For many successful leaders, the idea of leaving a company and returning years later isn’t exactly part of their grand career plan. But Counselor Top 40 distributor Proforma (asi/300094) welcomes old employees with open arms. It’s part of the company’s ethos of supporting personal fulfillment, professional development and strong relationships.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that Michael Roney, Proforma’s new senior vice president, is the latest on a long list of 20 current employees to leave and then rejoin the distributor. He previously worked on the technology team at Proforma, starting as a quality assurance manager in 2020 and rising through the ranks to hold the title of senior director of product development. He left the company in November 2023 to launch his own entrepreneurial endeavor, a mobile app called Scout that now tracks over 12,000 products daily.

“After spending years at Proforma, surrounded by many of the most successful distributor owners in our industry, I realized that the only way to fully understand the entrepreneurial experience was to live it,” Roney said. “Building Scout gave me access to insights and understandings that I will forever carry with me. But there’s truly no place like home, and I am thoroughly excited to apply the lessons learned to further the Proforma community in every way I can.”

Roney’s colleagues at Proforma are equally thrilled to welcome him back to the team.

“Returning employees bring something truly unique to the table,” said Kathy Mayo, Proforma’s vice president of human resources. “They understand our culture, know the industry and return with fresh insight and energy. Michael is a perfect example of how stepping away can strengthen a person’s contributions when they come back.”

Proforma (asi/300094) has a lot to celebrate this year, with the return of Michael Roney as senior vice president and the work anniversaries of longtime employees Dave Cantillon and John Campbell.

Proforma earned a place on Counselor’s Best Places to Work list last year, standing out for its flexible work schedule, manageable workload and community impact.

“We know that careers aren’t always linear – people grow, change and explore. But we’ve built a workplace where they want to return,” said Doug Kordel, president and chief legal officer at Proforma. “That kind of loyalty can’t be manufactured.”

In addition to Roney’s return, Proforma recently celebrated the work anniversaries of Dave Cantillon, a member of the accounting department, and John Campbell, a senior business adviser on Proforma’s business development team.

“When I started with Proforma 40 years ago, I never imagined how deeply connected I’d become to the people, the mission and the work we do every day,” Campbell said. “I’ve had the opportunity to grow alongside this company, build lasting relationships and help shape something that truly matters. It’s been an incredible journey – and I’m just as energized today as I was on day one.”

Proforma placed fourth on Counselor’s 2025 list of Top 40 distributors in the industry based on 2024 North American promotional products revenue of $662 million.