PPAS 2025 Board of Directors

Mike Hicks | HPG Brands

Vice President

Michael Hicks is the Founder of Best Promotions USA (BEST / HPG Brands) located in the Dallas, TX area.  An industry veteran of 33 years, he began his first job as CFO of a promotional manufacturing company in 1989 after 3 years of commercial banking/lending which followed his graduation from Texas A&M University (BBA 1986).  His business management experience includes accounting, finance, human resources, sales and marketing and mergers and acquisitions.  At the core, his real specialty and passion is the development of individuals and teams to create dynamic work cultures.  In 1997 Hicks lead a group purchase of another promotional manufacturing company in the Dallas area and served as President for ten years until leading the sale of the business to a strategic buyer in 2007.  Hicks founded BEST in June 2007 developing an award-winning culture with the tagline "We Say Yes" and continues full-time in his leading role today.  Best was purchased in 2017 and is owned by HPG Brands, a top 10 Promotional Supplier.

Chad Rizzo | Giant Online Media

Immediate Past President

He's originally from Buffalo, NY, and is a Bills fan. Chad now lives in in Mansfield, TX, with his wife Kristen and his two daughters, Bailey and Devan. He is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and loves to spend time with his family because his girls are growing up way too fast!

Tommy Lewis | HALO Branded Solutions

Treasurer/Secretary

Tommy is the Vice President of Enterprise and Program Sales at HALO.

He lives in Trophy Club, Texas where he enjoys spending time with his wife, Dawne, and their pets. Tommy loves to travel, attend concerts, and sporting events. Going to the mountains and the beach are some of his favorite places to go with his family. He likes to golf and loves spending time with his friends and family.

Taylor Anderson | SanMar

Director

Taylor is the Dallas & East Texas territory manager for SanMar. Taylor lives in Dallas and loves to volunteer in the community with the Junior League and Order of the Eastern Star, plant flowers, go antiquing and spend time with her family and friends.

As the 2022 President, one of Taylor’s missions is to work to bring PPAS members together to volunteer “a little or a lot” with the association.

Amy Mazur | Perry Ellis

Director

Amy is the Sales Manager of the Corporate division of Perry Ellis International selling three major brands ( Perry Ellis, Callaway and Original Penguin) in the Promotional Products channel. In this unique hybrid role, she manages 25+ independent reps and focuses on national accounts, while building relationships and creating growth and exposure for our amazing brands.

Health and fitness is a passion and hobby of Amy's, as she was a former Track and Field athlete. She loves fashion, football, being outdoors, traveling, and most importantly, spending quality time with her Yorkie, Louis, and her three F’s as she calls them ( Faith, Family, and Friends). Amy grew up in Southlake,Texas- known as the Southlake Carroll Dragons (hence the football nut) and currently resides in Grapevine, TX.

Charmaine Poteet | Idea Ranch Promotions

Director

Charmaine Poteet is known for her genuine investment in her clients’ success. She brings a wealth of marketing, promotion, business development, and customer service insight to the table when crafting best-in-class corporate safety programs, sales leadership programs, communication initiatives, recognition efforts, and more. Her powerful and diverse client roster is a testament to her commitment to excellence. She prides herself in being resourceful and creative—always thinking outside of the promotional box to find the perfect solution for a client. She has been a promotional products distributor since 2000 and has loved every minute of it! Charmaine is a graduate of Baylor University and, prior to entering the promotional industry, worked in Sales Marketing and Advertising Sales for NBC Television. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and is married with a teenage son and 2 dogs (Lucy and Lloyd, both Australian Shepherds.) Charmaine is passionate about investing in the lives of young people and serves on the Advisory Board for the Something mAAgic Foundation at American Airlines, Ladies on the Lamb (Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo), and Tri Delta Alumnae. She gives back whenever and wherever she has an opportunity to pay it forward.

Jessica DelRio | SAGE

Director

Meet Jessica Del Rio, the Senior Tradeshow and Events Manager at SAGE, where she oversees SAGE Event Services, supervises tradeshow operations, and orchestrates all SAGE-produced events.

She began her career studying Hotel and Restaurant Management, Event Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Management through the University of Houston and Purdue University. Currently, with more than 16 years of experience in the tradeshow and event industry, including 7 years dedicated to the promotional products sector, Jessica has expertly refined her abilities and intuition throughout her tenure.

Her expertise and dedication were recognized by SAGE in 2022 when she was honored with the Marketing MVP Award for her exceptional contributions, not only benefiting SAGE but also elevating events within the industry at large.

Jessica's passion lies in crafting exceptional event experiences, always striving to make each event surpass the last in creating memorable moments.

Dan Ward | Marketree

Director

With over 30 years of experience in sales, promotional products, and apparel, Dan L. Ward has developed and implemented innovative solutions for both mass retail and specialty markets. He excels in leadership, communication, and relationship-building, having successfully managed national sales organizations and driven product campaigns. Dan has a strong track record in key account development and market expansion, focusing on strategic sales plans to drive growth. His expertise extends to E-commerce marketing, managing outside associates, and developing cost-effective customer acquisition strategies.

Dan has served on several prestigious boards, including the Texas C-Store Association (TFFA), the United Nations Dallas Council, and Credit Unions, and has contributed to the marketing efforts of the Illinois Lung Association. He has also been involved in PPAI committees, making him a well-rounded leader with a comprehensive understanding of the promotional products industry.

Josh King | You Name it Specialties

Director

With 30 years of experience in the promotional products industry, I have successfully built a significant book of business and led YNIS, Inc. to significant growth, achieving industry accolades as an account executive and as a leader of our organization. My expertise in sales, marketing, and product development, coupled with my experience as a business owner, provides me with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing distributors in our industry. I am enthusiastic about the promotional products industry and am committed to contributing my knowledge and skills to the continued success of PPAS.

My journey in the promotional products industry began humbly, but through dedication and hard work, I have grown into a seasoned professional recognized as a finalist for the ASI Salesperson of the Year award in 2023. The evolution of externalities such as technology and supply chain have changed our industry during my career and I developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing promotional product account executives and managers today.

In 2016, my journey in the industry continued when I assumed the CEO role in the promotional product distributor I worked with previously. In 2023 and 2024, with the invaluable support of the entire YNIS team, we were distinguished as the industry #1 Best Place to Work by ASI, recognized as a top 100 Distributor in the industry by PPAI and acknowledged as the Facilis Group Distributor Partner of the Year.  I have been fortunate enough to be part of and learn from an amazing team.

I am excited to embark on the next chapter of my career, where I can focus on mentoring and educating the next generation of promotional products professionals. Our industry plays a vital role in helping businesses build brand awareness, drive sales, and engage with their customers. By sharing my knowledge and experience, I hope to inspire young professionals to pursue careers in this dynamic field and contribute to its continued growth and success.