Top 40 supplier The Magnet Group (asi/68507) is kicking off the year in grand fashion.

The Washington, MO-based company has named Dan Jellinek, executive vice president, as the recipient of the third annual Fran Ford Award – named after the beloved industry legend who passed away in 2018.

Dan Jellinek [left]; Fran Ford

The Magnet Group describes the Fran Ford Award as the highest honor it bestows on its employees. An eligible candidate must possess the qualities of kindness and generosity, offering friendship and mentorship to others and have participated in a volunteer capacity either inside or outside the industry during the calendar year of their nomination. In announcing the award during a virtual sales meeting, the company said “Dan was nominated by his peers and most deserving of the award. His efforts for the company were huge, and in the process, the people around him were elevated to new heights by his actions.”

A 43-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Ford served as president of supplier Castelli Magnet and was a staple of Counselor’s Power 50. He earned ASI’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, was named to PPAI’s Hall of Fame in 2015 and was inducted into Proforma’s Hall of Fame in 2016. He was also the first recipient of Counselor’s International Person of the Year in 1998.

The Magnet Group has continued to pay tribute to Ford by opening a facility in Greenwood, SC, that was named after him. Top 40 supplier IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown Products (asi/47700) and Vitronic (asi/93990), also paid tribute to Ford with the creation of the Hey Buddy Bear.

In other company news, The Magnet Group has promoted Phil Wallis to director of manufacturing for all Missouri facilities and Donna Meyer to senior customer service manager.

Phil Wallis [left]; Donna Meyer

With reported 2019 North American promotional product revenue of $121.4 million, The Magnet Group ranked 12th on Counselor’s latest list of the 40 largest suppliers in the industry.