#44 Samantha Kates

Spector & Co. (asi/88660) – President

2024 Rank: NR

Industry Experience: 29 years

Previous Appearances on Counselor Power 50: 0

A promo veteran with more than three decades of industry experience, Samantha Kates debuts on the Counselor Power 50 list nearly a year into her new role as president of Montreal-based Spector & Co. (asi/88660). Leading the company along with Spector CEO Alan Meinstein (who was named to the position at the same time), Kates has spearheaded mentorship and career mobility opportunities at the company, along with revamping marketing and offering new design-forward products.

While tariffs posed challenges, Kates says the team was in a good position to face them. “Instead of slowing us down, tariffs became a spark for reinvention,” she says. “By staying transparent, listening closely and rallying the team around a shared vision, we turned uncertainty into real progress. We handled these headwinds remarkably well and although it could have tested such a new team, it instead emboldened us.”

Kates’ perspective on both sides of the industry’s supply chain has proven valuable not just for Spector but also the promo industry, as evidenced by an appearance last year at the ASI Power Summit on a panel featuring lessons learned from top industry leaders.

Moving forward, Kates says she plans to lead the team in building on what’s been put into motion over the past year – releasing new products, continuing to strengthen distributor relationships and empowering the next generation of company leadership. “I hope we embrace technology in a thoughtful and customer-centric way and we stay open, nimble and carry an entrepreneurial spirit even as we grow,” she says. “My goal is to run a business that keeps thriving and innovating no matter who’s in the room.”