Seventy-five women in the promotional products industry came together on Tuesday evening for their annual show-based social gathering—but it was quite a departure from previous mixers. Like few other Expo Direct-2-You social events, the women gathered on Zoom to catch up with friends, meet new attendees and talk about the past year and what’s ahead.

Traditionally, the mixer has drawn many of the same women who attend PPAI’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference, along with those new to the group and to the industry. Since PPAI was unable to hold the conference last summer due to COVID-19, Tuesday night’s social was a much-anticipated catch-up event.

The one-hour get-together was hosted by WLC Work Group Chair Kelli Denes, MAS, and she was joined by other members of the Work Group including Kim Bakalyar, CAS; Kathy DiFrancesco, CAS; Laura Brewer; Paula Wygonik, MAS; and Terri Sparkman, MAS. In addition to visiting, networking and just enjoying each other’s company, attendees had fun competing in a trivia game—with questions such as where was the first WLC held—and then they were divided into smaller breakout groups for more trivia games and conversation. All that was missing were the hugs.

Industry women can sign up here to be notified when registration opens for this year’s Women’s Leadership Conference. It will be a virtual event and a date has not yet been announced.