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Kathy Sipes passed away at home on May 2, 2021 a few weeks short of her 68th birthday following a long battle with cancer.

She was born in Lima, Peru to Jack and Beverly Hulsey. Kathy grew up in Irving, Texas and graduated from North Texas State University. She married her loving husband, Ron Sipes, on October 18, 1975. They raised two wonderful sons, Sam and Dan. As a mother, Kathy instilled in her sons a keen sense of humor, adventure, and determination, among other things.

Kathy was exceptional and generous with a zest for life and love for people. Her constant curiosity and keen memory showed in the way she remembered the smallest details about people's lives and never forgot a birthday. As the owner of a promotional products business, she was known for her personal touch that made every order perfect. Ever thoughtful and perceptive, she was an extraordinary gift giver.

Kathy loved to be active. Whether physically or socially, she was always on the move. Her sharp eye for aesthetics helped her create a beautiful home and garden.

Kathy will be sorely missed and is survived by her husband, two sons and their wives Dan and Laura Sipes, Sam and Deepa Sipes, grandson Isaac, sister Barbara Lee and her family, sister Marcia Engelking and her family, brother Pat Hulsey and his family and countless family and friends, all of whom loved her dearly and will never forget her tenacity, wit, charm, undying love, and care for them.

A celebration of life is planned for the 15th of May at 9am at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76107. All guests are encouraged to wear blue in Kathy's honor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society or The North Texas Food Bank in Kathy's honor.

The Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) will, with the support of the promotional products industry, establish a named scholarship in memory of Phil Carney, formerly of supplier QuickPoint, who passed away in April. Carney served on the PPEF board of trustees from 1987 – 1989, holding the position of chairman in 1988. He also served on the PPAI board of directors from 2000 – 2002 and was named a PPAI Fellow in 2016.

“Phil Carney was an icon of his time,” says Paul Lage, MAS, past PPAI board chair. “He taught so many how to use promotional products that would make an immediate reaction from someone. He was probably the inventor of the spec sample. Phil generally did it in an incredibly humorous way. He was truly one of the funniest people in our industry. He created a big following and would be considered an influencer of his time. I was fortunate enough to grow up with Phil as he worked with my dad. Eventually we were able to work together on the PPAI board. He loved our industry and making it fun for everyone.”

PPEF Named Scholarships are available in memory or recognition of industry members and their accomplishments. The foundation establishes the scholarships with donations at the $5,000, $10,000 or $50,000 marks for the three levels—four years, eight years and a permanent scholarship.

Click here for a video about the impact Carney made on the careers of Lage and others in the promotional products industry, and information on donations. A direct link to the PPEF donation page for the Phil Carney Scholarship Fund can be found here.

Evans Manufacturing (PPAI# 110747 ASI#52840) today announced a renewed commitment to all promotional industry distributors, with their “3-5-7” production plan on all catalog quantity purchase orders regardless of decoration type.

“We understand and sympathize with issues currently present within our industry regarding labor shortages and supply chain issues,” says Alan Vaught, owner of Evans manufacturing. “We also know that distributor client business keeps rolling along as the effects of the pandemic recede, placing the distributor network in a very precarious position regarding order integrity and on-time delivery.”

“Because of those facts, Evans prepared itself for this possibility within the industry.  We have taken a hard look at our internal and external processes, and with our improvements made, developed the 3-5-7 program for catalog quantity orders.  Our most complicated decorated item is available no later than a five-day period.  That in my opinion, demonstrates to the entire industry the commitment Evans Manufacturing has made to any distributors success” stated Ron Williams CMO.

Evans has worked hard to remain the trusted supplier for so many distributors by having:

• 398 products available in three days
• 174 products available in five days
• 13 products available in seven days

Evans “3-5-7” program in currently in-place and ready to assist any distributor regardless of location.  For more information on the Evans “3-5-7” program and how it can help you today,  visit www.Evans-Mfg.com to view all of our products or call us at 800.745.3826 with questions about our “3-5-7” program and how Evans can help you today.

