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Power 50 2020

As the promo industry recovers, these are the top executives leading the way back.

What is power? There’s no singular definition when it comes to Counselor’s Power 50 list, now in its 15th year. Wielding influence, effecting change, driving success – all that and more certainly apply.

However, this year – a year unlike any we’ve ever experienced in our business lives – power in the promotional products industry took on distinct new meanings. Who displayed power this year? The leaders whose faces filled our computer screens, projecting calm and showing the way to recovery. The visionaries who secured PPE to keep their employees working and the country safe. The tacticians who guided their companies through the worst, emerging even stronger.

Watch a video featuring the unveiling of the annual Counselor Power 50 list of the most powerful people in the promotional products industry.

What hasn’t changed is the process that was used to create this year’s Power 50. ASI’s editorial team first tallied up voting by last year’s members along with nominations from industry pros. Then, we gauged each candidate based on their accomplishments over the past year. In such a tumultuous year, it’s not a surprise that there are 10 first-time honorees on this year’s list, as well as the return of two leaders who previously appeared on the Power 50.

What did we learn from this year’s list? Power is always important, but this was the time our industry really needed it. In that light, this year’s members of the Power 50 delivered when it mattered most.

Click on the links below for more information about each Power 50 honoree.

Please note: The full Power 50 article -- with profiles of the people on this year's list -- will appear as the cover story of December's issue of Counselor magazine.

2020 Power 50
2020 RANK 2019 RANK NAME/ COMPANY Rank Change
1 3 Jeremy Lott, SanMar asi/84863 2
2 5 Jo-an Lantz, Geiger asi/202900 3
3 2 Marc Simon, HALO Branded Solutions asi/356000 1
4 8 Greg Muzzillo & Vera Muzzillo, Proforma asi/300094 4
5 4 Norm Hullinger, alphabroder asi/34063 1
6 13 Jonathan Isaacson, Gemline asi/56070 7
7 16 Matthew Eckhouse & Anne McKeough, Staples Promotional Products asi/120601 9
8 11 Sai Koppaka & Alan Tabasky, BEL USA 3
9 19 Philip Koosed, BAMKO asi/131431 10
10 14 David Nicholson, Polyconcept North America asi/78897 4
11 1 Kevin Lyons-Tarr & Suzanne Worwood, 4imprint asi/197045 10
12 9 Ross Silverstein, iPROMOTEu asi/232119 3
13 12 Chris Anderson, HPG asi/61966 1
14 10 CJ Schmidt, Hit Promotional Products asi/61125 4
15 26 Brandon Mackay & Brittany David, SnugZ/USA asi/88060 11
16 23 Larry Zavadil & Justin Zavadil, American Solutions for Business asi/120075 7
17 N/A John Bruellman & Kevin Walsh, Showdown Displays asi/87188 N/A
18 22 Ira Neaman, Vantage Apparel asi/93390 4
19 15 Jeff Bezos, Amazon 4
20 17 Bill Korowitz, The Magnet Group asi/68507 3
21 28 Craig Nadel & Debbie Abergel, Jack Nadel International asi/279600 7
22 18 Robert Keane & Peter Kelly, Cimpress asi/162149 4
23 21 Jon Norris, Starline USA Inc. asi/89320 2
24 N/A Ashley McCune, Facilisgroup N/A
25 N/A Jim Shannon, S&S Activewear asi/84358 N/A
26 25 Jay Deutsch, BDA asi/137616 1
27 27 Paul Bellantone, Promotional Products Association International -
28 N/A Nancy Schmidt, AIA Corp. asi/109480 N/A
29 29 Kurt Kaeser & Gregg Emmer, Kaeser & Blair asi/238600 -
30 33 Joe Simsolo & Eric Simsolo, Next Level Apparel asi/73867 3
31 34 Chris Lee, Brand Addition asi/202515 3
32 35 Mark Freed, Genumark asi/204588 3
33 24 David Klatt, BIC Graphic asi/40480 9
34 N/A Nichole Stella, AIM Smarter asi/522700 N/A
35 N/A Ryan Moor, Allmade/Ryonet asi/34341/528500 N/A
36 32 Trevor Gnesin, Logomark asi/67866 4
37 31 Paul Lage, IMAGEN Brands asi/47700, asi/93990 6
38 N/A Chris Blakeslee, BELLA+CANVAS asi/39590 N/A
39 37 Jim Hagan & Kellie Claudio, Sweda Co. asi/90305 2
40 42 Lance Stier & David Miller, Chocolate Inn/Lanco asi/44900 2
41 38 Tracey Barton, Safeguard/Deluxe asi/316203 3
42 36 Alan Vaught, Evans Manufacturing asi/52840 6
43 43 Carleen Gray, GroupeSTAHL North America -
44 44 Eddie Blau, Innovation Line asi/62660 -
45 48 Jo Gilley, Overture Premiums & Promos asi/288473 3
46 46 Jeff Hall, iClick Inc. asi/62124 -
47 47 Chris Vernon, The Vernon Company asi/351700 -
48 N/A Dilip Bhavnani, Sunscope asi/90075 N/A
49 49 Mark Graham & Catherine Graham, commonsku -
50 N/A Memo Kahan, PromoShop asi/300446 N/A