief Strategy Officer, Nadel; Jill Albers, Senior Director of Business Development, BDA, Inc.; Mitch Mounger, Enterprise Group President, HALO; Moderator, Danny Rosin, CAS, Co-President, Brand Fuel
Session Description: Join top executives from PPAI’s 100 Distributors list for an engaging lunch session packed with insights, strategies, and trends to help you thrive in 2025, complete with a lively Q&A and a great meal.
Designation: MAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay Ballroom J

Breakout Sessions | 1:30 - 2:20 pm

Branding Matters: How to Build Your Business by Building Your Brand

Speaker: Joelly Goodson, Sr. Sales Associate, BAMKO
Track: Branding & Marketing
Session Description: Are you ready to create a brand that’s more than a logo? Award-winning podcaster Joelly Goodson will show you how to build a brand that tells your story and earns you trust.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers J

Connecting Your Workflow: Unleashing the Power of Your Business
Sponsored By: commonsku
Speaker: Charlie Moscoe, VP of Product, commonsku; Aaron Kucherawy, VP of Customer Success, commonsku
Session Description: Are you ready to optimize your operations and stay ahead of the competition? This session is packed with valuable insights to empower you to leverage commonsku to its fullest potential. If you’re not a commonsku customer, you’ll get a comprehensive overview of our powerful features.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay F

Future Ready Sales: Recruiting and Retaining a Killer Sales Team
Speaker: Brandon Kennedy, President and CEO, BrandCo Marketing; Brittany Frase, MAS, Vice President, Sales, Hirsch; Mykayla Goodwin, Vice President, Strategy; OrderMyGear; Moderator, Nicole Rhooms, Human Resources Director, PPAI
Track: Strategy
Session Description: Hiring great salespeople is hard. Keeping them is harder. Learn how to recruit, build, and retain a thriving sales team that consistently hits its numbers.
Designation: MAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay D

From Booth to Business: Leverage Client Events in Your Growth Strategy
Speaker: Kirby Hasseman, Owner, Hasseman Marketing & Communications; Lisa Greyhill, MAS, President, Firebrand Global Marketing, Inc.; Malik Hemani, Principal and Creative Director, Graphic Stylus, LLC.; Moderator, Tom Goos, MAS, President, Image Source
Track: Sales
Session Description: Thinking about hosting or navigating end-user shows? Discover strategies, best practices, and insights to turn tradeshows into sales success stories.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers H

Industry Integration: A PromoStandards & PDX Conversation
Speaker: Amy Rabideau, MAS, Vice President of Product, Hit Promotional Products; Dana Porter, MAS, Vice President of Information Services, SAGE; Joe Hoffmann, Sr. Vice President, Operations, iPROMOTEu; Moderator, Chris Anderson, CEO, HPG
Track: Tools & Technology
Session Description: The backbone of exceptional customer experiences and stable markets? Streamlined order management. When orders flow smoothly, customers stay happy, businesses thrive, and the ripple effect builds a stronger industry. But it’s not magic—it’s systems, standards, and collaboration. Join us for an insightful panel discussion, where experts from SAGE and PromoStandards share the stage. Moderated by Chris Anderson, this conversation will feature Dana Porter, MAS, Amy Rabideau, and Joe Hoffmann as they delve into the tools and strategies shaping the future of order management. It’s a rare chance to explore how seamless processes aren’t just operational perks—they’re the foundation of trust, loyalty, and long-term success.
Designation: MAS 1.0
Location: Breakers L

Breakout Sessions | 2:30 - 3:20 pm

How to Map the Boldest Merch Trends to a Killer Sales Strategy

Speaker: Bobby Lehew, Chief Content Officer, commonsku
Track: Trends & Research
Session Description: Personal expression and fan-fueled engagement are radically reshaping the merch experience. Bobby Lehew is our guide in a new era of trends as he shows us how to create bolder, better, bigger strategies.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers J

Tapping into the Memorable Creativity of Self-Promo Campaigns

Speaker: Charles Duggan, MAS+, Vice President of Sales, North America, Goldstar; Kenny Ved, MAS, Director of Global Sales, Goldstar
Track: Branding & Marketing
Session Description: Unleash the power of humor and creativity in your self-promo strategy. Learn from Goldstar’s "Simplicity Brothers" campaign how to create unforgettable brand experiences that stick.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay F

Legislative Insights: Prepare For The Issues Affecting Our Industry
Speaker: Chris Lamond, Founding Partner, Thorn Run Partners; Josh Ellis, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, PPAI
Track: Strategy
Session Description: The winds of change are blowing in Washington. Learn how to politics-proof your business in 2025 with key insights, expert advice, and a clear plan to navigate what’s next.
Designation: MAS 1.0
Location: Breakers L

New Year, New Wins: The Ultimate Sales Workshop
Speaker: Jenna (JQ) Quaranta, Director of Sales, HPG
Track: Sales
Session Description: Get ready to get hands-on with industry leader JQ in a workshop that transforms how you prospect, engage with, and re-engage your clients.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Breakers H

2025 Trends To Kick-Start Your Sales
Sponsored By: PCNA
Speaker: Liz Haesler, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, PCNA; Mary Furto, Senior Vice President of Marketing, PCNA
Session Description: Join us for an informative and energizing session where we uncover key trends for 2025. We’ll take a look at what PCNA is doing to support these trends, and you, this year.
Designation: CAS 1.0
Location: Mandalay Bay D

The Pitch | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Judges: Meg Erber, Director of Sales, Proforma; Nenette Gray, Founder & Chief Lemonade Maker, Lemonade Creative Marketing; Stephen McFadden, Director of Vision & New Business, TSC, Inc.; Nadav Raviv, Sr. National Account Executive, GBS Corp.
Description: Do you love the thrill of Shark Tank and the excitement of The Voice? Get ready for a unique experience with PPAI’s The Pitch, where the art of promotion meets reality TV drama. Join us live to witness supplier participants as they deliver their most compelling promotional product presentations, aiming to captivate our panel of judges and win over potential clients.
Designation: CAS 2.0
Location: Mandalay Bay Ballroom J

Tuesday, January 14
Welcome & General Session | 8:15 - 9:30 am

The Value of Being Interesting
Speaker: Kristen Cavallo, Former CEO, MullenLowe Global and The Martin Agency
Session Description: How do you make your brand unmissable? What do friendship bracelets, Crocs, and Barbie’s Dream House have to do with promo? Kristen Cavallo answers these questions and shows you how marketing can secure your company’s rightful place in the spotlight. 
Designation: MAS 2.0
Location: Mandalay Bay Ballroom J

Conference Schedule - Monday, January 13