Tuesday’s keynote luncheon at The PPAI Expo 2017 features a special fireside chat between Mark Graham, CAS, founder of distributor RIGHTSLEEVE (PPAI 221036), chief platform officer of commonsku and chef at PromoKitchen, and Norm Hullinger, CAS, CEO of industry apparel supplier alphabroder (PPAI 156993), the industry’s first billion-dollar company.

In a real and honest format, Graham will ask a range of questions that will get at what's really at stake for the industry as seen through the eyes of one of its most influential companies.

“There are two tracks I’ll explore with Norm,” says Graham. “One is personal: What drives his energy and enthusiasm? What makes a CEO at his level tick? How is he able to innovate at the helm of a billion-dollar company? What lessons can we employ from his experience?

“The second track is professional,” Graham continues. “We’ll explore the growing phenomenon that is alphabroder. Is their outlook bearish or bullish? What lessons can we extrapolate from their merger experience (even if we’re running small companies)? What can we look for regarding future growth opportunities in the large and profitable apparel space? How can we maximize our business acumen by following the example of a market leader?”

The sold-out luncheon, which is categorized in the Strategies & Solutions education track, begins at 11:45 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 in Mandalay Bay Ballroom J, Level 2.