The volunteer president of the Gold Coast Promotional Products Association (GCPPA) has come aboard at Top 40 supplier Bag Makers (asi/37940) in a sales role.

Shelley Bednarski, who has more than 20 years of factory and multi-line sales experience, has joined the Union, IL-headquartered company as a regional business development manager. Her sales territory centers on Alabama, Mississippi and northern Florida.

Shelley Bednarski, Bag Makers (asi/37940)

Bednarski was most recently a regional sales executive for Top 40 supplier SnugZ USA (asi/88060) and former Top 40 firm Sweda, which SnugZ acquired in 2022. “During her tenure, Bednarski achieved the highest overall sales growth percentage in the company in 2018, earning the Rookie of the Year award,” Bag Makers noted.

Bednarski has sales experience at other Top 40 suppliers, as well, having been a regional sales rep for Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) and Southeast regional sales manager for the company now known as NC Custom (asi/44900). She was also previously in sales at In Stepp Marketing and Multiline Marketing Group.

Beyond her sales work, Bednarski has been an active volunteer in the promo industry. Such work includes her current president’s role with GCPPA, an organization for which she has also been director, treasurer and vice president in the past. Meanwhile, president, treasurer and director were volunteer roles she held at the Promotional Products Association of Florida.

Based on reported 2022 North American promotional products revenue of $61.1 million, Bag Makers ranked 30^th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry. The firm also made Counselor’s 2024 Best Places to Work list, boasting a workplace that was characterized as hardworking, team-oriented and fun.

Established in 1980, Bag Makers is a printed bag supplier, specializing in nonwoven, PET nonwoven, USA-made nonwoven, rPET, cotton/jute, paper, polyester, plastic, laminated and mesh bags, as well as ribbon, bows and tissue.