It was 1965 when Counselor first gave out its "Man of the Year" award. Nine years later, the award was renamed Person of the Year when Ann Morrissey received the prestigious honor.

That would be the first evolution of Counselor’s annual awards, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Two decades later, ASI added a second award that would recognize individuals who are committed to helping others through charity or volunteerism – an honor that would be christened the Bess Cohn Humanitarian Award, named after the mother of ASI Chairman Norman Cohn.

More would quickly follow over the next several years, including International Person of the Year, Woman of Distinction, Family Business of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement award.

Today, the Counselor Awards is a full slate of honors that recognizes countless contributions to the promotional products industry. There’s much to celebrate this year – and not just the fact that the awards were back in person at the ASI Chicago show for the first time in three years.

This year, we honor the longtime apparel leader whose steady guidance has transformed a small T-shirt shop into a billion-dollar company. We honor the American expat working tirelessly in Europe to bring hope and comfort to the Ukrainian people. We honor the luminary of the Canadian promo market whose mentorship and magnetism are revered by so, so many. We honor the successful owner whose professional journey began as a single mom looking for a job; the Bangladesh immigrant who realized his American and entrepreneurial dreams; the family businesses carrying on the legacy established nearly a century ago; and many more.

Their innovative approaches and determined efforts are pushing the promo industry forward and raising the bar for all who follow. Read on as we celebrate their accomplishments and tap into their vision of what comes next for our wonderful industry.