Top 40 promotional products distributor Proforma (asi/300094) this week is hosting the first of its annual “Fall Energize Summit” series. Held in Chicago, the event is a forum for Proforma’s owner-affiliates to meet with vetted suppliers for strategizing on end-clients, upcoming projects, prospects and opportunities.

Proforma executives said the summits encourage owners to strengthen current supplier relationships and to expand their network and expertise through fruitful interactions with other suppliers that specialize in areas of print and promo with which the distributors are unfamiliar.

“The supplier partners in the Proforma network are a vital component to our ‘One Source, Infinite Resources’ tagline,” said Steve Flaughers, a member of Proforma’s Multi-Million Dollar Club and owner of Proforma 3rd Degree Marketing. “Some of the best meetings I’ve had at this summit were with suppliers I wasn’t familiar with because I now feel empowered to create solutions for clients that I didn’t even know were possible.”

Steve Flaughers, owner of Proforma 3rd Degree Marketing

Suppliers spoke positively of the summit experience, too. “I look forward to attending the Energize Summits because of how eager Proforma owners are to discuss new perspectives and strategize new goals for the year,” said Tom Spoltman of Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063).

Proforma selected Omni Hotels & Resorts to host this year’s summit for its “Say Goodnight to Hunger” program. Through this program, one meal for every completed stay is donated to food banks.

Proforma’s next Energize Summit will occur Oct. 13 to 15 in San Diego. With reported 2018 North American promotional product revenue of $378.8 million, Proforma ranks sixth on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry.