(Editor’s Note: PromoWire by PPAI Media is a running digest of news releases and updates submitted from organizations around the promotional products industry. PPAI Media edits these only slightly, including for length, and will consider newsworthy entries from any member organization.)

February 15, 2023

In Memoriam: Steve Friedman

Longtime industry leader Steve Friedman has passed away after battling cancer. He was 58. 

Friedman was a fixture in promo for over three decades, starting as a successful account executive for the company that would become HALO in 1990. In 2002, Friedman founded Chicago-based Tangerine Promotions, which emerged as one of the industry’s fastest-growing distributors and leading providers of point-of-purchase displays and point-of-sale merchandise. BAMKO acquired Tangerine in 2017 and Friedman continued to lead the company as a division of BAMKO under its original name. 

Jake Himelstein, president of BAMKO, says Friedman was “beloved by the BAMKO/Tangerine team and was a mentor to many of us.”

“Steve was an amazing guy,” Himelstein continued. “He was, for many years, one of the biggest producers in the entire industry and left his mark on everyone he met. Steve always had a smile on his face and would give you the shirt off his back if you were in need.

“Steve always put family first and preached the same to all of our employees.”

Friedman is survived by his wife, Marci, and two children, Rebecca and Jordan.

Scarborough Specialties Selects Matthew Lamb as New Chief Executive Officer

Scarborough Specialties (PPAI 103129, D7) has announced the selection of Matthew Lamb as the new chief executive officer.

  • Lamb joins Scarborough Specialties as a part of a new executive suite alongside CFO Holly Keating, CRO Jason Lipetska and COO Blake Malick under the Board of Directors consisting of Amanda and Stan Scarborough and Jill and Jay Jacobus.
  • Lamb has more than 17 years of extensive experience within the promotional products industry.
  • For the last 16+ years, Lamb worked with the Facilisgroup, a promotional products industry technology company, where his focus was on research and partner development. In his most recent role as Executive Vice President of Research and Development, Lamb has had proven and consistent success with delivering profitability and growth targets through the development of Facilis 360, an advanced sales growth program, and the creation of industry-leading analytics for benchmarks and reporting. Lamb’s client connections and executive coaching skills led to over a decade of 100% rate of client retention.

American Solutions For Business Releases ACES ELiTE Stores On E-Commerce Platform

American Solutions for Business (PPAI 101656, D12) has announced the immediate availability of ACES ELiTE stores, extending the improved technology and enhanced front-end experience of ACES (American’s proprietary eCommerce platform) to a wider range of sales associates and customers.

  • ACES ELiTE is an update driven by customer and sales associate feedback and is part of American Solutions for Business’s commitment to deliver the latest technology updates, with new and emerging standards and improvements in areas such as search, user experience and accessibility.
  • "We just completed our 3-year ELiTE Product Roadmap, leveraging the newest Microsoft Core and PowerBI technologies," says VP of Technology Mike Pfeiffer. “Our amazing team did so despite a worldwide pandemic and unprecedented cybersecurity attacks and threats to our industry.”
  • Customers have already began benefiting from deploying ACES ELiTE stores. ACES ELiTE stores are now being further implemented for both new sites as well as the migration of existing sites. These stores where originally launched in June of 2022 as a limited rollout, and currently have 118 active sites, supporting 7,773 unique users and nearly 30,000 orders.

American Solutions for Business Raises $23,000 Through Charity Events At National Sales Conference

American Solutions for Business (PPAI 101656, D12) hosted two charity efforts at their National Sales Conference, raising a total of $23,000.

  • The first charity effort was the American Memorial Walk honoring late ASB Sales Associate Frank Quinlan. This all-abilities walk happened the morning of Sunday, February 5th , and all registration fees and donations were presented to St. Christopher’s Hospital, a hospital that was personally connected to Frank and his family. The event raised $8,000 through registration and donations.
  • In the weeks leading up to the National Sales Conference, attendees and non-attendees alike had the opportunity to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. A check for $15,000 was presented during the last day of the conference.
  • “The memorial walks are not just a great way to raise money for charity, but also to remind us how meaningful our time together is,” said Justin Zavadil, president of ASB. “Both charities were chosen for the impact they have on millions of lives. We’re grateful to be a small part of that.”

February 14, 2023

Hit Promotional Products Announces Two Promotions

Hit Promotional Products (PPAI 113910, S14) has announced Jennifer Grigorian as new chief marketing officer and Krista Ward as new vice president of marketing.

  • Since first joining Hit in 2011, Grigorian has served as the vice president of marketing. She was VP from 2011 to 2023 and also accumulated several years of related experience with other companies since starting in the industry over 27 years ago.
  • Since first joining Hit in 2008, Ward has served as the director of marketing. Prior to that position, Ward served in other roles of increasing responsibility and authority. She was in inside sales from 2008 to 2010 before being promoted to director of marketing and also accumulated several years of related experience with other companies.
  • “Hit is very pleased to be giving Grigorian and Ward a chance to use their years of experience with our organization to better serve our customers,” says CJ Schmidt, Hit CEO. “We fully expect both will be assets in the years to come allowing us to provide our customers with the high-quality products and services they deserve while enabling us to achieve our goals for growth as a company.”

Hareid Marketing Welcomes New Inside Sales/Customer Service Specialist

Hareid Marketing (PPAI 599168) announced that Kate Harthan has joined their team as an inside sales/customer service specialist.

  • Harthan brings over 10 years of promotional products industry experience. She worked in her family’s distributorship, Corporate Recognition in Owatonna, Minnesota, where she held several positions including sales associate and general manager. She also has experience working on the supplier side with Skyline Exhibits.
  • Harthan was awarded a PPEF scholarship while attending Northwestern University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2017 she was recognized as a PPAI Rising Star.