Prime Line, a division of Counselor Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358), has hired Cristi Meyer as director of national/strategic accounts. She’ll be traveling the United States, representing the company with top clients. “Cristi is a fantastic addition to our team,” said Eric Levin, general manager of Prime Line. “Her deep industry knowledge, extensive network and strategic mindset make her the perfect fit.” With 30 years of experience on both the distributor and supplier sides of the business, Meyer has worked for Counselor Top 40 firms that include Staples Promotional Products (asi/120601) and the former Sweda, which is now part of Top 40er SnugZ USA (asi/88060). She was also previously with AAA Innovations (asi/30023), which was last year acquired by the parent company of Counselor Top 40 supplier Showdown Displays (asi/87188).

A Woman’s View, an initiative from Counselor Top 40 distributor iPROMOTEu (asi/232119), kicks off its 2025 webinar series on Wednesday, March 12^th at 1:00 pm eastern time with Being Bold & Brave: Mastering Motivation and Controlling the Controllables. The webinar will be led by women’s confidence advocate and speaker Tamara DeOrio. “Drawing from her experience creating unforgettable moments on the world’s biggest stages – including the Olympics – Tamara will share powerful strategies to help embrace motivation, overcome obstacles and turn fear into fuel,” iPROMOTEu said. All women in the industry are invited and encouraged to attend.

JH Specialty (asi/232445) has announced the following new hires and promotions: Lou Henry as account manager, Steve Kruze as account manager, Luke Hilty as sale project manager and Mollie Middleton as project manager.

BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590) has expanded its heavyweight collection with eight new styles across three fabric weights: 6 ounce, 7.5 ounce and 10 ounce. According to the supplier, “These are not basic blanks; they are the foundation of elevated streetwear, artistic embellishment and everyday essential style.”

Galaxy – More Than Balloons (asi/55675) celebrates 35 years of business in 2025. The Cleveland, OH-based company was established in 1990 by Terry Brizz, and underwent a rebrand in 2022 upon Brizz’s retirement. Over the years, the supplier has expanded from latex balloons into pet products, coasters, can coolers, signs, sports balls and more. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to work for such an esteemed company and learn from so many great leaders over the years,” says Parker Wolfe, national sales manager. “We’ve accomplished a lot over the last two years and our partners/distributors are now looking to us for many different product categories. Our commitment to excellence is paramount in everything we do.”

Custom Logos (asi/173183), a Counselor 2024 Best Place to Work, is celebrating its 35^th anniversary. The San Diego, CA-based company – which offers services including screen printing, embroidery and kitting – plans to host a special event later this spring to recognize the milestone, including live demonstrations and giveaways. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of our past but a commitment to our future, where we will continue to innovate and exceed expectations,” said Jeff Golumbuk, founder and CEO of Custom Logos.

Discount Marketing Products (DMP, asi/49891), a supplier of fabric display solutions, has hired Matt Argo as its new national sales manager. In the role, Argo will oversee sales operations, work with multi-line reps, foster key industry relationships and identify growth opportunities to propel the company forward. Argo brings more than 25 years of experience in sales leadership and business development, including time at Counselor Top 40 supplier Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125). “We are thrilled to welcome Matt to the DMP team,” said Dalan Cohen, company resident. “His strategic approach to sales and deep industry experience will be invaluable as we continue to build our business and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

Kaeser & Blair (asi/238600), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has partnered with Give Like A Mother (GLAM), a nonprofit organization that provides free, made-to-order clothing packs to children and teens facing clothing insecurity. “The mission of GLAM is perfectly aligned with our values at Kaeser & Blair which makes them an ideal ‘do good’ partner and one we are proud to support by being a silver sponsor,” said Mitch Kaeser, co-CEO of Kaeser & Blair.

The Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South (PPAMS) is inducting several people to its 2024 Hall of Fame: Wade Benz of US Imprints (posthumously), Bill McDonald of McDonald Terry Company, Tracy Rone of ASI and Steve Rone of Counselor Top 40 supplier Snugz USA (asi/88060).

SnugZ USA (asi/88060), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has brought on Nichole McLoone as its new national sales manager. McLoone has more than 10 years of promotional products sales experience at fellow Counselor Top 40 suppliers Logomark (asi/67866) and Koozie Group (asi/40480), formerly BIC Graphic. “Nichole is a perfect fit for our company culture,” says SnugZ's vice president of sales Kathy DiFrancesco. “Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow.”

