Redwood Classics Apparel (asi/81627) announces that founder and president Kathy Cheng has been recognized by Ascend Canada as its 2022 Woman of Distinction. Ascend Canada is committed to spotlighting the achievements and influence of Pan-Asian business leaders, and Cheng received the award at the organization’s annual Leadership Awards on May 19. Recently, Cheng led Redwood Classics’ #WomanOfTheWeek social media campaign, and she’s also a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council and an ambassador for Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce.

American Solutions for Business (ASB, asi/120075), a Top 40 distributor, reports that San Marcos, CA-based distributor Mack Pac Branding has joined the ASB distributor network. Founded in 1996, Mack Pac has a team of about 15 people. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the Mack Pac team on board at ASB,” said Larry Zavadil, ASB’s founder and CEO. “They are a strong group who keeps their customers at the center of all they do. We can’t wait to see their growth and success ahead.”

Goldstar (asi/73295) has named Walt McClelland sales manager of its New England region. McClelland has 25 years of industry experience, including time at a Top 40 firm. McClelland will cover New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. “We are absolutely thrilled to have Walt join our dynamic sales team,” said Parker Melvin, Goldstar’s national sales manager. “He brings a wealth of industry experience that will be a tremendous asset to the company and our goal of creating stronger partnerships with distributors.”

Spector & Co. (asi/88660) has hired Angelo Alascio Jr. as director of digital transformation, where he will lead technological integrations for an optimal customer experience. Previously, Alascio spent 25 years with UPS, as well as Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063) and Hanesbrands (asi/59528). “More than ever, companies are looking for ways to maximize efficiencies and streamline processes,” says Chief Sales Officer Samantha Kates. “The experience that Angelo brings will further allow Spector and Co. to continue to be a leader in this area.”

American Solutions for Business (ASB, asi/120075), a Top 40 distributor in Glenwood, MN, has donated $3,500 to Reading4Research, a nonprofit associated with the University of Minnesota that supports research into less-toxic treatment options for pediatric cancer patients and, ultimately, a cure for the disease. The funds were raised during a raffle at the company’s first Accelerate event, with prizes donated by A+ Wine Designs (asi/30223), BEL Promo (asi/39552), Compass Industries (asi/46170), Elemental Bottles (asi/51846), Top 40 supplier Gemline (asi/56070), Top 40 supplier Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125), Top 40 supplier HPG (asi/61966), Idol Memory, J. Charles (asi/62985), Links Unlimited (asi/67617), Refresh Glass (asi/81255), Rustico (asi/84264) and Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358). The Book Company (asi/41010) also donated 50 children’s books to the organization.

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) hosted its eighth annual Summer Showcase for promotional products distributors and their clients earlier this month. More than 400 people attended the show, which had returned to New York City for the first time since 2019. “The sentiment is still holding that now more than ever it’s great seeing people in person, engaging, smiling and networking all in one place,” said Rachel Levin, SAAGNY president. The show included a “best in show” display of items from exhibiting suppliers, a gourmet lunch and gift bags. The SAAGNY Foundation also collected five large boxes of new socks to donate to Housing Works Chelsea, a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Superior Group of Companies, parent company of BAMKO (asi/131431), has hired Catherine Beldotti Donlan to become the president of its Uniform Group – Healthcare division. Beldotti Donlan has nearly 25 years of experience in the apparel and footwear industry. Her experience spans multichannel, wholesale, retail and direct-to-consumer verticals for brands such as Converse, Puma, Ryka and Reebok.

Quinn (asi/80228) has grown its in-house art team to meet demand for custom orders. Angie Kaltreider has a background in art and operations and a degree from Lycoming University. Sandra Belk has extensive art and marketing experience and a degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Quinn also recently held an on-location training day for its multi-line representatives. Ben Roberson, Deborah Mann, Jeff Stepp and Walter Brzyski were shown the production facility, discussed products and learned about future plans and engagements.

PromoParlor has launched. It’s a new online forum for distributor owners and distributor salespeople to share product ideas and best practices. Steve Geiger of Top Ten Promos is spearheading the initiative. Learn more.

