Who says you can’t go home? Pete Gleason is returning to Counselor Top 40 supplier Bag Makers (asi/37940) as vice president of sales.

Gleason previously served as sales VP at the Illinois-headquartered company, a run that ended in 2016. Now, he’s back to reprise the role, which will see him developing and executing sales strategy and processes, collaborating with management, analyzing market trends and working alongside the sales team while overseeing key customer relationships, all to drive growth.

Pete Gleason, Bag Makers (asi/37940)

“We are thrilled Pete is returning as a member of our executive team,” said Bag Makers CEO Maribeth Sandford, a past Counselor Lifetime Achievement Award winner. “Pete is a highly respected, dynamic and seasoned industry leader, and he is already well-versed with our products and services. This expertise will allow Pete to hit the ground running from day one to help us expand our sales reach.”

Gleason has more than 30 years of promo experience, including time on the supplier and distributor sides of the business. He’s also shown commitment to the merch space through volunteerism, having been a past president of the New England Promotional Products Association, past chair of Promotional Products Association International’s Awards Committee and past chair of the PPAI Distributors Committee.

“Pete is a highly respected, dynamic and seasoned industry leader. This expertise will allow Pete to hit the ground running from day one to help us expand our sales reach.” Maribeth Sandford, Bag Makers (asi/37940)

“I’m excited for the opportunity to rejoin Bag Makers and to work with one of the best sales teams in the industry,” Gleason said. “I’m proud of what we accomplished together in the past and I’m looking forward to helping lead the next phase of growth for the company.”

Gleason began his promo journey on the supplier side of the industry, then worked as a distributor for more than a decade. In 2009, he joined Bag Makers as regional business development manager before rising to director of sales strategy and later vice president of sales. He then worked for nearly nine years as vice president of business development for CPS/Keystone (asi/43051) before rejoining Bag Makers this May. His official first day back at Bag Makers is May 12.

A certified Women’s Business Enterprise, Bag Makers has been in business since 1980. The firm offers an array of imprintable bag solutions. Based on reported 2023 North American promotional product revenue of $59.5 million, Bag Makers ranked 33rd on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.