Momentec Brands, which operates Augusta Sportswear (asi/37461), Holloway, Pacific Headwear, Russell Athletic among other brands, has hired Christine Rose as chief technology officer. Rose, who has led tech departments for Rite Aid, Sephora and other companies, will oversee Momentec’s technology initiatives, including digital customer-facing platforms, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain systems and information security. “Her deep expertise in digital transformation, enterprise systems and customer-first technology solutions will play a crucial role in enhancing our agility, efficiency and overall customer experience,” said CEO John Anton. 

Global Executive Network (GXN) brand ambassador Rod Brown hosted a gathering of international industry leaders at the Capital Grill in Las Vegas prior to the opening of the PPAI Expo, welcoming guests from the U.S., India, China, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Canada. The evening was meant to help promo pros to engage in conversations that transcend sales and business deals.  

Orbus (asi/75209), a supplier of visual communications products for trade shows and live events, has introduced 50 new exhibit and display products, including a line of 3D Blaze hanging light boxes and a variety of portable and outdoor displays. “We continuously innovate to fuel our dealer partners with a competitive advantage,” said Natalie Whited, enterprise vice president of marketing for Orbus. “We consider marketplace trends and influential client feedback to engineer and design new display products that add immediate value to our distributors and help them build their business.”

HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, announced that it has received strategic refinancing from private equity firm TPG. “This strategic refinancing is instrumental in bolstering HALO’s financial position, enabling further enhancements in key areas and positioning HALO for long-term growth,” said HALO CEO Marc Simon, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “With these strategic developments, we are confident that HALO is prepared to further strengthen its market leadership and continue delivering unparalleled services to account executives and their clients.” TPG acquired HALO in 2018.

Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) has created an anniversary wall at its Avenel, NJ, headquarters to celebrate more than 120 employees who have each spent at least 15 years with the company. The supplier plans to soon expand the wall to include team members with 5-14 years of employment. “I’m deeply grateful to each person whose name is celebrated on this wall for their loyalty and contributions,” said Vantage President and Executive Chairman Ira Neaman.

MyPrintSource (asi/67920) said it has launched MyPrintSource.com, which the firm described as an artificial intelligence-powered platform that helps create professional marketing materials. Executives said that features aid in the creation of compelling copy based on business-specific inputs, as well as professional design templates that are customizable.

American Solutions for Business (ASB, asi/120075) has promoted Christine Fischer to national director of vertical markets. In this expanded role, Fischer will oversee business with sectors that include automotive, healthcare, collegiate licensing, franchises and group purchasing organizations. Fischer joined ASB nine years ago. Since 2019, she’s led the automotive market vertical. “Her ability to mentor associates, foster growth and deliver consistent success has been extraordinary,” said Amy Spychalla, vice president of strategic operations support. “I’m excited for Christine to expand her leadership across our vertical markets, leveraging her unique skills, strategic approach and dedicated team to drive continued growth and excellence.”

Rupt Ventures, the venture arm of supplier Rupt (asi/84203), has invested in RIPL Goods (asi/82503), a purpose-driven brand committed to making a measurable social and environmental impact through premium, sustainable products. Founded former ad industry professional Leo Bellis-Jones, RIPL Goods uses each product in its range to fund critical impact programs, such as employing workers to collect ocean plastic, protecting vital rainforests or advancing education initiatives. “RIPL Goods embodies exactly what we look for at Rupt Ventures, entrepreneurs who challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what’s possible in promo,” said Jason Lucash, CEO of Rupt. Bellis-Jones said Rupt Ventures’ investment will allow the supplier to scale its efforts, introduce new product and expand its reach in promo.

GNP Branded Gear (asi/200020) has hired Ariana Hopkins as branding specialist. Hopkins has been in sales and marketing for a decade, and prior to joining GNP, she was working with clients in the healthcare industry.

EcoPlum (asi/185835), a sustainable promotional products distributor, has announced its recertification as a B Corp for its second three-year period, after first receiving certification in 2022.

Proforma (asi/300094), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, recently hosted its third annual “Proform-A-Service” day, with team members dedicating time to give back. Volunteer efforts on Martin Luther King Jr. Day included supportive gatherings for individuals in correctional facilities, collecting coats and blankets for the Salvation Army Coat Drive, packing bags of essentials to provide to homeless people, and preparing and serving hot meals for nearly 200 people at a local soup kitchen. “At Proforma, we believe there’s no better way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. than through acts of service that uplift our communities,” said Vanessa Edwards, director of business development.