Tekweld (asi/90807), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has named Dawn Smith director of customer success and Sydney Taylor customer operational success manager. Both have years of experience in promo. “Tekweld is redefining customer service,” says Gregg Szpicek, Tekweld’s senior vice president of sales. “We have a renewed focus on customer success by treating each and every interaction with the utmost care and attention. Our objective is to foster loyalty and repeat business. Tekweld is confident Dawn and Sydney will do an excellent job leading the charge in this bold initiative.”

PromoStandards, a nonprofit devoted to technology advancements in the promo industry, is relocating its 3rd Annual PromoStandards Tech Summit to The Wyndham Grand on Clearwater Beach in Florida. The dates of the event, Feb. 3-5, 2025, will remain unchanged. The venue shift is the result of hurricane damage at The Don CeSar. “While we were saddened the hurricane so impacted the beautiful Don CeSar, the safety and comfort of our attendees are paramount,” said Amy Rabideau, PromoStandards’ vice-chair. “The Wyndham Grand offers a comparably stunning beachfront location and was able to accommodate.”

Goldstar (asi/73295), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, will launch a rebrand, including both a new brand identity and products, in January 2025. “It’s more than just a logo makeover,” says the company. “It’s a whole new way of thinking [that] marks the beginning of a new chapter in the company’s journey.” Heather Smartt, Goldstar’s global head and a member of the Counselor Power 50 list, calls it “more than a fresh look,” adding, “As we continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of our industry and partners, this rebrand reflects our commitment to delivering amazing products, exceptional service and complete transparency across the business.”

Starline (asi/89320; Canada, 89213), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has appointed Laura Ouellette of Laura Ouellette Agencies as the company’s multi-line rep for the Greater Toronto Area. “We value our distributor partners and want them to have the absolute best representation from Starline, and that’s exactly what we found in Laura,” says Brian Porter, CRO of Starline and a member of the Counselor Power 50. “Her experience, market management style and in-depth approach with clients truly set her apart. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on board.”

Proforma (asi/300094), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, recently hosted both its Owner Advisory Council (OAC) and Executive Leadership meetings in Tampa, FL. These teams came together for a week of strategizing, collaboration and community building. Discussion ranged from ways to continue to advance Proforma's proprietary business management technology platform (ProVision) and the advancement of AI initiatives, to overall business development strategies. “Our OAC is a treasured part of the Proforma Family, and we are fortunate to have such a passionate group of driven, successful distributor owners representing the network,” said Proforma CEO Vera Muzzillo, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “Additionally, I could not be prouder of our leadership teams. The initiatives that have been completed, or that are in progress, are truly game-changing."

J. Charles (asi/62985), the recipient of ASI’s 2024 Supplier Family Business of the Year award, has announced the hire of Norma Miller as regional sales manager for the Southeast region. An accomplished industry professional, Miller brings a wealth of expertise in distributor and supplier relations. Her diverse background includes running her own consulting business and hands-on experience in wholesale equipment and decor sales. “We are thrilled to have Norma join us,” said Kale Wallner, vice president of sales at J. Charles. “Her experience and dedication perfectly complement our products and our vision as we celebrate 30 years. I have no doubt that Norma will be a driving force in strengthening relationships and enhancing the vibrant culture we value so highly.”

ArtworkServicesUSA (AWS) has been recognized as a category leader in the GetAPP B2B e-commerce platform software report of 2024. Additionally, it received two badges from GetApp Gartner Digital Market: best functionality and features (2023) and category leaders (2024). The recognition highlights North American software products based on ratings from end-users in five key areas: ease of use, value for money, functionality, customer support and likelihood to recommend. “This honor highlights our ongoing commitment to providing the most innovative and comprehensive solutions to promotional products industry suppliers and distributors,” said Varshal Thakor, president of AWS.

PromoKitchen, an industry nonprofit focusing on education and mentorship, has announced a Choose Your Own Adventure theme for the 2025 PK Mixer design contest, to be held on Jan. 13 in Las Vegas. On site, attendees will be able to print their tote bags, courtesy of Counselor Top 40 supplier Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125), with submitted designs chosen by the PK committee members. Designs, which must include the PromoKitchen logo, need to be submitted in this Google Form by Nov. 20 at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

IDProductsource (asi/62088) has contributed $1,000 to the Treasure Coast Food Bank as part of efforts to help food-insecure households and others struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The Florida-based supplier also brought in 484.8 pounds of food for donating through its annual food drive.

PCNA (asi/66887), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, now offers over 20 pens from Cross, a writing instrument manufacturer founded in 1846 in Rhode Island. Distributors in the U.S. and Canada can now purchase Cross executive pens from PCNA, like the ATX Pure Chrome Ballpoint (2767-16SL), Tech 2 Ballpoint Stylus (2767-65BK) and Calais Matte Midnight Blue Roller Ball (2768-22BL).      

Blue Generation (asi/40653), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has hired Tricia Lyster as senior marketing manager. With close to a decade of experience at fellow Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063), Lyster brings a wealth of expertise in marketing strategy, brand management and creative development. “Her strong background in marketing within our industry will be instrumental in enhancing our marketing initiatives as we continue to expand our reach and impact,” said Eric Rubin, CEO of Blue Generation.

Stahls’ (asi/88984) has awarded Whitehall Memorial High School and Wild Whimsies as the two Stahl Family Scholarship Dream Shop Package Giveaway winners for the third quarter of 2024. The scholarship celebrates entrepreneurial spirit by awarding small businesses with heat printing packages. Started in 2020, the program expanded in 2022, with Stahls’ awarding eight winners a year, with one school and one small business recognized each quarter. Scholarship winners receive packages valued at more than $6,000, including a heat press, hat press, platens and accessories. Details on how to apply for the fourth-quarter scholarship are here.

Nadel (asi/279600), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, received the Award of Excellence from the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) at the organization’s 54^th Annual Architectural Awards, in recognition of the distributor’s recently renovated headquarters in Culver City. LABC recognized nearly 50 firms during the event. “This was a passion project for our company,” says Debbie Abergel, Nadel’s Chief Strategy Officer and a member of the Counselor Power 50 list. “We collaborated with Standard Architecture and Slater Construction to showcase our company’s ethos in a physical environment. We’re beyond thrilled with the results and the recognition.”