Fred Albrecht, who, along with his wife, Suzette, founded Proforma Albrecht & Co., historically the top distributor in the Proforma network, has passed away. Fred was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023.

  • For nearly 20 years, Proforma Albrecht has been Proforma’s top-performing owner, with sales approaching $50 million in recent years.
  • Proforma is the No. 3 distributor in the PPAI 100.


In 2024, Fred and Suzette received the Counselor Lifetime Achievement Award for their tremendous impact on the promotional products industry.

“Fred was a truly exceptional person who left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him,” says Vera Muzzillo, CEO of Proforma. “Fred’s leadership, kindness and unwavering dedication to our Proforma community were unmatched.

“He was a friend, a mentor and an inspiration to so many of us. His generosity of spirit and genuine care for others are just a few of the many qualities that made him truly extraordinary.”

25 Years Of Sales And Innovation

Founding the firm in 1999, Fred and Suzette have run the company out of their Ohio base with a team of nearly 100 sales reps across the country. In 2000, the two agreed to join Proforma’s owner network, becoming Proforma Albrecht & Co. Over that time, the couple built upon the relationships, respect and hard work that they had accumulated to build a powerful sales portfolio with promotional products.

  • In 2011, Proforma Albrecht & Co. was named Proforma’s Innovator of the Year.
  • In 2015, Proforma inducted the firm into its Hall of Fame.


“As we mourn this profound loss, let us celebrate Fred’s remarkable legacy,” Vera and Greg Muzzillo advised the Proforma team. “His contributions to Proforma and the relationships he built along the way will continue to inspire us for years to come. I believe in my heart that Fred will continue to watch over us all.”

Nearly 50 Years Of Promo, But A Life Of Much More

Prior to founding Proforma Albrecht & Co. together, Fred and Suzette both worked at Kaeser & Blair, PPAI 100’s No. 31 distributor, where Fred had served as CEO for just under 20 years.

A testament to promo’s reputation to attracting the entrepreneur-minded from any background, Fred studied zoology, physical education and secondary education at DePauw University in the mid-1970s. It was a football scholarship that brought the young Albrecht to DePauw.

Perhaps most impressive of Fred’s accomplishments is that in 2013, while running a top promo distributor, he also served as mayor of Milford, Ohio.