PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, (second right) and his son Ben (center) met with Webb Company President Dan Webb (right), Distributor Relations Manager Patty Batalden (left), Sales and Marketing Administrator Sarah Hobson (second left) and National Key Account Manager Dan Ball, MAS, and toured the supplier’s facilities.
This week, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, has been on the road in Minnesota, meeting with industry companies and joining the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) 2016 Fire & Ice Show.
On Monday, Bellantone visited the Eagan, Minnesota headquarters of supplier Webb Company (UPIC: WEBBCO). Webb Company President Dan Webb led the tour, visiting all areas of the company across its two manufacturing and decorating locations. Totaling 70,000 square feet, Webb Company manufactures many of its products at the Eagan facilities, including lip balm and mints.
“I’ve known Paul for a number of years, but he’s usually a busy guy so it was great to catch up one on one,” says Webb. “He is someone I’ve always looked up to in the industry. It was great to talk about the current state of the industry and also the regional associations, which we both value greatly, and where we see the industry going in the next five to 10 years.”
UMAPP’s Fire & Ice Show at Canterbury Park’s Expo Center drew attendees from across the region for networking and education and a trade-show floor featuring more than 130 exhibitors. Bellantone joined the show the following morning speaking at a professional development breakfast session before the show floor opened.
Bellantone’s town hall session, “Success In An Era Of Transformation,” drew an audience of more than 50 suppliers and distributors. Beacon Promotions President Gary Haley, one of the attendees, says, “Speculation about the future can be unsettling for some, but Paul countered with a number of solid suggestions on how we all might enjoy continued success even in an era of transformation. The questions and comments from the suppliers and distributors in attendance indicate that he’s on the right track with his observations of what the future might hold for our industry.”
