Now in its fifth year, the winners of SGR magazine’s awards for 2014 Supplier Sales Rep of the Year and Customer Service Rep of the Year were announced this morning on ASI’s live weekly radio show.

Julie Strob, key accounts manager for Counselor Top 40 supplier Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125), was named the Supplier Sales Rep of the Year, as chosen by distributor voting. TJ Latchford of BIC Graphic North America (asi/40480) was named the First Runner Up and Mary Beach of Wendell August Forge (asi/37457) was named Second Runner Up.  

In the nine years Strob been with Hit, she’s made an indelible mark on everyone she’s encountered. “Julie is fantastic to work with and one of my favorite people in our industry,” said Rusty Pepper, president of strategic accounts for Top 40 distributor G&G Outfitters (asi/199904). “Over the past five years, she’s worked hard to cultivate and build the trust and relationship with our sales force by simply being herself and finding ways to deliver strategic value with the products that Hit offers.”

In the category of Customer Service Rep of the Year, voted on as well by industry distributors, Cally Neal of Counselor Top 40 supplier Polyconcept North America was the clear winner. Neal has been with PCNA for four years and in that time has become its face for the seven national accounts for which she is responsible, and for the legion of contacts scattered throughout those clients’ hundreds of offices.

Terry McGuire, senior vice president of marketing for Top 40 distributor Halo Branded Solutions (asi/356000) was one of Neal’s clients who nominated her for the SGR award. “Cally provides fast, accurate and friendly service, and that’s a trifecta that few supplier CSR’s can deliver,” he said. “She’s obviously supported by a world-class system, but delivers service in a personal way that few others can match.”

Read more in Michele Bell’s blog.