iPROMOTEu’s (PPAI 218870, D12) annual award ceremonies, held in Las Vegas during The PPAI Expo, had a little extra flair last month. This year marks the 25-year anniversary for the Massachusetts-based distributor, and the opportunity was seized to honor some people essential to the journey.
- The award ceremonies saw the debut of the iPROMOTEu Hall of Fame.
- Additionally, more than 300 distributor affiliates were honored with various awards.
“We are celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2024, so it was the perfect time to establish the iPROMOTEu Hall of Fame,” says Lori Bauer, CEO of iPROMOTEu. “The inaugural class recognizes 10 of the individuals who have helped build iPROMOTEu into one of the largest and most respected distributor organizations in the industry.”
The company’s Affiliate Awards Luncheon also took time to present an award to honor the company’s outgoing president and CEO, Ross Silverstein, remembering and congratulating him on his 24 years with iPROMOTEu.
The iPROMOTEu Hall Of Fame’s Inaugural Class
The inaugural class of the iPROMOTEu Hall of Fame included individuals whose contributions and progress were instrumental in iPROMOTEu’s growth over the course of its existence. Future inductions will build upon the honor, slowly telling the story of iPROMOTEu’s success in the promo world.
The first 10 members to be inducted into the iPROMOTEu Hall of Fame include:
- Rick Badiner, past iPROMOTEu executive vice president
- Leah Carson, The Planet Group
- Kevin Casci, Matrix Promotional Marketing
- Duane Chase, Sir Logo
- Josh Dalton, Dynamite Promotional Products
- Harry Ein, Perfection Promo
- Cindy Gibbs, Big Fish Branding
- Chris Hartley, MCM Productions
- Tommy Joyce, Tommy’s Printing & Promotional Items (posthumous honor)
- Mike Kelley, Shamrock Promotions
Supplier Honors And ‘The Most Coveted Award’
iPROMOTEu’s supplier partners were recognized as well during the Supplier Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
“Our Preferred Vendor partnerships are essential to helping iPROMOTEu affiliates grow their businesses,” says Joe Hoffmann, iPROMOTEu’s SVP of operations. “It was wonderful to come together in celebration of this incredible community and recognize all of their fantastic accomplishments from the past year.”
- Hit Promotional Products was named as iPROMOTEu’s Top Supplier of 2023.
- Stormtech was honored as Breakout Supplier of the Year.
- Supplier Representative of The Year was awarded to SanMar’s Fred Hickman, Adam Quintana, Tracy McIntosh and Eddie Love.
- The iPROMOTEu Supplier Appreciation Award went to Ariel for its “continued support of iPROMOTEu and its affiliates.”
The event’s most coveted award, however, came at the end of the ceremonies.
- Ken George of KBG Promotes was named the iPROMOTEu Affiliate of the Year.
George was described as “an integral part of the iPROMOTEu Affiliate Network as a mentor and friend who always lends ideas and camaraderie to his peers,” having been affiliated with iPROMOTEu since 2012.