American Solutions for Business (ASB, asi/120075), a Top 40 distributor, has completed its full integration with e-commerce partner, OrderMyGear (OMG). This integration positions ASB to offer customers a quick and simple solution for credit card and gift card online stores, the company said. Order processing is also streamlined by automating order creation within ASB’s back-end ERP system. This results in efficient, precise fulfillment for all parties involved, executives said. “We are more than thrilled to be able to provide this much-needed option to our salesforce and look forward to a successful future with OMG,” said Miriah Cassidy, ASB’s vice president of sales support.

AutoTran, Inc. (asi/12555) in Naples, FL, has hired Pete Baxer, formerly with Inkcups Now, and David Rothman, formerly with Top 40 supplier BIC Graphic USA – now Koozie Group (asi/40480) – ProColors, Sanford B2B and the current owner of dmtg, LLC. Baxer has more than two decades of experience in sales and technical support in the decorating industry, with specific expertise in pad and screen printing, and will be responsible for spearheading continued growth in consumables as well as technical support. Rothman will offer AutoTran equipment and supplies to the decorating industry through dmtg. He brings 30 years of experience in sales and marketing to the role.

Hirsch Gift (asi/61005), a Houston-based supplier, has added new multi-line sales representatives. Scott Hareid and Tasha Widhson of Hareid Marketing will represent the Hirsch brand in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “I am thrilled to welcome Scott Hareid and his team to the Hirsch family,” said Brittany Frase, Hirsch Gift’s national sales manager. “Scott’s reputation amongst his customers, combined with his focus on analytics, places him a step ahead in his territory, and we look forward to continuing our success in the Upper Midwest.”

Orbus Exhibit & Display Group (asi/75209) announces that Jaime Herand, vice president of graphic operations, and Natalie Whited, vice president of marketing, have become members of CHIEF, a private network launched in 2019 to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Herand has been with Orbus for 17 years and Whited has been a marketing leader for more than a dozen years at the company. “They are exceptional executives, and I’m excited for what they will gain as leaders by being a part of this top-notch community,” said Gary Keefer, Orbus CEO.

Proforma (asi/300094), a Top 40 distributor, has developed and released ProStores University, a training and e-commerce certification program. This educational series is exclusively available to Proforma owners and has gained nearly 4,000 course enrollments. “Proforma’s participants in the program will graduate empowered with the knowledge, resources, and support to differentiate themselves in the e-commerce market,” said Stan Maxwell, Proforma’s chief strategy officer. “E-commerce continues to explode. ProStores University allows our owners and their sales teams to capitalize on the unprecedented opportunities in the current marketplace.”

Top 40 supplier Charles River Apparel (asi/44620) sponsored an Earth Day cleanup event. A team of Charles River employees, along with family and friends, cleaned up trash along the Southern New England Trunkline Trail in Franklin State Forest, as part of the Charles River Watershed Association’s 23^rd annual Earth Day cleanup. “We’re proud to play a small part in the cleanup efforts and are thankful to the thousands of people across the state who volunteered along with us,” said Jason Lipsett, marketing director at Charles River Apparel.

Mark Resnick, a national account manager with Top 40 distributor American Solutions for Business (asi/120075), has authored a book: Ten Days With Dad: Finding Purpose, Passion & Peace During the Darkest Days of Alzheimer’s and COVID-19. The book is about family, progress, personal growth and healing, born out of a terrible disease and a once-in-a-century global pandemic, Resnick said.

American Solutions for Business (ASB, asi/120075) has been re-awarded a three-year group purchasing agreement with Premier Inc., one of the largest healthcare purchasing alliances in the United States. The agreement names ASB as a contracted supplier of promotional products, service awards, employee recruiting and retention programs, trade show booths, and other items related to marketing and human resources. Effective Sept 1, 2022, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier and ASB for service awards and merch.

ASB also recently raised $3,000 for the Fishing for Vets nonprofit through an online fundraiser using its proprietary ACES e-commerce platform. The initiative, which ran from April 19 to 21, allowed participants to donate funds and vote for either Nate Disrud, director of technology, to shave his beard, or Mike Pfeiffer, VP of technology, to shave his head. Fishing for Vets gives both active military members and retired veterans the opportunity to go fishing at premier destinations in the Midwest. It was the preferred charity of the late George Nerby, formerly of ASB.