Jigna Vaghela has joined PPAI as a program manager in the Association’s professional development department. In her new role, she will be responsible for the professional development programs at Expo East and the SAGE Show, keynote presentations at The PPAI Expo and supporting the professional development aspect of PPAI’s Product Safety Ambassador program.

Vaghela has more than 14 years of event, project and program management experience, previously spending 12 years at a Fortune 300 IT services company. As part of its global events team, she managed events, including training sessions, trade shows, conferences and more. For the past four and a half years at the firm, she led the North America region and supervised a team of 12 associates. She also has experience in the nonprofit world focusing on event programs, marketing and brand management.

“The program manager position at PPAI allows me to bring together my extensive event management experience with project and program management skillset,” Vaghela says. “This position is a culmination of my work experience and the education I’ve been focusing on—I am studying to get my project management (PMP) certification.”

First up for Vaghela is to better understand the world of promotional products and the services provided by PPAI, as well as the Association’s team and culture. She says, “I hope to bring unique insights of the end user and purchaser of promotional products to the role and provide a high level of offerings via the professional development platform.”

When out of the office, Vaghela’s priorities shift to her six-year-old son and exploring the world through his eyes. She’s also keen on exploring the newest and best restaurants, and although she is a vegetarian, Vaghela credits steakhouses for some of her best meals. Her other hobbies include road trips, trivia, photography, binge-watching TV shows and movie marathons—Hollywood, Bollywood, anything goes.

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James Khattak is news editor of PPB.