October 13, 2021
2021 Power 50
Meet the leaders who are driving the promotional products industry forward.
Power doesn’t have an off switch. It was true last year when things were at their worst and the leaders of the promotional products industry met the toughest challenges of their lives head-on.
And it’s true now in 2021. Even as companies bounce back, the difficulties are still great – supply chain delays, staffing shortages, struggling markets, health and safety concerns, and so much more. The expertise, foresight and empathy of the promo industry’s elite are needed just as much today as any time.
The good news? The leaders and entrepreneurs on this year’s Counselor Power 50 aren’t shrinking from the challenge. Each action they take is fortifying the promo industry and putting it on the road to recovery.
How did we create this year’s Power 50 list, now in its 16th year? The ASI Media team first tallied up voting by last year’s members along with nominations of potential new members from industry pros. Then, we gauged each candidate based on their accomplishments over the past year as well as their career-long track record. The resulting group – including seven newcomers and three people making their return to the list – are the industry power players who define the future of promo.
Click on the links below to read more about each Power 50 honoree.
2021 Rank | Name/Company | 2020 Rank | Rank Change | Previous Times on Power 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Phil Koosed, Superior Group (parent co. of BAMKO asi/131431) Distributor |
9 | 8 | 3 |
2 | Jonathan Isaacson, Gemline, asi/56070 Supplier |
6 | 4 | 15 |
3 | Jo-an Lantz, Geiger, asi/202900 Distributor |
2 | 1 | 15 |
4 | Jeremy Lott, SanMar, asi/84863 Supplier |
1 | 3 | 8 |
5 | Marc Simon, HALO Branded Solutions, asi/356000 Distributor |
3 | 2 | 15 |
6 | Greg Muzzillo & Vera Muzzillo, Proforma, asi/300094 Distributor |
4 | 2 | 15 |
7 | Kevin Lyons-Tarr & Suzanne Worwood, 4imprint, asi/197045 Distributor |
11 | 4 | 15 & 2 |
8 | Sai Koppaka & Alan Tabasky, DiscountMugs.com, asi/181120 Distributor |
8 | 0 | 5 & 7 |
9 | Chris Anderson, HPG, asi/61966 Supplier |
13 | 4 | 2 |
10 | Larry Zavadil & Justin Zavadil, American Solutions for Business, asi/120075 Distributor |
16 | 6 | 15 & 7 |
11 | CJ Schmidt, Hit Promotional Products, asi/61125 Supplier |
14 | 3 | 11 |
12 | Jim Shannon, S&S Activewear, asi/84358 Supplier |
25 | 13 | 1 |
13 | Ira Neaman, Vantage Apparel, asi/93390 Supplier |
18 | 5 | 15 |
14 | Ross Silverstein, iPROMOTEu, asi/232119 Distributor |
12 | 2 | 15 |
15 | Dan Pantano, alphabroder, asi/34063 Supplier |
N/A | N/A | 0 |
16 | John Bruellman & Kevin Walsh, Showdown Displays, asi/87188 Supplier |
17 | 1 | 1 |
17 | Craig Nadel & Debbie Abergel, Jack Nadel International, asi/279600 Distributor |
21 | 4 | 9 & 4 |
18 | Brandon Mackay & Brittany David, SnugZ USA, asi/88060 Supplier |
15 | 3 | 10 & 3 |
19 | Ashley McCune, Facilisgroup Other |
24 | 5 | 1 |
20 | Jon Norris, Starline USA Inc., asi/89320 Supplier |
23 | 3 | 2 |
21 | Jay Deutsch, BDA, asi/137616 Distributor |
26 | 5 | 15 |
22 | Bill Korowitz, The Magnet Group, asi/68507 Supplier |
20 | 2 | 13 |
23 | Nancy Schmidt, AIA Corp., asi/109480 Distributor |
28 | 5 | 1 |
24 | Chris Blakeslee, BELLA+CANVAS, asi/39590 Supplier |
38 | 14 | 8 & 1 |
25 | Lance Stier & David Miller, NC Custom (prev. Chocolate Inn/Lanco), asi/44900 Supplier |
40 | 15 | 3 |
26 | Marc Katz, Custom Ink* Other |
N/A* | N/A* | 3 |
27 | Mark Freed, Genumark, asi/204588 Distributor |
32 | 5 | 4 |
28 | Ryan Moor, Allmade, asi/34341 Supplier |
35 | 7 | 1 |
29 | Catherine Monson, FastSigns, asi/395000* Distributor |
N/A* | N/A* | 2 |
30 | Trevor Gnesin, Logomark, asi/67866 Supplier |
36 | 6 | 15 |
31 | Kurt Kaeser & Gregg Emmer, Kaeser & Blair, asi/238600 Distributor |
29 | 2 | 15 & 11 |
32 | Jim Hagan & Kellie Claudio, Sweda Co., asi/90305 Supplier |
39 | 7 | 10 & 4 |
33 | Eric Simsolo, Next Level Apparel, asi/73867 Supplier |
30 | 3 | 1 |
34 | Nikki Stella, AIM Smarter, asi/522700 Distributor |
34 | 0 | 1 |
35 | Alan Vaught, Evans Manufacturing, asi/52840 Supplier |
42 | 7 | 13 |
36 | Jo Gilley, Overture Promotions, asi/288473 Distributor |
45 | 9 | 2 |
37 | Carleen Gray, GroupeSTAHL North America Supplier |
43 | 6 | 3 |
38 | Dilip Bhavnani, Sunscope, asi/90075 Supplier |
48 | 10 | 5 |
39 | David Klatt & Melissa Ralston, Koozie Group, asi/40480 Supplier |
33 & N/A | 6 | 3 & 0 |
40 | Kathy Cheng, Redwood Classics Apparel, asi/81627 Supplier |
N/A | N/A | 0 |
41 | Michael Brugger, Fully Promoted, asi/384000 Distributor |
N/A | N/A | 0 |
42 | Tracey Barton, Deluxe/Safeguard, asi/178720/316203 Distributor |
41 | 1 | 3 |
43 | Derek Block, Touchstone, asi/345631* Distributor |
N/A* | N/A* | 5 |
44 | Chris Vernon, The Vernon Company, asi/351700 Distributor |
47 | 3 | 15 |
45 | Eddie Blau, Innovation Line, asi/62660 Supplier |
44 | 1 | 3 |
46 | Sandy Gonzalez, MadeToOrder, asi/259540 Distributor |
N/A | N/A | 0 |
47 | Memo Kahan, PromoShop, asi/300446 Distributor |
50 | 3 | 4 |
48 | Mark Graham & Catherine Graham, commonsku Other |
49 | 1 | 4 |
49 | Neil Ringel, Polyconcept, asi/78897 Supplier |
N/A | N/A | 0 |
50 | Dale Denham, PPAI Other |
N/A | N/A | 0 |
N/A=not applicable, new to list; (*=was not on list last year, but was on previous lists)