PCNA has introduced food as a new product category, providing an easy way for distributors to make gifts even better. The snacks and beverages add a personal touch, especially combined with the company’s popular Perfectly Packaged™ service, which includes decorative packaging and unlimited drop shipments.

PCNA has reported phenomenal success with Perfectly Packaged™ since launching the service as an innovative gifting solution for the fourth quarter of 2020 – and the company credits distributor feedback for the addition of food as a category.

“Food has been the most requested item among customers placing Perfectly Packaged™ orders,” says Liz Haesler, Chief Merchandising Officer for PCNA. “With this product launch, customers are able to complete their packages with a sweet or savory treat that will take their gift to the next level.”

With over 15 specialty brands of snacks and beverages, including KIND, Ghirardelli, Tate’s Bake Shop and Stash Tea Company, there’s a special treat for any type of gift. And like PCNA, many of the food brands are committed to more than just providing high-quality products – they also make values like sustainability and contributing to communities a priority.

“Distributors can feel good about the treats they’re adding to their orders,” Haesler says. With the addition of snacks and beverages to the industry’s largest, most diverse product offering, PCNA is the only true one-stop-shop for any type of gift – employee gifts, customer gifts, virtual events and more. And with unlimited drop shipments through Perfectly Packaged™, PCNA can have gifts delivered directly to people’s doorsteps at no extra cost.

“The current snack and beverage selection is just the start,” continues Haesler. “We look forward to growing this collection and broadening the assortment in the future as we collect more feedback on what our distributor partners are looking for when it comes to food. We look forward to continuing to be that solution for all their gifting needs.”

Food items come in both individual and shareable sizes, and there are several options, including gluten-free snacks, to accommodate dietary restrictions. Food and beverage items are currently available in the United States and cannot be imprinted or sold individually. To see the entire assortment, go to PCNA.com.

On April 22, Earth Day, 3M announced a goal to reduce dependence on new plastic made from petroleum. By 2025, 3M aims to achieve a new sustainability goal: reduce dependence on virgin fossil-based plastic by 125 million pounds. St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M operates in the promotional products market through its 3M Promotional Markets Dept. (PPAI 113638, S11).

"The materials and infrastructure that support a global transition away from petroleum-based plastics are undergoing rapid transformation and there's palpable momentum for change," says Gayle Schueller, 3M’s SVP and chief sustainability officer. "3M has a history of applying science to create sustainable alternatives to plastic and with this public goal, it will be easier to share these solutions and collaborate with others on advancing a global circular economy."

To achieve this new goal, 3M is innovating the products and packaging in its Consumer Business Group. Advancements will include use of recycled content and bio-based plastics, and designs to decrease overall plastic use. 3M is implementing its transition away from new plastic quickly and aims to achieve the 125-million-pound reduction—more than five times the weight of the Eiffel Tower—by the end of 2025.

"The time is now," says Jeff Lavers, group president, 3M Consumer. "The pandemic has created significant new ways of doing business that can benefit both the economy and environment. We will change how we bring products to market, to benefit our customers and our consumers."

Plastic pollution is a pressing global challenge, and the production of fossil-based plastics negatively impacts the global climate through the release of greenhouse gas emissions. A recent study from the Center on International Environmental Law found that by 2050, emissions from the plastic industry will be equivalent to those of 615 coal plants—totaling more than 2.75 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). By reducing use of this material, 3M says that it can help address these challenges—ultimately aligning with its existing efforts to minimize waste and recent goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2050.

3M reports that its researchers, engineers and scientists, as well as its suppliers, customers, nongovernmental organizations, and community leaders are working to improve the circularity of 3M products and materials. 3M requires every new product to have a Sustainability Value Commitment that drives impact for the greater good. Commitments include recyclability, using recycled or renewable materials, opportunities for reuse at the end of a product's lifespan and more.

"An essential element of becoming more circular is incorporating more recycled content and sustainable biomass in our products," says Brendan Edgerton, director of circular economy at World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). "Without it, we cannot achieve a society in which nine billion people can live well within planetary boundaries. I applaud 3M's commitment to the circular economy as illustrated in their new goal and we look forward to supporting them in achieving it."

