“A Woman’s View,” an initiative from Top 40 distributor iPROMOTEu (asi/232119) that brings together women in the promotional products industry, recently held its Annual Networking event for more than 200 women.

During the event, the council of “A Woman’s View” and iPROMOTEu awarded two industry women for their achievements.

Kippie Helzel, senior vice president of sales at CPS/Keystone (asi/43051), won the 2018 Supplier Visionary Award. Helzel has almost 30 years of industry experience, and has served on a number of industry boards and committees, including the Promotional Products Mentoring Network and Leadership Advisory Events Committee. She was also president of the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) and the Three Rivers Advertising Specialty Association (TRASA), as well as the chair of the Promotional Products Education Foundation. She was named a PPAI Fellow in 2016.

“Receiving this recognition was truly an honor and a huge surprise,” Helzel told Counselor. “I enthusiastically embrace all opportunities to support, brainstorm, dig deep and do whatever it takes to make business happen. I'm truly appreciative and flattered to have received this award.”

[At left] Kippie Helzel, CPS/Keystone; [At right] Cindy Gibbs, Big Fish Branding

In addition, Cindy Gibbs, founder of Big Fish Branding, Inc., received the 2018 Distributor Visionary Award. Previously, she has won PPAI’s Pyramid Gold Award and Tommy Joyce Memorial Award, and has more than 20 years of industry experience.

“It was an incredible honor to be awarded the Distributor Visionary Award,” Gibbs told Counselor. “Not only was it totally unexpected, but it also came with some big shoes to fill. The past recipients are some of the most respected, genuine and inspiring colleagues (and friends) that I know. I’m blown away to be part of such a group. Though I have to say, all the women involved with ‘A Woman’s View’ are amazing. It’s a very special group.”

Candace Plunkett, director of business operations at iPROMOTEu, leads the “Woman’s View” program. “We noticed a unique opportunity to address the needs of women within the promotional products industry,” she said in a statement. “Our women distributors possess immense ambition [and are] ready and willing to do what it takes to grow their businesses. It’s an honor to provide the support and resources to assist them in accomplishing their goals.”

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $174.5 million, iPROMOTEu ranks 12th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry.