Tonya Cochran cares about making a difference for the better.

It’s why she helps organize quarterly food bank initiatives, facilitates sock drives for the homeless, raises funds for local animal shelters through T-shirt sales and coaches youth soccer.

It’s also why she gives her all to The Magnet Group (asi/68507), the Top 40 supplier where she works with colleagues and customers alike who sing her praises as a wonderful partner. 

Tonya Cochran won the Fran Ford Award. Robin Daniel is 2022 Sales Rep of the Year at The Magnet Group.

For all this and more, Cochran has won the latest Fran Ford Award. Words like “icon” and “luminary” get thrown around a lot, but in Ford’s case they actually describe a man who truly earned such epithets within the North American promotional products industry.

Ford passed away in 2018 following a long illness, but his legacy has lived on. He’s remembered as one of promo’s most endearing leaders – a great friend, willing volunteer and overall kind and generous man who selflessly mentored countless promo product pros over the years.

Ford was with Castelli North America (asi/44305), which is part of The Magnet Group. And each year since his passing, The Magnet Group has honored a company employee who embodies the characteristics that made Ford beloved.

Cochran more than fits the bill. She was nominated by teammates who recognized her for her dedication to fellow workers, The Magnet Group and her local community. Cochran is an art manager in The Magnet Group’s Castelli North America division.

“Tonya is a gem, just like Fran was,” said Aaron Gunderson, The Magnet Group’s senior vice president of sales. “Being nominated by her peers two years in a row shows how deserving she is of this award. We couldn’t be more proud for her.”

Robin Daniel also took home a high honor for an excellent performance in 2022.

The Magnet Group named Daniel 2022 Sales Rep of the Year. The recognition is given to an individual whose region has had the largest increase in sales, driven sustained growth and been exceptional over their tenure at The Magnet Group. Daniel, who’s been with The Magnet Group for four years, has promo experience at other Top 40 firms, too.

“Robin Daniel joined our team in 2019 and has been nothing short of spectacular since day one,” said Joe Huber, national sales manager.

Based on reported 2021 North American promo product revenue of $95.1 million, The Magnet Group ranked 14^th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.