3M has been a part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to advance circular economy since 2019 and is collaborating with fellow members to drive greater global impact. The company has supported The Recycling Partnership for more than four years, and in 2020, it provided the initial investment for the Recycling Inclusion Fund to advance recycling infrastructure and education, and research into the challenges that prevent a more equitable recycling system. 3M was an initial funder for Closed Loop Partners in 2014 and joined fellow founding investors to reinvest more than $54 million in 2020. More recently, 3M has also co-funded projects like the U.S. and Canada Recycling Infrastructure and Plastic Waste Map—a first-of-its-kind public tool highlighting and tracking the diversity of plastic waste as well as opportunities to recapture valuable plastics and re-incorporate them into the manufacturing supply chain.

"In a resource-constrained world, advancing a circular economy means moving away from the costly extraction of limited raw materials, including fossil fuels, to make virgin plastic. There are enormous environmental, social and economic benefits to treating existing plastics as a resource, maximizing their value and keeping them in play," says Bridget Croke, managing director at Closed Loop Partners. "We're proud to be a long-time partner of 3M; their commitment to reduce their dependence on virgin plastics sets a precedent for how industry leaders can strengthen the market for recycled plastics and drive circularity forward."

Supplier Logomark Inc. (PPAI 110898, S12) has added a new leadership role, naming Michael Bistocchi as chief revenue officer. Bistocchi will be responsible for driving all revenue-generating activities with a focus on growth through broadening the Tustin, California-headquartered company’s customer base, solidifying distributor partnerships, and aligning sales and marketing strategies.

Bistocchi is a 25‐year promotional industry veteran, having held leadership roles with both distributors and suppliers, including director of sales at Promoshop and SVP of sales and marketing at Clegg Promo. He was most recently the Western regional sales manager with the decoration equipment and supply company Inkcups.

“I am excited to be working with such a great team at Logomark,” says Bistocchi. “Logomark has a long‐standing reputation of being at the forefront of design and product development in the promotional product industry, and our goal will be to build on our strong customer base and ensure Logomark continues to grow as a ‘go-to’ company for all distributors.”

CEO Trevor Gnesin adds, “Logomark is poised for tremendous growth. I’ve known Michael Bistocchi for many years and have long admired his tenacity, drive and work ethic, and believe he can build upon our solid base and help lead Logomark to realize its growth potential.”

HALO Branded Solutions (PPAI 106462, D15) announced today that Kevin Pollack has been named chief operating officer. Pollack joins the Sterling, Illinois-headquartered distributor after 17 years in key operational and commercial leadership roles with Stericycle, a multi-billion-dollar leader in the health care services industry. Pollack most recently served as senior vice president of global sales operations and strategic markets.

Pollack will be responsible for all aspects of HALO’s worldwide operational and technology infrastructure focused on delivering operational excellence throughout the entire order lifecycle. He will report to HALO CEO Marc Simon.

“The foundation of our success is operational excellence,” says Simon. “Kevin’s demonstrated track-record of success in senior operational leadership roles at a multi-billion-dollar global company has prepared him well to bring the vision and innovation we need to continue to enhance our service offerings as we grow our business. He has a strong commercial orientation and business process excellence mindset that will serve our company, sales professionals and customers well.”

Pollack adds, “HALO has developed an exceptional culture and reputation, and I am honored to join the team. I was drawn to HALO’s commitment to continuous improvement and the large investments being made to build a leading global business. I look forward to contributing new perspectives to the many positive initiatives in flight that will deliver value to our stakeholders.”

Pollack will be based at the company’s Oak Brook Terrace executive offices and its Sterling operational headquarters.

PCNA is excited to announce their partnership with UNTUCKit, the makers of the Original Untucked Shirt. PCNA is the first to be the exclusive supplier of UNTUCKit in the promotional products industry.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with UNTUCKit, and bring this incredible brand to our customers,” says Kate Boyce, Vice President of PCNA Apparel. “While the move toward more causal workplace attire has been ongoing, the casualization trend has only accelerated as a direct result of the pandemic,” continues Boyce. “UNTUCKit is a more elevated take on casual shirts that are perfect for both virtual and in-person meetings, yet versatile enough for everyday wear. I can’t think of a better time to bring this brand to market. This partnership makes the PCNA industry-leading portfolio of the best retail brands even stronger.”

