ePromos (PPAI 212648, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 30 distributor, has hired David Jackson as senior VP of business operations and performance technology.

• With over 28 years of expertise in IT operations across the distribution, manufacturing, logistics and promotional products sectors, Jackson is responsible for enhancing workflow efficiencies through technology integration and infrastructure upgrades while implementing robust security measures.
• He brings experience developing robust NetSuite ERP solutions for various organizations and has held significant leadership roles at Sweda, E.B. Bradley Company and Exemplis Corporation.

Hauppauge, New York-based supplier Royal Apparel (PPAI 269959, Standard-Base) invites business leaders, partners and industry professionals to a virtual Town Hall to explore how made-in-the-USA production is providing a reliable path forward.

• This interactive session will examine today’s sourcing and supply chain climate –and how Royal Apparel’s domestic manufacturing model is helping brands overcome growing import challenges with speed, stability and supply assurance.
• Glen Brumer, sales manager at Royal Apparel, will host the online discussion on May 8 at 2 pm EDT.
• Register at https://calendly.com/royalapparelglen/royal-apparel-made-in-usa-town-hall-clone?month=2025-05

“We’re not just here to talk – we want to listen,” says Brumer. “By collaborating with our partners and hearing from real businesses, we can strengthen strategies and build solutions together.”

Storm Creek (PPAI 438091, Gold) CEO Teresa Fudenberg and President Doug Jackson are among 30 finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Heartland Award. Storm Creek is PPAI 100’s No. 43 supplier.

• Now in its 40th year, the program celebrates bold entrepreneurs from Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota who are revolutionizing industries, making a profound impact on communities and paving the way for a thriving economy and a hopeful tomorrow. Storm Creek is a supplier based in Eagen, Minnesota.
• An independent panel of judges selected the pair for their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
• Regional award winners will be announced on June 19, during a special celebration in Minneapolis, and will become lifetime members of the community of Entrepreneur Of The Yearalumni from around the world. The winners will then be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November.

“We are incredibly honored to be named a Heartland finalist in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program. It’s exciting – and humbling – to be recognized alongside such passionate and driven business leaders who understand the highs, lows, and thrill of building something from the ground up,” Fudenberg and Jackson said in a statement.

New York-based supplier Starter (PPAI 883974, Standard-Plus), known for its retro athletic-wear, has been signed as the official apparel partner of the Big3, the global 3-on-3 basketball league, for custom player uniforms, sideline gear, warmups and an exclusive fan apparel line. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

• Starter has a long and storied history spanning more than 50 years. From 1985-2000, the company was the on-field/on-court supplier for all major pro leagues. In the late 1980s, the brand found its way into pop culture when its jackets were featured in the movie, Coming To America. Starter was bought by Iconix in 2007, and in 2015 it launched apparel and headwear categories for more than 120 top NCAA programs.

Supplier Atlantis Headwear (PPAI 753003, Standard-Plus) has adopted the Carbon Footprint Atlantis (CF Atlantis) – a cutting- edge tool designed to accurately measure the carbon footprint of its products and help the company design products that are more sustainable.

• This initiative marks a major milestone in the brand’s ongoing commitment to a more environmentally responsible production process. The CF Atlantis follows a clear process based on compliance with international standards, analyzing every stage of a product’s life, such as where the materials come from, how they are transported, the energy used in production, and how waste is handled.
• Unlike basic estimates, the CF Atlantis uses real, specific data from Atlantis operations, breaking down emissions into detailed categories like fossil fuel, land impact and emissions that come from natural sources. This helps Atlantis get a crystal-clear view of where emissions are highest, and where real change can happen.

“This isn’t just about tracking carbon – it’s about reducing it,” says Federico Pasini, vice president of Atlantis Headwear. “With this new system, Atlantis is building sustainability into every part of production, helping it create better products for people and the planet.”

Liftoff Commerce (PPAI 818074), a business services company providing e-commerce, web-to-print and order management platform for the print, promo and apparel industries, has launched its cutting-edge Business Intelligence (BI) Suite, powered by Zoho Analytics.

• The suite allows subscribers to manipulate charts, graphs, and tables to suit their specific needs and preferences, providing greater flexibility in how they view their business data. It incorporates AI-powered insights to provide immediate summaries of key trends, utilization shifts, and areas that may require attention. Businesses can also offer a fully customized user experience with analytics reports, to customers as well.

“With Zoho Analytics, we have opened up an entirely new realm of possibilities for our users,” says Andrew Alford, president of Liftoff Commerce. “Our goal was always to give our subscribers better control over their data. This connection makes it easier than ever to unlock the full potential of that data – whether within Liftoff Commerce or from a range of external systems and platforms. The ability to aggregate data from diverse sources creates unparalleled opportunities for actionable insights.”