Tabatha Bauer is the Director of Logistics & Compliance for Staples Promotional Products, one of the largest distributors in the promotional products industry.  She is responsible for managing a North American expanded team who oversee logistics operations, product safety, social responsibility, C-TPAT compliance, import and export trade compliance for both the US and Canada.  Tabatha interacts with clients who are some of the most well-known brands in the world to learn of their unique compliance needs and implements those throughout the supply chain. Tabatha has been in the promotional products industry since 2000 and has worked both on the manufacturer and distributor sides of the business.  She is on the Board of Directors for ICPHSO (International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization), a member of PPAI PRAG (Product Responsibility Action Group) and the ICPA (International Compliance Professional Association). 

Cathy Choffin is part of the global safety and security department at McDonald’s Corp. and is focused on safety in the areas of  consumer products, restaurant (employee and customer), packaging, seating & decor and PlayPlace. Additionally, she has responsibility for standards development and emergency response preparation coordination.

In this role, Cathy is responsible for assessing safety risks from a global and US perspective, developing strategies and safety standards, and communicating best practices designed to protect people, customers and the brand.  She strongly believes in the need for collaboration, sharing best practices and getting to a better “yes.”  

Manuel G. Grace is associate general counsel to The Walt Disney Company, the world’s largest entertainment company. Manny is head of the environmental, health and safety practice group, which is part of the Corporate Legal Department.  Manny’s responsibilities include a broad array of legal matters including, products liability, environmental compliance and occupational safety. Manny supports Disney’s product integrity team, which is charged with reviewing the safety of all Disney-branded products sold or distributed to the public by Disney to confirm that those products meet all applicable requirements.  

Prior to joining Disney in December of 1992, Manny was with the New York law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, where he was head of the environmental law group since 1990. At Milbank, Manny specialized in the environmental aspects of energy development as well as the representation of multinational companies and banks with regard to environmental matters. Prior to that, he was associated with the law firm of Sidley & Austin where his experience included environmental work on federal, state and local levels since 1986.  

Manny graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1979 with a B.A. in Psychology. He earned his law degree from Columbia University School of Law in 1982, where he was Managing Editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law.  Manny also clerked in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for the Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce.

Manny is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Notre Dame University Alumni Association and a current board member of the California State Parks Foundation. He is also a former Chairman of the Board of the Society of Product Licensor’s Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE). Manny is a member of the Environmental Law Committee of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In addition, he is a member of the Environmental Law Committee of the California Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.  Manny is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section.  

Rick Brenner, MAS+, is president/CEO of Logical Advisors which provides advisory services to leading industry distributors and suppliers. This year marks the seventh year Rick has co-chaired PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit. A 19-year veteran of the promotional products industry, 12 as president and CEO of industry supplier Prime Resources, he has long history of industry leadership as well as advocacy for product safety and responsible sourcing. He is a former chairman of PPAI. He was a founder of the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), a member of QCA’s governance committee and served for seven years as chair of QCA’s compliance committee. Rick has also served as president of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization, the preeminent global product safety organization.