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TJ’s role will be working collaboratively with our clients to develop business opportunities, establishing and maintaining client relationships through communication and project management, ensuring clients receive high quality service from our internal team.

She attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX and Hillsboro Community College in Hillsboro, TX. She is a graduate of Walnut Springs High School.

TJ began her career with distributor Health Impressions in Waco, TX where she became a million-dollar sales rep. With a move to the Dallas area, she worked for Communications Marketing Group in Richardson, TX. In 1999 she joined the Norwood Group. She spent 5 years with Adva-Lite, Inc. out of FL and then spent nearly 15 years with Evans Mfg. out of Garden Grove, CA. She’s made the return to Richardson, TX to join MetroPak. TJ earned her MAS in 2020.

TJ’s love of all things football, especially her Dallas Cowboys, keeps her weekends busy. She keeps in shape by training and walking yearly in at least one Susan G. Komen 3Day walk. That’s 60 miles over 3 days. In 2021 she hopes to fi nish her 15th walk. That would be 900 miles for her.

TJ can be reached at MetroPak, Inc. at tj@metropak.com or 972.638.5943 x143.

HALO Branded Solutions (PPAI 106462, D15) announces the addition of Paul Bellantone, CAE, to the company’s executive team in the newly created role of senior vice president of sales for the Western U.S., effective today. Bellantone was previously president and CEO of PPAI. He reports to Jim Stutz, HALO executive vice president of sales, marketing and business development.

“Paul’s leadership at PPAI the past 20 years will prove to be an exceptional resource for our sales team,” says Stutz. “He will also be responsible for developing relationships with industry distributors and sales professionals who can use HALO’s selling tools and technology to grow their business.”

Marc Simon, CEO of the Sterling, Illinois-based distributor, adds, “Paul is highly respected in our industry and throughout HALO. Many of our senior executives have volunteered at PPAI, and they all hold Paul in the highest esteem. His deep knowledge of our unique industry dynamics and forward view of how industry sales professionals can succeed in the new normal will bring great value to HALO. He is a perfect fit for our executive leadership team and the many initiatives we have in place to continue our successful growth. We feel very fortunate that Paul chose to join HALO.”

Bellantone says, “I have had deep respect for what the HALO team has accomplished since I came into the industry. Their capabilities and culture as an organization are an excellent fit for me and I look forward to collaborating with this talented team as I begin this new and exciting chapter in my life.”

Bellantone had announced late last year that he would be leaving PPAI in March 2021, after more than two decades with the Association. He had been president and CEO since 2011. “It is indeed good news that Paul will remain in the promotional products industry and, on behalf of PPAI, we wish him all the best in this new role,” says PPAI Board Chair Todd Pottebaum, MAS+.

American Solutions for Business is excited to announce that Brady Johnson has been promoted to Director of Strategic Operations Support (SOS) and Stan Klarenbeek has been promoted to Director of Vertical Markets, expanding his role to oversee Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO).

Brady Johnson joined the company in 2016 as an SOS coordinator and has been acting supervisor of strategic operations support (SOS) for the last two years.

“Brady has done a wonderful job leading the SOS team, onboarding new sales associates and managing large program implementations,” said Amy Spychalla, VP of SOS.

Stan Klarenbeek joined ASB in 2017 with over 30 years of experience in management, sales and marketing across various markets. In this transition, Stan will continue to support the financial vertical, but will also be a key resource to our GPO contacts, working diligently to gain new GPO business across markets and to solidify contracts for years to come.

“The teams are working harder than ever and providing excellent support to all stakeholders including sales associates, customers, vendors and support staff,” adds Spychalla. “I’m proud of the hard work everyone has put forth and am confident that both Brady and Stan will help lead us into the next exciting chapter at American.”

Last week at SAGE Conference Virtual, SAGE’s popular annual users’ conference, SAGE debuted several new features and updates to their products and services. Eric Natinsky, SAGE CEO, unveiled SAGE Online 17, the latest version of the company’s flagship research and business management solution. Other releases include highly anticipated advancements and capabilities for SAGE Web, SAGE’s web-based service for Macs and any other device with a web browser, and fresh, new, modular SAGE Websites.

"Our goal at SAGE has always been to build powerful solutions for the industry that are also easy to use," said Eric Natinsky, SAGE CEO. "We are continuously streamlining our products and processes to make them even more efficient, and with the updates in this release, we know our customers will be able to save time and be more productive."

