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Supplier Sold To Industry Veterans

Premiums and incentives supplier Top Brands (asi/91455) has been sold to industry veterans Pam and Gary Slavonic, the company announced. Owner Norma Jean Knollenberg and CFO Gus Knollenberg will retire, but plan to stay on through the end of the year to assist in the transition. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Gary Slavonic most recently served as the director of business development for PPAI and started Premier Incentives in 1990. Pam Slavonic started as a buyer for Dr. Pepper and Mary Kay before joining Premier Incentives in 1991. Norma Jean Knollenberg knew the Slavonics for well over 20 years through industry events and trade association roles.

“Top Brands will be 55 years old next year, and its success has primarily been because of the commitment and hard work of our employees,” said Norma Jean Knollenberg, who joined the company in 1982 and became owner in 1993. “The foundation of this company isn’t changing. Gary and Pam share the same philosophies in business with Gus and me and they bring years of experience and knowledge in the channel, so I feel strongly that with Gary and Pam at the helm, and with the staff to support them, Top Brands will continue to flourish and grow.”

“Norma Jean and Gus have done an outstanding job of building Top Brands into one of the leading companies in the industry,” said Gary Slavonic. “Pam and I are excited about helping to write the next chapter in the successful history of Top Brands and look forward to providing our customers and vendors with a seamless experience.”

Top Brands and its 27 employees will continue to operate out the company’s Oshkosh, Wisconsin location. The Slavonics will assume ownership in November and will move to Wisconsin to run the business.