(Editor’s Note: PromoWire by PPAI Media is a running digest of updates from organizations around the promotional products industry. PPAI Media will consider newsworthy entries submitted by any member organization.)

May 15

Sarah Kunard Elected IMRA Board President

Incentive Merchandise To Reward & Appreciate (IMRA), a Strategic Industry Group (SIG) within the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA), has elected new officers for 2024-2025.

  • Sarah Kunard, owner/president, The Genevieve Group (PPAI 798701, Standard-Base), is the IMRA board president. She has worked in the incentive industry for 12 years and has been an IMRA member for 10 years.
  • IMRA also elected Dustin Smith, IP, B.C. Incentives, as vice president; Dennis Zimmerman, Sheryl O’Toole & Associates, as treasurer; and Ann Blackhurst, Bushnell, as secretary. Lore Rincon, Continental Premium Corporation, serves as past president.

“Growing our membership and enhancing member value is essential to our association’s success as we continue to see an increased demand for merchandise to reward & recognize customers and employees,” says Kunard. “IMRA is the conduit through which brand name suppliers are connected to our remarkably qualified team of sales managers, national marketing companies and independent sales representatives. It’s an exciting time to be in this position. I’m honored to work with this exceptional board of directors dedicated to increasing the awareness and role of IMRA, demonstrating the success of using merchandise for incentives, and serving our members as our reach into both domestic and global markets continues to expand.”

Imperial Welcomes Jerry Biag In New Marketing Role

Headwear supplier Imperial (PPAI 133496, Silver) has hired Jerry Biag as director of marketing.

  • Biag comes to the newly created role with more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience at Alert Services, PepsiCo (Gatorade, Propel and Quaker Oats) and various marketing agencies executing promotions for clients such as Callaway Golf, McDonalds, Microsoft and Jim Beam.

“I have long admired Imperial as the quintessential golf headwear brand. I’m honored to be part of an iconic company and entrusted with building our marketing capabilities as we continue to grow as an apparel brand,” says Biag.

May 14

Brittany Frase Promoted To VP Of Sales At Hirsch

Houston-based Hirsch (PPAI 221823, Gold) – PPAI 100’s No. 24 supplier – has announced that Brittany Frase, MAS, has been promoted to vice president of sales, effective immediately.

“Over the years, Brittany played a key role in leading our overall sales and marketing efforts – efforts that have resulted in dramatic growth of our company,” says Paul Hirsch, CEO of Hirsch. “This promotion is more than recognizing her innate abilities and hard work; it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to growth while serving our distributor partners.”

Frase brings a strong background on both the supplier and distributor sides of the industry to her role, and to foster a spirit of collaboration and streamlined communication within the organization, she will report directly to Paul Hirsch.

“I’m honored and thrilled to step into the role of vice president of sales, says Frase. “Since 2011, I’ve had the privilege of watching and contributing to the rapid growth of Hirsch and I couldn’t be more proud of the Hirsches and our team. I look forward to leading our talented sales team and continuing to drive our success to new heights.”