Proforma (asi/300094), a Top 40 distributor, recently presented an overview on technology in the promotional products industry at a career showcase at the University of Florida. The presentation was led by Stan Maxwell, Proforma’s chief strategy officer and Brian Roney, Proforma’s director of e-commerce.

Label Works (asi/66040) welcomes Lisa Pelzel as senior business development associate and will spearhead strategy and sales support for growth in Labels, Stickers and Decals. She brings more than 15 years of industry experience with suppliers such as Beacon Promotions, now part of Top 40 supplier HPG (asi/61966), and Showdown Displays (asi/87188).

The Magnet Group (asi/68507), a Top 40 supplier, has released its “The Joy of Giving” catalog. Inside, distributors will find a free drop-shipping offer, new items, and what the supplier described as “tried and true promotional products” for the gift-giving season and beyond.

Reciprocity Road, an alliance of 10 promotional product distributors across the U.S and Canada that comprise approximately $230 million in promo spending, recently held its fifth Conclave Strategic Planning Event. The partners of Reciprocity Road met in Raleigh, NC, to establish their 2022 strategic plan. The Conclave was hosted at distributor Brand Fuel’s (asi/145025) new office by partners Danny Rosin and Robert Fiveash. Commonsku’s Mark Graham facilitated.

Proforma (asi/300094), a Top 40 distributor, hosted its annual leadership meeting during the first week of November. This event included Proforma’s key executives. They focused on strategic vision, mission, and objectives for the months and years ahead. “Proforma is committed to industry leadership through distributor support and empowerment, technology, and ongoing education,” said Vera Muzzillo, Proforma’s CEO. “We believe that our industry will continue to undergo consolidation, and technology leadership will be the most important factor in the years ahead. All relationships will benefit from efficiency and data analytics to drive sales success and profitability.”

Penn Emblem Company (asi/77120) recently renewed its WBENC Certification for the 2021-22 year. 

Top 40 supplier Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840) recently celebrated Employee Health Week/Semana de la Salud 2021 at its facility in Nogales, Mexico. Mayor Juan Francisco Gim and CEO Alan Vaught attended the event, which focused on employee safety, health and welfare. In addition to breast cancer awareness and education on psychological risks in the workplace, the week resulted in 250 diabetes tests, 250 hypertension tests, 250 vision tests, 90 cervical cancer tests and 100 oral check-ups and cleanings. “Evans is committed to worker safety, health and welfare because our most vital resource is our employees,” said Vaught during remarks at the event.

Aturian, LLC, a cloud-based ERP platform for distributors, welcomes Matt Staff as new director of sales. “We are thrilled to bring Matt on board,” said Atul Shevade, founder and president of Aturian. “Matt is an industry veteran whose unique perspective will enable Aturian to better address the needs of distributors within the promotional space.”

Facilisgroup (asi/475998) just concluded its first Facilisgroup Hackathon, an opportunity for cross-functional teams of Facilisgroup employees to come together to develop and present innovative ideas with the possibility of future implementation.

IDProductsource (asi/62088) announced that its fourth annual food drive collected 162 lbs. of food for the Treasure Coast Food Bank in Fort Pierce, FL.

Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840), a Top 40 supplier, donated hundreds of backpacks to an event hosted by the Orange County Traffic Officers Association in which hundreds of law enforcement officers from six counties competed. “The Annual Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition benefits officers and their families who have been injured or killed in the line of duty,” said Christopher Ostrowski, vice president of the O.C.T.O.A.

American Solutions for Business (ASB, asi/120075), a Top 40 distributor, announced that sales associate Steve Wessel has received the 49^th Accent of Excellence Award for his efforts in sales. The annual National Sales & Marketing Executives (NSME) Accent on Excellence Event awards programs in the greater Akron/Canton region that have demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism during their careers in diverse sales and marketing roles, ASB said.

Proforma (asi/300094), a Top 40 distributor, sponsored the annual “Halloween in the Village” on Davis Islands in Tampa, FL – an annual event that attracts more than 1,000 families. The free event offered trick-or-treating, costume contests, photo booths, caricature artists, face painters and much more. Proforma provided a variety of signage and goodie bags. It’s the seventh year Proforma has sponsored Halloween in the Village.

PromoShop (asi/300446), a Top 40 distributor, will donate one meal to community food banks for every hat, water bottle or piece of apparel it sells between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31. Last year, PromoShop fed 36,000 people.

Goldstar (asi/73295) has announced key hires and a promotion. Salina Brill, who has experience at Top 40 suppliers, joins as marketing manager for North America. Megan Hernandez, who spent the last five years working with two other supplier companies, comes aboard as sales manager for the South-Central region of the U.S. Her territory covers Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Meanwhile, Ricardo Vieira has been promoted to inside sales manager and seven new inside sales staff members have been added.

Top 40 distributor Overture Promotions (asi/288473) has been ranked 13th on the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list, presented by The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking. Overture was ranked 38^th last year.