SAGE Online 17 reveals a refreshed overall look and feel and a number of new, user-driven additions within each module, each designed to maximize ease-of-use. The product search area upgrades include new search criteria such as the ability to search for Canadian friendly suppliers, filter product results by decoration availability, and more. Users will also see increased functionality within the presentations area, allowing them to choose a template when creating a presentation and drag presentation items to orders, email campaigns, or print publications.

The new SAGE Online 17 also incorporates popular customer-requested features such as an increased page count for custom printed catalogs created in the Print Studio. Users can add a clients’ text messaging preferences in the CRM module, and send invoices that include payment links through SAGE Order Management. Other exciting additions include new scheduling options in the Email Campaigns area, the ability to add products from presentations to an email campaign, and more.

Substantial upgrades have also been made to the immensely popular Project Management area where distributors can easily view and manage all projects, track their status, and improve their team’s organization. With added workflow steps, additional client customization options, and new organization options, distributors can further tailor the tool to their specific needs.

Eagerly awaited updates to SAGE Web, SAGE’s web-based research tool, will also be released over the next few months. SAGE Web will soon include added features like Project Management, SAGE Chat, Print Studio, and Email Campaigns, as well as enhancements to the presentations area, giving Mac users and others using web browsers the same core functionality that exists in the Windows-based SAGE Online.

Also arriving in March, the brand-new SAGE Websites signal a new era with fresh, contemporary design and more customization options than ever before. In addition to modern features like video backgrounds and mega-menu support, the latest SAGE Websites are built with modules, allowing distributors to turn on and off, reconfigure, and reposition each module to create the website they’ve always wanted. Other exciting enhancements include filter options to drill down search results, the addition of the SAGE Virtual Design Studio in the admin area to easily add logos to product images, and carts can now be pushed to SAGE Order Management, streamlining the ordering process.

“We’re excited for this release because a lot of the new features and updates were specifically designed in response to our customers’ feedback,” Eric Natinsky, SAGE CEO, commented. “We always do our best to listen and when we have an opportunity like this, to implement their ideas to help them be more successful.”

SAGE Online 17 is available now. Subscribers will receive an “update available” prompt upon logging into SAGE Online as soon as the new version is available to them. The new SAGE Websites will be available within the next week. The SAGE Web updates will be rolling out over the next few months, starting in April. Distributors can expect to receive automatic, unintrusive software updates throughout the duration of the release. There is no additional charge for any of these updates.

SAGE customers who could not attend the SAGE Conference can view recordings of the sessions in SAGEmember.com.

SAGE encourages distributors who are not already SAGE subscribers to take advantage of its complimentary 30-day Total Access subscription. Visit their website to get started with SAGE Total Access, which includes SAGE Online, SAGE Web, and SAGE Mobile.

Today Polyconcept North America (PCNA) launched a new full-service website, the centerpiece of a company-wide rebranding designed to make its best-in-class experience even better for distributors.

“Today is truly an exciting day,” Polyconcept CEO Neil Ringel says. “The new website and overall rebranding represent another milestone on our continuous journey to provide distributors with the very best experience in the promotional products industry.

“Our promise is this,” Ringel continues. “To provide an easy, reliable service experience and perfectly decorated products delivered on time, every time.”

While the new website still can be found at www.pcna.com, it’s got a fresh look and feel with a variety of functional enhancements that will allow distributors to do their jobs more quickly and effectively. Highlights include:

• Quick, accurate product quotes: Distributors can now configure a line-item quote with product, quantity and decoration, get an accurate cost, and place an order on the spot.
• Better product search: Distributors can search by brand, product, quantity, SKU or price range, returning results that allow them to find more of what they need faster.
• Easy-to-create virtuals: Initial deployment of a new visualization tool that uses refined decoration data to instantaneously produce lifelike virtuals.
• A faster, more modern platform: The site features quick access to expert service through live chat and a responsive design that’s optimized for both desktop and mobile users.

In addition to the new website, PCNA has simplified how distributors place orders, introducing a single process for its large family of brands. The change underscores the company’s commitment to creating an easier, more reliable customer experience. Other recent service initiatives include Perfectly Packaged, which provides decorative packaging and unlimited drop shipments, and an enhanced large-order quoting process that promises a response in as little as an hour. The company also has invested an additional $10 million in inventory to ensure deep in-stock positions for its most popular items, so distributors can be assured their favorite products are readily available.

Ringel emphasizes that the new website and rebranding are important steps on a continuous journey. He says distributors can look forward to additional enhancements to the PCNA service and product offering in the weeks and months to come, including a simplified decoration program, expansion of Perfectly Packaged to include more gift options, and new retail brand partners for both hardgoods and apparel.

