Kathy Vichakchon , Leashables by Oralabs (asi/66715)

I want to build stronger relationships and learn about the industry, which is why I come to the ASI Power Summit.

Randee Horwitch, Dard Products (asi/48500)

I loved the speed networking event and met so many people.

Fred Albrecht, Albrecht & Co. (asi/491075)

We had a great time at the Power Summit, met many people and had some great networking opportunities.

Bill Korowitz is the CEO of The Magnet Group. He began his career with ADVO Inc., a $1 billion direct marketing company, as regional vice president and general manager. Coming to Magnet LLC in 1996, he led Magnet thru the acquisitions of Benchmark Industries, Perfect Line, PhoneCard Express, Pro Towel and McArthur Towel while launching The Bag Factory, Crystal by Benchmark, Fusion and Innovations by Magnet as stand-alone brands. The Magnet Group, a perennial Counselor Top 40 supplier, is recognized as one of the most distinguished suppliers in the industry for customer service and creativity. .

Matt Malone, egrips

Matt Malone is a partner of egrips Technology, manufacturer of “egrips Non-Slip Strips,” the original cell phone grip. His efforts in sales, marketing and online helped guide egrips to win Counselor’s 2009 Fastest Growing Supplier Award. Matt also made the 2009 Counselor Hot List for his use of technology to teach and assist distributors in selling egrips to thousands of companies from many different markets, including all major U.S. cellular carriers. Since 2007, over 15 million egrips have been distributed worldwide.

Larry is the founder of American Solutions for Business. He has been the heart and soul of the company since its launch in 1981. Even though American is now employee-owned, he serves as an integral part of the Leadership Team and the Board, adding value and helping to grow sales. His focus is on communicating and enhancing the relationship with American’s three customers sectors (sales associates, vendors and end-users) by identifying new opportunities that will advance the company well into the future.

Chris Blakeslee, Broder Bros. Co.

Chris Blakeslee is the vice president of sales for Broder Bros. Co., the country’s largest wholesale distributor of blank apparel. Prior to joining Broder, he was a vice president of sales and marketing for the Industrial Distribution Group (IDG), North America’s leading outsourcer of industrial product procurement services, and one of the country’s largest industrial distributors. He regularly speaks on his philosophy of "VEL," the concept that boundless top-line growth centers on the alignment of Venture Management, Effort and Leadership.

Kevin Kearns is the chief sales officer of WorkflowOne and the author of Escaping the Price Driven Sale. He was formerly the president and CEO of Huthwaite Inc., where he was instrumental in leading the company to consecutive years of record growth while expanding its presence throughout the U.S. and abroad. Before joining Huthwaite, Kevin spent nearly a decade at Moore North America (now RR Donnelley) working in a variety of sales positions.

Jeff Anderton, Mass Transit and Videofarm.tv

Jeff Anderton is the cofounder, with his brother Brady, of Mass Transit and Videofarm.tv. In addition to creating nationally aired commercials for Microsoft, Subway, and Dish Network, Mass Transit works with many of the industry’s top distributors and suppliers to develop Web-based video marketing tools and produce the video content for the applications. The recently launched Videofarm.tv is an advanced video marketing hub designed specifically for suppliers and distributors. Prior to this venture, Jeff and Brady cofounded Leashables in 1997, eventually leading the brand to become the second-best-selling lip balm in the U.S.

Sandy Gonzalez is a senior partner and majority stock holder of MadeToOrder.com. She began her career in the promotional products industry at Idea Man in 1991, and was recruited by Aspen Marketing in 1999. Sandy joined MadeToOrder.com in 2000, and is today one of the distributor’s top-selling executives. She also oversees all of MadeToOrder.com’s technology and development.

Craig Callaway, eCompanyStore

Craig Callaway is the CEO of eCompanyStore, an online store provider in the ad specialty marketplace. The eCompanyStore account list includes prestigious clients like Microsoft, Xerox, Cigna and Fox, and many of the relationships have existed since the company’s inception. Craig is a part of the investment organization that originally funded eCompanyStore, and he sits on the Boards of several of that organization’s investments in other technology companies. In 2009 he was number 16 on the Counselor Power 50 List, and eCompanyStore ranked as number 18 on the list of Counselor Best Places to Work.

Bonni Shevin-Sandy is the executive vice president and third generation of her family’s 61-year-old company, Tagmaster/Dard Products Inc. In 2001, she opened a division within Dard Products called Dard Design, and built it up to $20 million in sales by 2007. Bonni was named the Counselor Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004 and the Counselor International Person of the Year in 2009.

