Dr. Jack Mintz

Director, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary

Jack is a world-renowned corporate taxation expert and the director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.

Click here to see a TV video interview of Jack Mintz.

Rob Spector is the president of Quebec-based Spector & Co., one of the largest and most respected supplier companies in Canada. This year, the company was named the Supplier of the Year in the Canadian marketplace, and Rob is the outgoing chairman of PPPC, the national association in Canada.

Kevin Carter, Top of the Line

Kevin Carter is president and creative director of Toronto-based distributor Top of the Line. Carter founded the company in 1993, and has grown it to become a provider of promotional campaigns to large brand-name companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, and Pepsi.

Mark Freed is president and founder of Counselor Top 40 distributor Genumark, one of the largest distributor firms in Canada. Freed is a past winner of Counselor's Bess Cohn Humanitarian Award, and Genumark is a member of Counselor's exclusive list of Best Places to Work in the ad specialty industry.

Steve Levschuk, Talbot Marketing

Steve Levschuk is the president of Talbot Marketing, one of Canada's largest distributors. He began his career with Talbot in 1981 as a commissioned rep, and in 2007, he purchased the company. Talbot has been named one of the Counselor Best Places to Work companies, and Steve is the past chairman of the Canadian Association PPPC and the current vice president of WAGE (World Advertising Gift Exchange).

Alan Chippindale oversees Counselor Top 40 firm BrandAlliance, the second-largest distributor in Canada. A longtime industry executive, Chippindale is also a member of Counselor's Power 50 list.

Neil Piitz, Ash City

A 26-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Neil Piitz founded Accolade Reaction Promotions Group (ARPG), which, in 2008, became the first Canadian distributor in ASI history to break the Counselor Top 40. Neil sold his interest in the company in 2008 and is now Senior Vice President of Business Development with Counselor Top 40 supplier Ash City.

John is a 26-year veteran in the transportation industry with a background in operations, sales and engineering. Currently he is responsible for UPS's Western Canada operations and has held various assignments including Prairie division operations manager and vice-president of business development.

Will Andrew, Trimark Sportswear

Will Andrew is the President of Trimark Sportswear, a global leader in branded apparel and a Polyconcept Company. With 23 years of industry experience, in 2006 Will founded Elevate Sport, which became the largest licensee for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Games. In 2011, Mr. Andrew announced an exclusive business-to-business license with Roots Canada, now the fastest growing brand in the CDN ASI industry. In 2013 Trimark Powered by Leed’s launched an exclusive license with Puma for the USA.

With more than 15 years of toy, promotional and consumer products testing knowledge, Marybeth spent three years working in Hong Kong for ACTS Testing Labs and was instrumental in setting up and managing their International Client Services Division. Working on behalf of ANSECO, Marybeth brings to industry a vast technical knowledge, commitment to service, and exacting detail that ensures client product safety expectations are met, if not exceeded.

Alex Jovetic, Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant

Alex Jovetic is currently the Vice President Sales for Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant, and has been with the company a combined 12 years. Active within the industry, Alex serves on the PPPC Ontario Chapter Board as President, and has been a volunteer director for four years. Alex has been a much sought after educational speaker in both Canada and the United States for the national and regional associations, as well as large distributor companies.