Fred Albrecht, the long-time co-owner of Proforma Albrecht & Co. (asi/116308), died on Jan. 23 after a lengthy illness. Albrecht along with his co-owner wife Suzette were Counselor’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees.

Fred and Suzette Albrecht, Proforma Albrecht & Co. (asi/116308). Fred passed away on Jan. 23.

A graduate of DePauw University in Indiana, where he played football on scholarship, Albrecht joined the promo industry soon after graduating in the 1970s. By 2000, he and Suzette had established their own distributorship and joined the network of Counselor Top 40 distributor Proforma (asi/300094).

Over 25 years, the Albrechts have built a team of 50 employees based in Ohio, along with 80 sales reps in nearly 30 states. Each year since 2006, Albrecht & Co. has been Proforma’s top-performing owner, with almost $50 million in sales in 2023.

The company was named Proforma’s Innovator of the Year in 2011 and inducted into the Proforma Hall of Fame in 2015. It has been on Counselor’s Best Places to Work list nine times, coming in at #1 in 2012.

Fred Albrecht also served for several years as mayor of Milford, OH, where the distributorship is based.

Albrecht was diagnosed with a brain tumor in late 2023. Suzette was determined to keep running the company, and was present to receive the couple’s Counselor Award in July 2024 at ASI Show Chicago.

“Fred, in business and life, was a fighter,” wrote Tim Andrews, ASI president & CEO, in a message on LinkedIn. “And equally humble, smart, caring. … We shared a special Midwesterner connection. I loved Fred. And you would’ve, too, if you had met him. My heart goes out to Suzette and his entire personal and professional family.”

Upon the news of Albrecht’s passing, Counselor Power 50 members Greg and Vera Muzzillo of Proforma, issued a statement to the company.

“Fred was a truly exceptional person who left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him,” they wrote. “His leadership, kindness and unwavering dedication to our Proforma community were unmatched. He was a friend, a mentor and an inspiration to so many of us. His generosity of spirit and genuine care for others are just a few of the many qualities that made him truly extraordinary.”

“Fred was a truly exceptional person who left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. His leadership, kindness and unwavering dedication to our Proforma community were unmatched.” Greg and Vera Muzzillo, Proforma (asi/300094)

Members of the promo industry took to social media to express their condolences and sentiments. “It’s rare that someone outside of my family affects me as much as Fred has,” wrote Jonathan Horowitz at Top 40 supplier Tekweld (asi/90807). “He will be missed. My heart is with the Albrecht family.”

Said Danielle Steinberger at AZX Sport (asi/30250): “Fred was one in a million. Sincere condolences to Suzette and the entire Albrecht family. Godspeed sir – a true legend.”

Stan Dohan, executive vice president at Aakron Line (asi/30270), knew the Albrechts for 30 years. “He was a trusted business partner, and even more importantly, a friend,” Dohan told ASI Media. “He was fun to work with and a joy to be around. My most cherished memories will be seeing him around town in Cincinnati. He was also sincere and a straight shooter. I’ll miss the witty texts and quick quips about our Bengals, Reds and life. All of us lost a really good one and he will be missed, but his lessons live on.”

Speaking to Counselor this summer after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Suzette said she and her husband built their business intentionally, hiring well-qualified individuals and creating a world-class culture. “We’re most proud of the company we’ve built, our people and the people who’ve helped us,” said Suzette. “We love what we do, so this has never been a job for us.”