Welcome to the 2019 Power 50 list, which ranks the most influential people in the industry.

#5 Jo-an Lantz, Geiger (asi/202900)

2018 Rank: 10
Title: President & CEO
Industry Experience: Entire Career

As the first non-family member to take the reins of 141-year-old, 5th generation-owned Geiger, Lantz started at the company when she was 18, and was named its president & CEO earlier this year. Overseeing not only the company’s new groundbreaking fully solar-powered and eco-sustainable facility in Lewiston, ME, Lantz grew Geiger’s sales 13.5% last year and enjoys the respect of her peers as one of the foremost experts in overseas promo markets and an active mentor for women in business. As the point person on many domestic and international acquisitions, Lantz – a past Counselor International Person of the Year – has indicated Geiger will continue to buy entities that further the company’s mission to be a premier, one-stop shop for its clients.

Lantz predicts that in five years, there will be two or more distributors with annual sales over $1 billion, and that the gap between the Top 40 and other companies will widen.