Dan Herling is a leading defense attorney focused on product liability issues relating to consumer products. Dan has successfully defended clients in class actions alleging false or misleading labeling or advertising of foods, cosmetics, over the counter drugs and dietary supplements. These claims have involved probiotics, “natural” ingredients, “clinically-proven” results, lack of efficacy, lack of substantiation, and failure to disclose. His trial work also encompasses defense of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, commercial litigation and privacy and data security. Dan advises international companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, food, over-the-counter drugs, homeopathic remedies, and dietary supplement industries. He has served as defense counsel in over 3,000 product liability cases and represented companies in both state and federal courts in California and the U.S. Dan routinely advises clients on regulatory matters as well as the selection of local counsel and lead trial attorneys. His commercial litigation practice has covered a wide spectrum of issues and included representation of several international companies based in Italy, Mexico, India, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland.

Anne Stone is the director of public affairs for Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). She brings her background in public relations and communications to driving member advocacy and communicating product safety issues. Prior to joining PPAI, she worked with Conner Peripherals, then a Fortune 500 manufacturer of data storage solutions, where she managed media relations, special events and creative services. She also managed corporate communications for a manufacturer of high-performance visual display equipment, and was a senior account executive for a public relations agency. She currently serves as staff liaison to both the Government Relations Action Council and the Product Responsibility Action Council.

Susan DeRagon is Senior Technical Consultant at QIMA (formerly AsiaInspection).  With over 30 years of experience, she is a leading quality and safety expert on toys, children’s products, and promotional and licensed goods.  She has conducted numerous technical seminars and webinars globally.  She works closely with companies to provide the highest level of quality service in the areas of regulatory compliance, product testing, quality control and assurance, safety evaluations and inspections.

Ms. DeRagon is an active member of The Toy Association and ASTM International, participating on several toy and children’s product standards committees.  She is also a member of PPAI’s Product Responsibility Action Group (PRAG) and a previous member of the Board of Directors for ICPHSO, the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization.

Ms. DeRagon received a B.S degree in business administration from Bay Path College, Magna Cum Laude.

Haley Will is an Account Executive for UL Verification Services focusing primarily on the Premiums and Promotional Products industries. Haley supports new and existing UL clients by developing and enhancing their Quality Assurance Programs. Haley also manages UL's relationship with PPAI and serves as a proactive point of contact for members to provide technical expertise in areas of global compliance, industry standards and brand specifications. Previously, Haley worked in Client Services as a global account manager focusing on promotional products, toys and children's products. Responsibilities included daily management of domestic and global accounts, review of technical data and test results, and acting as the primary liaison between clients and labs. Haley has been with UL (formerly STR) since 2009 and holds a Bachelor's degree from Springfield College in Marketing and Business Management.

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.

Cory Halliburton is an attorney with the law firm of Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber. He has served as General Counsel for PPAI since May 2014 and since that time he has participated in just about every PPAI Board meeting and strategic planning session and has reviewed hundreds of contracts for PPAI. He also supports in-house counsel of publicly traded companies and executives in the tax-exempt organizations space in their drafting and negotiation of substantial vendor agreements. 

Cory Halliburton graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech UniversitySchool of Law in 2003 and, among other accolades, was the recipient of the 2013Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young LawyersAssociation.

Hank Yuloff is the co-owner of Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions, which he co-owners with his wife, Sharyn. Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions is a business coaching firm delivering traditional and technological marketing plans for small companies. Their company strives to find solutions for everything, from discovering the most profitable demographics to creating effective messaging and tactics, to solving employee headaches several times as year, as well as hold small-business breakthrough bootcamp intensives for audiences of up to 250. The couple has co-authored five best-selling books on marketing and human resources, and has co-hosted a weekly marketing podcast for more than four years. 

When it comes to getting expert business help, Sharyn Yuloff offers a one-of-a-kind perspective. She is an online marketing and human resources expert, and is the co-founder of Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions, a business coaching firm delivering traditional and technological marketing plans for small companies, which she owns with her husband, Hank. Their company strives to find solutions for everything, from discovering the most profitable demographics to creating effective messaging and tactics, to solving employee headaches several times as year, as well as hold small-business breakthrough bootcamp intensives for audiences of up to 250. The couple has co-authored five best-selling books on marketing and human resources, and has co-hosted a weekly marketing podcast for more than four years.

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.

David Shultz is the vice president of supplier partnerships for commonsku. David has more than 17 years of experience in the promotional products industry and is the former vice president of operations at Distributor Central. A recent PPAI Fellow inductee and recipient of PPAI's Industry Collaborator award, he is the incoming president of the Promotional Products Association Midwest (PPAM) and serves as a member of the Regional Association Council (RAC). In his new role, David will work with suppliers to help them connect with distributors more effectively, as well as help them integrate with Promo Standards to achieve better operational efficiency.

Christopher Duffy, MAS is the Director of Marketing for Top 40 Supplier Ariel Premium Supply. A 25 year industry veteran, Christopher is a long-time award winning speaker for PPAI on a variety of key industry and business topics, including supplier/distributors relations, time management, business writing and strategic planning. Christopher has been honored with PPAI’s Distinguished Service Award, served on the PPEF Board of Trustees and holds 2 masters degrees.

Mark Messura is Senior Vice President in the Global Supply Chain Marketing Division at Cotton Incorporated. In this role, Messura is responsible for the company’s global product marketing programs working with manufacturers, brands, and retailers worldwide on topics such as marketing strategy, product innovation, and sustainable supply chains. He is Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board for the Textile Apparel, Technology and Management program at North Carolina State University, where he also serves as an adjunct associate professor. He is a member of the industry advisory boards at Washington State University and Mississippi State University. Messura joined Cotton Incorporated in 1994. Prior to that, he was the Director of Policy and Programs for the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, and Associate Director of the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology. Messura earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Policy Analysis from Duke University.