#32 Brian Porter

Starline (asi/89320) – CRO

2024 Rank: #39

Industry Experience: 29 years

Previous Appearances on Counselor Power 50: 1

What could have been a nightmare year for Counselor Top 40 supplier Starline (asi/89320) due to tariffs became one of opportunity, thanks to quick thinking and strategizing by Brian Porter and his team. In the past year, as it launched new in-house products each month, the Grand Island, NY-based supplier entered into a strategic partnership with Pro Towels (asi/79750) and recently became the exclusive provider of Symglass drinkware and LAMY writing instruments. Preparation for trade uncertainty began in 2024, says Porter, when he spearheaded ordering surplus inventory, working with brand partners on price negotiations and communicating regularly with customers. And in late summer, Starline launched its ClearPath program to streamline overseas product sourcing.

“I want to continue to challenge myself never to become complacent, and to strive each day to learn something new, have a conversation that expands my understanding of our clients’ needs and, ultimately, develop new relationships and connections that will better serve Starline, myself and the industry as a whole,” says Porter.

New to the Counselor Power 50 list last year, Porter moves up seven spots in part to high influence ratings from the promo industry in the Counselor Power 50 survey. And while Porter has been key to the company’s strategy, he’s quick to credit the group around him. “My single most important mission is to help my team succeed,” he says. “Whether it’s Starline or our distributor partners, I like to understand their definition of success and then do whatever I can to get them there.”