“Our commitment to distributors has never been stronger,” Ringel says. “They deserve a reliable partner who makes their job easier. Because what we do together is more than just deliver promotional products. Together we inspire pride.”

Learn more about the new ways PCNA is supporting distributors at www.pcna.com.

The Stromberg family has announced with great sadness that Richard Stromberg passed away on March 17, 2021.

Known for his boundless positive energy and enthusiasm, even in recent years while coping with the increasing challenges presented by Multiple Sclerosis, Mr. Stromberg worked every day until his passing. Continuous development of the business and its product line was his focus, as well as directing creative projects and providing his years of wisdom to the StrombergBrand team.

Mr. Stromberg began his career at his family’s retail/wholesale umbrella business, which was founded by his father, Jaye Stromberg, in 1942. He worked his way up from what he fondly described as “chief broom pusher” to assuming ownership in 1967.  From then on, he made it his life’s work to learn more than just about anyone about umbrella production. He wanted to know every detail about stitching, fabric, frames, components, and more -- traveling around the world from France to Italy, the UK, Germany, China, Taiwan, and South Korea to meet and work with top manufacturers.

After offering his products in the premium market, Mr. Stromberg entered the promotional products industry and exhibited at his first trade show in 1968, in New York City. He was interviewed on his 50^th anniversary in the industry and said: “Before I signed up for that show, I didn’t even know what ‘ad specialty’ was! A neighboring exhibitor filled me in on many details of the industry. I grew to love the business and the people in it.” He was a lifelong supporter and active participant of industry groups and associations, having served on various committees over the years, and earned his CAS designation in the 1970s.

Helen Stromberg, Mr. Stromberg’s wife, who has been with the company since 1981, continues in the position of President. Their daughter, Jennifer Stromberg, assumed the role of company Vice President in 2020, ensuring a strategic third generation management transition.

“Richard has left us with a business that is thriving and with a wonderful team in place to continue operating in his legacy. Those of us who knew him were constantly uplifted by his favorite sayings, which were always ones of optimism: ‘Think positive,’ ‘Where there’s life there’s hope,’ and of course, ‘Carpe Diem.’  We have many things to thank him for, but most importantly, his constant encouragement to push forward, work hard, and believe in ourselves,” said Helen Stromberg.

Mr. Stromberg is survived by his wife, four daughters, five grandchildren, and countless lifelong and industry friends.  In addition to his family, friends and work, his passions included reading, history, art, jazz music, astronomy, etymology, billiards, his country home, traveling to warm places, and murder mysteries.

Those that would like to reach out to the family to offer condolences or share memories of Richard are welcome to do so at http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=LS000198135740X. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society  in his memory.

On March 3, Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) held its “Love Our Industry” trade show at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The event drew distributors from across the region to North Texas to meet with suppliers and connect with their peers in a safe environment.

“The recovery is starting and business is beginning to rebound,” says Mark Corscadden, PPAS board president. “Our members are ready to get back to the pre-pandemic way of doing things with face-to-face meetings and events. As an organization, we needed to provide a safe and effective way to foster that for them. Our board couldn't have been more pleased with the turnout and feedback we received.”

PPAS’s first trade show since the pandemic began, Love Our Industry drew 175 distributor attendees to meet with 50 exhibiting suppliers. The event was held with a wide range of safety precautions in place. Organizers laid out the show with wide aisles between the booths and capped building capacity at 50 percent to allow for social distancing. Along with requiring participants to wear face masks, the show implemented temperature checks and Tyvek bracelets once COVID screening had been completed; sticker name badges instead of lanyards; social distancing signage and hand sanitation stations throughout the facility; the disinfecting of all touchpoints throughout the building and sanitization of all tables and chairs after each use; and contact tracing for all participants.

Meeting face-to-face and seeing and discussing products in-person remains an important part of the promotional products industry. Corscadden says, “While the technology we were able to use during the pandemic was great, distributors want to see products in person. The importance of the ability to touch and feel them can't be overstated. Not to mention, there is a social component to being face-to-face that you just can’t get via email or Zoom. The in-person energy can't be matched.”

Last week, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act passed the House of Representatives and is being sent to the Senate. H.R. 842 amends current labor law to establish a new definition of employees which expressly eliminates independent contractors in the U.S. Among its provisions, the legislation makes a broad presumption that all workers in the U.S. are employees unless each element of a newly established “ABC” test can be demonstrated.

The three biggest problems with the PRO Act are that it would eliminate independent contractor agreements, enforce expanded government control over private employment contracts and significantly broaden risk exposure to joint employer liability.

The legislation also sets new criteria for determining occupational status as an independent contractor instead of an employee. The proposed new criteria entail a three-pronged test for which each of the requirements must be proven if an independent contractor wants to retain his or her status under federal labor law.