UNTUCKit has not only created the perfect fitting shirt, they have done so using fabrics made exclusively for the company by top-tier manufactures across the world. In addition, they meet the highest quality control standards, testing every shirt five times to ensure they retain their shape, color and strength.

When asked about the partnership, Alberto Corral, VP of Marketing for UNTUCKit says, “We are thrilled to partner with PCNA to launch UNTUCKit in the promotional products marketplace. Our untucked shirts not only look great, they're incredibly comfortable too. Our styles paired with the best-in-class decoration that PCNA offers is truly a win-win for the consumer and we look forward to seeing where this partnership takes us.”

PCNA offers 8 men’s styles in regular fit with three of those also available in slim fit. PCNA is also offering one women’s style as part of the collection. All styles will be sold as decorated items only. You can find PCNA’s selection of UNTUCKit styles on their website at pcna.com.

The board of directors of supplier alphabroder has announced that Dan Pantano, currently president of alphabroder-Prime Line, has been promoted to CEO and elected to the board of directors, effective immediately. Pantano replaces Norm Hullinger, CAS, who has been with the company for the past 18 years and currently serves on the PPAI board.

Pantano joined the Trevose, Pennsylvania-based company in 2013 as president, leading the commercial side of the business. Commenting on the promotion, he says, “I couldn’t be more excited to take over the leadership of alphabroder-Prime Line at this time. Our customers are focused on growing their businesses profitably, especially as our industry rebounds from COVID-19. Our job is to help them do that each and every day and do it as seamlessly as possible. We will have a relentless focus on that going forward.”

In a statement, alphabroder credits Pantano and his team with building a world-class sales and marketing organization. Following the additions of Ash City, Bodek & Rhodes, Golden State T’s and Prime Line to the alphabroder family, he worked with all aspects of these businesses to integrate them into the organization and enhance the customer experience. Under Pantano’s direction, alphabroder has expanded its Private Brand business and elevated product offerings by bringing in leading retail brands including Under Armor, PUMA, Spyder and Nautica.

Michael Klein, CEO of Littlejohn & Co, alphabroder’s majority shareholder and a member of the board of directors, says, “We have been working with Dan for more than eight years and look forward to alphabroder’s future under his experienced leadership to take the company to the next level of performance and position it as the undisputed leader in this industry.”

In the statement, the company added: “alphabroder thanks Norm Hullinger for his 18 years of service to the company and his outstanding contributions to alphabroder-Prime Line and the industry overall.”

BELLA+CANVAS announced today that Norm Hullinger will join the company as its Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, Mr. Hullinger was CEO at alphabroder, one of the largest wholesale apparel distributors in the promotional products industry, a role he held since 2012. Prior to becoming CEO, Norm served as alphabroder’s COO for ten years, following a diverse career which included executive roles at both technology and retail companies.

BELLA+CANVAS has enjoyed significant growth in recent years, requiring major investments to expand its global operating infrastructure. In the past twelve months alone, the company added operations in five countries, expanded its Los Angeles cutting facility (the largest of its kind in the world), and added a 750,000 square foot distribution center on the East Coast of the U.S to support its wholesale distribution partners.

Chris Blakeslee, BELLA+CANVAS’ President commented, “The growth of our business necessitated the creation of the COO role, and for us the choice was simple. I personally had the privilege to work closely with Norm for several years at alphabroder and witnessed his leadership, professionalism, and drive for results. It’s now my pleasure to welcome him, on behalf of the entire BELLA+CANVAS team, to join our company, where he’ll lead our pursuit for operational excellence and unparalleled service that exceeds our customers’ expectations.”

Norm Hullinger added, “My relationship with BELLA+CANVAS goes back nearly fifteen years, and I’ve admired what the company and team has accomplished both as a partner, and as an industry disruptor. I’m excited to now lead the efforts which will solidify the company’s infrastructure as it becomes the largest basics brand in the industry.”