Joel D. Schaffer, MAS is CEO and founder of Soundline, LLC, the pioneering supplier to the promotional products industry of audio products. He is the only person to have received both the ASI's Marvin Spike Industry Lifetime Achievement Award (2002) and PPAI's Distinguished Service Award (2011). He is a past director of PPAI's Board of Directors and has chaired several PPAI committees and task forces. He was elected to the PPAI Hall of Fame in 2016. Now celebrating 50 years in our industry.

Isabella Zaczek believes that it takes an uncomfortable analysis and serious commitment to change to create legacy and greatness. Having worked for a Fortune 500 telecommunication company for 18 years in Europe and the USA, supporting over 250 global companies across 5 continents, Isabella believes that global companies have made an art out of complicating global relationships and workflows. Certified in a variety of cutting-edge leadership and team performance tools, Isabella helps organizations untangle the complexities of people, processes, and metrics, to create stronger bottom-lines, more engaged employees and customer devotion.

Cindy Tsuji is a senior account executive with Image Source in Kirkland, Washington, who discovered the promo industry after 20 years in corporate sales. She has a passion and love for hospitality, health care, being of service to others and spreading joy through thoughtfully crafted merchandise experiences. Committed to seeing a more diverse and inclusive promo industry in the future, she is a PromoKitchen volunteer, PPAI DEI Task Force member, and she leads Image Source’s DEI Council. A passionate global traveler and endurance athlete, she has completed a half marathon on all seven continents. If not traveling, running or in a hot yoga studio, she enjoys time with her dog Emi and supporting causes dear to her heart.

After attending college at UNC Greensboro, Renee began her career on the supplier side of the wedding & gift Industry, designing for and repping a boutique stationery line. From there, she got into deco with a local screen printer, where she learned just exactly how much work goes into a printed t-shirt.   With customer service, sales and deco experience under her belt, she is now all promo and a Sales Coordinator with Brand Fuel.  Renee has happily agreed to lead the charge for the recently established Brand Fuel DEI Board, where she is focusing on creative ways to implement company-wide DEI education and personal accountability, and she's not scared to ruffle a few feathers along the way.

In her nine years working at SanMar, Trend Editor Vicki Ostrom has held two jobs. For the first four years, she was a senior designer working on apparel and then five years ago, she transitioned into her current role as full-time trend editor. She knows what it means when things are forecast to be the next big thing in style and fashion. Vicki is also the author of a new trends blog, Trendependent. Vicki Ostrom speaks the language of trends. She tells people where to look for inspiration and she gives advice to consumers and fellow employees alike on staying ahead of what will appeal to our customers.

Julie is the manager of diversity and learning engagement at PPAI. She has over 10 years of experience in learning and development as a program manager, instructional designer, training facilitator, and webinar producer. Julie earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and her Master of Science in Instructional & Performance Technology from Boise State University. Through her academic work, Julie published a case study in the textbook Cases on Human Performance Improvement Technologies, as well as two articles for ISPI’s online publication PerformanceXpress.

Esmeralda Anaya is the marketing manager at Terry Town. Throughout her five years of experience in the promotional industry, she has created and executed advertising and content strategies to position Terry Town as a leader in the industry. As a recipient of numerous industry accolades and an active participant in industry conferences and events, she is a proud, bi-cultural professional who strives to create a positive impact in the world. She was named a PPB Rising Star in 2016.

Bryan James, a native of the great state of Louisiana, is co-owner of Corporate Specialty Insignia. Bryan has lived in Atlanta for the past 31 years with wife and business partner Kelly Brown James, daughter, Sydney, and son, Justin.   On May 1, 1993, Bryan James began his entrepreneurial walk of faith by focusing on client outcomes, solving problems, delivering value, exceeding client expectations layered with focusing on client experience in delivering measurable solutions. The James’s have survived the 9/11 impact on economy, the economic recession, a pandemic, industry changes and other business organizational restructuring. Corporate Specialty Insignia focuses on branding solutions and employee recognition. While known by the clients they keep, their focus remains on relationships.

Kristina Valdez is the associate editor of publications at PPAI since 2019. Kristina graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she worked with numerous publications to create compelling stories.

Julie is the manager of diversity and learning engagement at PPAI. She has over 10 years of experience in learning and development as a program manager, instructional designer, training facilitator, and webinar producer. Julie earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and her Master of Science in Instructional & Performance Technology from Boise State University. Through her academic work, Julie published a case study in the textbook Cases on Human Performance Improvement Technologies, as well as two articles for ISPI’s online publication PerformanceXpress.

Maurice is the public affairs manager for PPAI. He monitors legislative and regulatory developments affecting the promotional products industry. Maurice also assists members with compliance challenges facing their businesses and helps them advocate for their companies with various aspects and levels of government. Maurice also serves on the board of the Graphic Communications Workforce Coalition.

As the Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Kathlene Brethowr works to create opportunities for professional development through volunteering. Prior to joining PPAI, Kathlene was an Account Manager and Event Coordinator for MOJ Consulting LLC for three years where she received direct experience serving associations in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Kathlene graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies with a focus in Business, Sociology, and Kinesiology. 

Seth Weiner, MAS, is President of Sonic Promos, a promotional marketing firm based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  He has been active in the promotional marketing industry for 27 years, including what will be 23 years with Sonic in 2020.  As President of Sonic Promos, he has helped the company to perform in the top 15% of all promotional marketing firms nationwide.  He attended Ithaca College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communication and minors in writing, advertising and public relations. Seth earned his MAS in 2010. He actively lectures at various symposiums, conferences and educational institutions, and has been published in many professional publications.

Known as a game changer, Latria Graham, is a branding expert with over 20 years of credible and results driven experience. Latria is the President of GLB which mission is to help clients drive brand awareness and revenue through innovative marketing strategies and promotional products. GLB primarily services professional athletes, sports & entertainment properties, non-profits, and large corporations. Latria led her company to receive the 2019 Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise of the Year by the Florida State Minority Supplier Diversity Council. She now serves on the 2020 Minority Business Enterprise Committee and is the Immediate Past Chairwoman of Habitat for Humanity of Orange and Osceola County.

Stephanie Drago, Director of Marketing.  Stephanie has 20 years in marketing, ecommerce, and all things digital. She’s a visionary and energetic leader with strong background in results-driven marketing and data analysis to promote innovation in product design.

Amanda Vogel, Senior Account Executive at Navitor. Amanda has been with Navitor for 12 years and helps with education initiatives to ensure understanding and access across all of Navitor and its Affiliates. She helps our distributors identify new customer opportunities utilizing multiple product options to implement mutually profitable programs.

Sadie Whiting, Senior Strategic Account Manager and a Label Expert with over 17 years of experience with Label Works in the industry. She is passionate about helping resellers and manufacturers achieve sales growth by providing consultative expertise.

Navitor Stationery Sales Manager.  Mark has 14 years of various experience with Navitor, from Operations, Product Management to Sales there is very little that he doesn’t know about print.