Profiles

Right Brain, Left Brain
By: Pamela Fields Webb Issue: 2010AUG
Distributor Matt Kaspari combines creativity with analytical skills to run one successful company. Applied mathematics plus promotional products doesn’t seem like a workable equation, however for distributor Matt Kaspari it is a formula that equals success. Kaspari, president of Kaspo, Inc., (UPIC: Kaspo705), a Denver-based distributor, is integrating his love of mathematics with selling promotional products...Full News Article

A Hands-On Success
By: Tina Berres Filipski Issue: 2010JUN
Aaron Muderick experienced the magic powers of putty in his own workplace before starting up Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld. Many entrepreneurs see potential as a lump of clay—and dream about shaping it into a thriving business...Full News Article

Back In Black
By: Cassandra Johnson Issue: 2010MAY
CEO Jason Black and COO Henrik Johansson lead Boundless Network beyond industry boundaries. “No risk no reward...Full News Article

A Business Of Heart and Soul
By: Tina Berres Filipski Issue: 2010MAR
Houston Distributorship Finds Second Success Leslie Roark When opportunity comes knocking, you not only have to be prepared, you have to hear the knock and open the door...Full News Article

Inside A Start-Up
By: Tina Berres Filipski Issue: 2010JAN
Cedar Crest Focuses On What It Does Best Many people believe when a door closes, a window opens. In the case of Cedar Crest Manufacturing (UPIC: CCM), that window opened wide enough to offer a new beginning for Doug Miskimen, Dave Thalacker and the believers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Devastating floods in June 2008 put 10 square miles of the city underwater and temporarily closed Norwood Souvenir, a 100-year-old writing instrument supplier employing 190 people...Full News Article

Making Plans
By: Tina Berres Filipski Issue: 2006JUL
In a story reported first in a special edition of PPB Newslink, Paul Lage, MAS, began his new position as president of Indianapolis, Indiana-based supplier Norwood Promotional Products (UPIC: NORWOOD) on June 1, 2006...Full News Article

Always Going The Extra Mile
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2006MAY
After graduating from college and getting business experience in two different types of jobs, Katie Kessler decided the promotional products industry was in her blood and in 1994 went to work in the family business, HSA Enterprises (UPIC: HSAMIAMI) in Coral Gables, Florida...Full News Article

'I Am On Roller Skates'
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2006APR
As a book specialist and account manager for The Book Company (UPIC: BOOKCO) headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Sheila Restivo is constantly moving at fast speeds to find just the right books for distributors' clients...Full News Article

Model Performer
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2006MAR
Eleven and a half years ago, Gloria Johnson went for a job interview as the front-desk receptionist for distributor MARCO-Ideas Unlimited (UPIC: MARCO) in Portland, Oregon, and was immediately hooked on the promotional products industry...Full News Article

The Go-To Guy
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2006FEB
David Shultz came on board with Gardner, Kansas-based business services provider DistributorCentral (UPIC: DC) six years ago as a software developer when President Tom Mertz was creating this new company...Full News Article

A Man With Vision
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2006JAN
When Rich Weisbrod was hired in 1993 as warehouse manager for supplier Bodek and Rhodes (UPIC: ULTRACLB), owner Arthur Rhodes knew he had found a man with vision—not just for next year’s results but to where the company would be in five years, and beyond...Full News Article

Your Satisfaction Is My Business
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005DEC
After 13 years as a supervisor in a small factory, Charlotte Markley felt she needed a change. Because her sister had worked at Dunbrooke, she was aware of the company’s good name...Full News Article

Forever, The Teacher
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005NOV
Steve Newfield, CAS, an Atlanta, Georgia-based account rep for distributor Jack Nadel, Inc. (UPIC: NADELINC ) and a PPAI Board member, Class of 1992, taught advertising classes as a senior elective for 10 years at Mercer University College of Pharmacy in Atlanta...Full News Article

Rowin’ Down The River
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005NOV
When you talk to Barry Lipsett, president and CEO of Medford, Massachusetts-based supplier Charles River Apparel (UPIC:CRA), about his company’s success, you quickly learn about the family’s strong work ethic...Full News Article

Love For The Arts
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005OCT
“It’s enjoyable, rewarding and fun—and it takes your mind completely off business,” says Steve Barsky, president of distributor Harrison Promotions, Inc...Full News Article

Out And About
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005SEP
“My favorite outdoor activity is whatever I am doing outdoors at the moment,” says Kathleen Titus, marketing executive for distributor Imperial Marketing, Inc...Full News Article

Achieving The American Dream
By: Audrey Davis Issue: 2005SEP
The story begins 38 years ago when Chris Bouzounis, a printer from Athens, Greece, traveled to the United States. Although the purpose of his journey was to give his sister away at her wedding, Bouzounis wanted something more...Full News Article

Tennis, Anyone?
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005AUG
Amy Spychalla began her passion for tennis at age seven. “My mother taught herself to play and then taught me so she would have someone to hit with her—and I still remember my reward, a big hot fudge sundae,” she says...Full News Article

Hopes & Dreams
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005JUL
Many successful retail companies want to bring their brand names to the promotional products industry. And, about eight years ago, this is exactly what brothers Michael and Godfrey Shyr, owners of supplier Goodhope Bags Ind...Full News Article

Gone Fishin'
By: Audrey Davis Issue: 2005JUL
Since age five, Todd Ranger has had a passion for fly fishing. “Some of the best times in my life have been those spent on fishing trips,” says Ranger...Full News Article

‘My Dream Kept Me Going’
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005JUN
For Debi Blasi, it took a group of floss-freak friends on a weekend boat trip to turn on her imagination for inventing a floss container her friends could keep on a key chain...Full News Article

All The World’s A Stage
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005MAY
In 1978, the Wachtells went to see a friend acting in a local theater group production and turned to each other and said, “We can do that!” Ever since that momentous evening, Marlene Wachtell, CAS, owner/president of Acton, Massachusetts-based distributor Facilitations, Ltd...Full News Article

Riding In The Wind
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005MAY
Rebecca Herwick, president and CEO of Saint Peters, Missouri-based distributor Global Products Inc. (UPIC: GLOB9287), learned at an early age that with hard work, commitment and honor, she could create an environment beneficial to those around her...Full News Article

Providing Tech Training For Youth
By: Anne Pechuls Issue: 2005APR
When Juan Davis, owner of Tampa, Florida-based supplier Fast Lane Clothing Company (UPIC: FAST4409), read a Computer Mentors Group, Inc...Full News Article