Rich Witaszak, Staples Promotional Products

Rich Witaszak is the CFO, secretary and treasurer of Staples Promotional Products (formerly American Identity Inc.). He is a CPA, and has over 25 years of experience in various capacities within the promotional products, retail, wholesale distribution and service industries. During his tenure at American Identity, he was very active in a spin-off and restructuring of the company, which ultimately led to its purchase by Staples Inc.

Jonathan G. Isaacson is the president of Gemline, a privately held Counselor Top 40 supplier of bags, business accessories and gifts. He is on the board of the Quality Certification Alliance and has served on the strategic planning committee of the Promotional Products Association, in addition to a number of boards outside the industry. He has been a frequent speaker and panelist at national and regional industry conferences and events, and was honored as the Counselor International Person of the Year in 2008.

Jason Robbins, ePromos Promotional Products Inc.

Jason Robbins is CEO and founder of ePromos Promotional Products, Inc. a leader in online customer acquisition in the promotional products industry. The company’s expertise is in combining technology with well-trained promotions experts to provide an exceptional customer service experience in a traditionally old-school, paper-intensive industry. ePromos is a eight-time PPAI Best Web Site award and multiple Inc. 5000 winner.

Kim Newell is the president of World Wide Lines Inc., an award-winning supplier known for exceptional customer service and quality product for over 60 years. World Wide has been named a Counselor Distributor Choice Awards finalist in various categories over the past three years. Kim has been with World Wide for the past eight years and was previously the vice president of operations. She currently serves on the ASI Safety & Legislative Advisory Board and the Women’s Leadership Committee.

Bobby Lehew, ROBYN Promotions

Bobby Lehew is the director of operations for ROBYN Promotions (asi/309656), a fulfillment company that creates and distributes promotional products, corporate apparel and collateral printed materials through company stores, recognized in 2006, 2007 and 2008 by Inc. magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Bobby is a frequent speaker at ASI Shows on the subjects of social media and company stores and is the author of www.BrandedMatters.com.

Chris Vernon, MAS, is the president and COO of The Vernon Company (asi/351700), a Counselor Top 40 distributor. He has worked for his fourth-generation family business for the past 23 years, holding various responsibilities before being named to his current position in 1999. Chris has served in many industry volunteer capacities, including the PPAI Board of Directors, PPAI Centennial Committee, e-Promo Standards Alliance board and Counselor Editorial Advisory board. He also serves on community development/charitable organization boards in Iowa.

Greg Muzzillo, Proforma

Greg Muzzillo is the co-CEO of Proforma (asi/300094), which he founded as a distributorship in 1978, one year after graduating from college. The company grew quickly, and in the early 1980s was named by INC magazine as one 500 fastest-growing companies in North America for three consecutive years. In 1985, frustrated by the struggles and many tasks of growing a distributorship, Greg sought a better business model for distributors to share world-class marketing, superior pricing with trade suppliers, and a more efficient back office. Proforma, a Counselor Top 40 distributor, introduced its franchise business model in 1986; today the company has over 700 member distributors with total sales approaching $350 million.

Jeff Brown is chief marketing officer of Polyconcept North America, a Counselor Top 40 supplier; he is responsible for sales, marketing and product development for Leed's (asi/66887) and Bullet (asi/42424). He has led the efforts to bring brands into the Polyconcept channel, the development of one of the best Web sites in the industry, and the creation of a unified sales and marketing approach driving the sales of the Leed's and Bullet product lines. Jeff entered the ad specialty industry in 2006 after spending almost 20 years in marketing at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. 

Gene Geiger, Geiger

Gene Geiger is the fourth-generation owner and CEO of Counselor Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900). He was appointed president of Geiger in 1978 and chair in 1994. He has served twice on the PPAI Board of Directors and has served four times as president of Diary Publishers International. Gene was named the Counselor Person of the Year in 1994 and received PPAI’s Distinguished Service Award in 2002. He currently serves as director on the boards of Lee Auto Malls (Portland, ME), Hussey Seating (North Berwick, ME) and Lewiston/Auburn Economic Growth Council.  

.

Gentry Harrington is an account executive with Bluegrass Ltd. (asi/141964) and also serves on the board. Since joining the distributor company in 2000, he has developed successful programs for clients such as Dannon, EDMC, Marriott International and Victaulic. In 2005, 2007 and 2009 he was honored with the Bluegrass Account Executive of the Year Award for exceptional sales growth and his commitment to excellence. In 2009 he was named the first-ever Advantages magazine Salesperson of the Year. Prior to joining Bluegrass, Gentry spent three years in market development and commercial sales with Lutron Electronics.