In the “ABC” test, an individual performing any service will be considered an employee and not an independent contractor, unless— ‘‘(A) the individual is free from control and direction in connection with the performance of the service, both under the contract for the performance of service and in fact; (B) the service is performed outside the usual course of the business of the employer; and (C) the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business of the same nature as that involved in the service performed.’’

If signed into law, the PRO Act would significantly change how thousands of promotional products companies interact with each other and it will eliminate jobs in this industry. In the latest episode of PPAI’s PromoTalks podcast, PPAI’s D.C.-based lobbyist Cliff Andrews and PPAI’s Public Affairs Manager Maurice Norris discuss the implications of this proposed legislation on industry companies, answer some of the most commonly asked questions and explain how industry members can take action now to oppose it. PPB Presents: “Why The PRO Act Is Detrimental To the Promotional Products Industry,” is available free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and at PromoTalks.

PPAI urges industry members to click here to quickly email and call their senators to educate them about why independent contractors in the promotional products industry do not want to be forced to reclassify as employees. The Association also encourages those who have already reached out to their legislators to do so again, as they and their staffers respond to getting repeated mentions on the same topic.

Geiger (PPAI 105182, D12) has named Lawrence, Massachusetts-based supplier Gemline (PPAI 113948, S11) its 2020 Production Partner of the Year. Gemline is already a Platinum Partner, the top tier Lewiston, Maine-headquartered Geiger awards to any production partner.

“Our preferred production partner program is set up to benefit our production partners and our sales partners,” says Jo-an Lantz, MAS, Geiger’s president and CEO. “Our sales partners have incentives to do business with our preferred partners, ensuring that we reward the partners who take care of our team the best. This ensures a smooth experience for everyone, including the client.”

Kim Beaudin, director of vendor relations, adds, “Gemline excelled at providing differentiated products during 2020 including high-quality PPE.”

Geiger’s sales with Gemline increased in 2020, a year where most businesses experienced a decline. “In addition to product development, they reliably provided kitting and drop-shipping services,” says Beaudin. “Having true partners like Gemline in 2020 was critical to our ability to meet our clients’ needs. For example, when freight issues occurred, Gemline helped us work through them far beyond what we saw from others.”

Gemline was selected from 60 production partners as the winner after a thorough review of service, sales, product safety and other factors including compelling new products. Instead of a physical award, Geiger made a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence in Gemline’s honor.

Logomark (PPAI 110898, S12) has recently sponsored its first adoption of a service dog through Shelter to Soldier. This California 501(c)(3) nonprofit adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post‐9/11 combat veterans suffering from post‐traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and/or other psychological injuries associated with traumatic service experiences.

The Perka, iCool and Work brands from Tustin, California-headquartered Logomark are official sponsors of Shelter to Soldier, and a portion of all proceeds is donated to the organization. The supplier’s first adopted canine is a one-and-a-half-year-old black and brown male German Shepherd, described as having a charming energy, as well as being affectionate, relaxed, bright and a great candidate for Shelter to Soldier’s psychiatric service dog training program.

“We are excited to adopt our first service dog that will be trained to assist a veteran in need. Our veterans have done so much for our country and my hopes are that through this initiative, we help raise support and more awareness about the hurdles our veterans face when they return from duty,” says Trevor Gnesin, CEO of Logomark.

Logomark also conducted a contest to name the newly adopted service dog. It received more than 500 entries from its clients, with some of the most popular names including the military-inspired “Trooper,”“Ranger,” “Sarge,” “Major” and “Hero,” and the promo industry inspired-names “Perka,” “Logo,” “Mark/y” and “WIP, for Work, iCOOL and Perka.”

As an owner of four rescued German Shepherds himself, Logomark COO Clive Goldberg was chosen to select the name. “I was touched by all the thoughtful submissions, and it was a difficult decision, but the name that I kept returning to was ‘Scout.’ A scout’s role in the military is to act as the eyes and ears, and this type of security function directly plays into a service dog’s role.”

With 11 submissions for the name “Scout,” Kelsey Schwartz from distributor Print Globe was the earliest entrant and named the winner of a Perka Granada Water Bottle and a Work Pro Backpack. Twelve minutes later, Teresa Brown, from distributor Bensussen Deutsch & Associates also submitted the name Scout and has won a Perka Dashing Water Bottle.

To make Scout’s adoption possible, Shelter to Soldier worked closely together with I Stand With My Pack, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing global assistance to save the lives of animals and prevent animal suffering and cruelty.