Public Affairs

Danny Rosin is co-owner of Brand Fuel, a Raleigh-based distributor that is a proud certified B Corp. He serves on the PPAI board and will be chair in 2026. He is the co-founder of Band Together, a nonprofit that has donated $15 million to nonprofits through live music experiences. He serves on the board of A Place at The Table, a “pay what you can” café and is advisor to Gabi’s Pals, a nonprofit that empowers people with special abilities through fulfillment programming. He is also the co-founder of these social impact orgs: PromoKitchen, PromoCares, Reciprocity Road and Operation Smile International’s Student Programs. Danny was recognized with the Ted Olden Humanitarian Award in 2023. He is married with two teenage daughters and has come to grips with the idea that well-behaved women rarely make history. 

With over 25 years working within the promotional products industry, Bill Petrie had dedicated his career to helping organizations grow their businesses through creative, strategic, and effective marketing and branding. As the founder and creative director of brandivate - a boutique marketing, branding, and advertising agency – Bill brings a hands-on approach to connecting brands with their audiences in meaningful ways.Bill’s insatiable curiosity drives his creativity and ensures that he’s always pushing the boundaries of what's possible. He doesn’t hold back; he embraces boldness, innovation, and a bit of irreverence because that’s where real growth happens. His goal? To challenge and inspire others to achieve their goals and dreams.As a featured keynote speaker and workshop leader, Bill has been fortunate to share these ideas with audiences across the country and around the world. He has also had the honor of being inducted into the Promotional Products of the Mid-South (PPAMS) Hall of Fame and receiving the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Icon Award for Distinguished Service in 2024 - a testament to his commitment to elevating others and driving positive change.When not helping brands make an impact, you can find him in his backyard, affectionately known as The Back Forty, likely smoking something delicious on the grill, mixing up craft cocktails, and enveloping himself in great music. He also loves spending time with his wife of 30 years, Sandy, their red tick coonhound, Shelby, and their twin college-aged sons, Drew and Mitch - who tend to pop in when they are broke, hungry, have nothing clean to wear, or all of the above. 

Dana Porter, MAS is the Vice President of Information Services at SAGE. She serves on PPAI’s Regional Relations Committee and Government Relations Action Council. Dana has also participated in LEAD multiple years, served as chair of the PPEF Board of Trustees, was chair of WLC and was awarded iPROMOTEu’s A Women’s View 2022 Supplier Visionary Award.

Joseph Sommer is the founder of Whitestone, a best in class, fully remote branded merchandise agency that was recently named ASI Best Places to Work in 2024 for companies 25-100 employees, and 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year. He has built his career with passion, enthusiasm and creativity and leads one of the most progressive businesses in the industry. Whitestone was recently named to the Inc 5000 list for fastest growing private companies in America for the 6th straight year, and Inc Magazine's Best Workplaces. In college, Joseph majored in entrepreneurship and built his business plans in the promotional products industry. A seasoned vet at 35 years old, this is the only career and job he's ever known, with Whitestone being the largest company he's ever worked for now with 65 full-time employees. Joseph lives in Austin, Texas, and is an active member of YPO and EO.

Mary Jo Tomasini, distinguished by her MAS+ designation, has actively participated in diverse PPAI advisory groups, committees, and councils, notably serving on the Board of Directors from 2014 to 2019, where she assumed the role of chair in 2017.