Dan Gingiss

Dan Gingiss is an international keynote speaker and customer experience expert with a dynamic and engaging speaking style that has captivated hundreds of audiences around the globe.

Believing that a remarkable customer experience is your best competitive advantage, Dan shares insights from his 20-year professional career that included leadership positions at McDonald’s, Discover, and Humana. His speaking engagements are enriched by real-world examples and effective strategies that inspire immediate action.

Dan is the author of The Experience Maker: How To Create Remarkable Experiences That Your Customers Can’t Wait To Share and Winning at Social Customer Care: How Top Brands Create Engaging Experiences on Social Media. Dan also co-hosted the award-winning Experience This! podcast.

He earned a B.A. in psychology and communications from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. in marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Dan is also a licensed bartender, a pinball wizard, and he once delivered a pizza to Michael Jordan.

Kyla Scanlon

Kyla Scanlon is an economic commentator and Gen Z creator with a dedicated and interactive following. She has a multiplatform approach to her content including a weekly newsletter, YouTube videos, host of the “Let’s Appreciate” podcast, and frequent short form videos about the economy and markets across her social media. Kyla is the author of the recent bestseller, In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work.

One of her more exciting claims to fame is the coining of the word “vibecession,” used to describe the disconnect between how the economy is performing and how the public feels about it. Raised in Kentucky, Kyla majored in finance, economics, and data analytics at Western Kentucky University. Upon graduation, she was a CAP Associate at Capital Group before joining an education startup to spin out their investment education arm before starting her own company. Kyla has contributed to the New York Times, Financial Times, New York Magazine, Bloomberg, and has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal along with many other major publications. Her daily mission is to simplify the complex and reimagine economics as an accessible topic for the next generation.

Frank Myers

Frank Myers serves as the Chief Executive Officer of S&S Activewear, a premier distributor of apparel and accessories. With a career defined by visionary leadership and operational excellence, Frank has led the company through transformative growth, establishing S&S Activewear as the most trusted distribution partner in the decorated apparel industry.

Since joining S&S Activewear in 2009, Frank has led the company’s nationwide expansion, transforming it from a single Midwest location into an industry leader with the largest distribution footprint, with a presence spanning across North America. Frank has successfully spearheaded all seven of the company’s mergers and acquisitions, skillfully integrating these businesses to ensure seamless operations and continued growth.

Frank brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking approach to his role, driving innovation in product distribution and supply chain management. His leadership philosophy emphasizes customer-centric solutions, employee empowerment, and sustainable practices, fostering a dynamic and results-driven organization.

Frank’s passion for leadership and advocacy for the promotional product and decorated apparel industry extends far beyond the office. As a champion for the industry, he actively promotes its growth and innovation. His dedication to creating meaningful connections and advancing industry standards reflects his commitment to building a vibrant and dynamic future for the decorated apparel space.

Equally passionate about workplace culture, Frank prioritizes making S&S Activewear a place where employees feel valued, inspired, and excited to come to work every day. Under his leadership, the company fosters an environment that encourages collaboration, personal growth, and shared success.

Meghann Bezdikian

Meghann Bezdikian is the co-founder of Boxed Sourcing + Production, a dynamic promotional product company that specializes in delivering unique, high-quality branded merchandise. With a background in fashion design and development, Meghann brings a creative and detail-oriented approach to the promotional products industry, seamlessly blending style and functionality. Drawing from years of experience in product development, Meghann is passionate about helping brands craft memorable and impactful promotional items that resonate with their audiences. Whether it’s through innovative sourcing or efficient production management, Meghann is dedicated to providing clients with exceptional service and premium products that reflect their brand identity.

Shayna Cohen

Shayna Cohen, the dynamic CEO of TEAM SCG, knows what it takes to lead with vision, grit, and purpose. Growing up in a family-owned business with over 35 years of success, Shayna was immersed in the industry from an early age—rolling up her sleeves and learning the ropes firsthand. Though initially determined to forge her own path, Shayna’s time at the University of Central Florida sparked a transformative vision: to return to TEAM SCG and elevate it to unprecedented heights. Combining the rock-solid foundation built by her father and uncle with her own modern, forward-thinking strategies, Shayna led the company through a meteoric transformation.

In just four years, she built a powerhouse sales team, scaling TEAM SCG from $6 million to over $30 million in revenue. This remarkable growth didn’t come without its challenges, but Shayna’s relentless focus on developing people and fostering a strong, collaborative culture proved to be the ultimate driver of success.

Now at the helm as CEO, Shayna leads by example—whether she’s strategizing in the boardroom or jumping in to support her team when it’s needed most. Her hands-on, ego-free approach has solidified TEAM SCG’s reputation as a leader in the industry.

When she’s not innovating at work, Shayna can be found on the Cohen Ranch with her family, rescuing animals, and embodying the servant leadership principles she champions every day. Shayna Cohen isn’t just a CEO—she’s a trailblazer redefining what it means to lead with passion, purpose, and impact.

CJ Schmidt

CJ Schmidt is the President of Hit Promotional Products and has been in the promotional products industry for 18 years. Being in the family business since birth, he spent summers working in the business from the ground up, learning as much as he could about every aspect of the business, advancing his role from VP of Sales to President, to CEO. A graduate from the University of Florida, CJ’s passion for Hit remained unwavering even through the tumultuous times of the pandemic and the impact it had on the global economy. Today, Hit continues to rank as one of the top employers and one of the top 5 suppliers in the industry.

Pierre Montaubin

Pierre Montaubin is a visionary leader and strategic architect with over 15 years of experience steering organizational growth, transformative change, and operational efficiency in complex, private equity-backed environments. As the CEO of Koozie Group, he has led initiatives that drive sustainable value, focusing on fostering a high-performance culture through collaborative leadership and data-driven decision-making. Pierre’s approach is rooted in aligning organizational objectives with a clear vision for growth, empowering teams to innovate, and implementing operational improvements that amplify productivity without compromising quality. His commitment to long-term growth and operational excellence has been a hallmark of his leadership.

Throughout his career, Pierre has demonstrated an impressive ability to navigate mergers and acquisitions, facilitate business transformation, and build market share in competitive sectors. His tenure as Chief Product & Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Product Development & Sourcing highlights his strength in shaping product portfolios and advancing sustainability, with a notable achievement in guiding Koozie Group to carbon-neutral certification. Pierre’s expertise in product strategy and portfolio management, coupled with a strategic mindset, has enabled the company to meet evolving market demands while ensuring environmental responsibility. His work has been instrumental in positioning Koozie Group as a resilient, future-focused organization primed for private equity growth and industry leadership.

Pierre’s international experience, particularly his oversight of operations in the Asia-Pacific region, has honed his ability to lead cross-functional, multicultural teams and solidify global partnerships. His strategic insight and commitment to driving meaningful results have not only enhanced Koozie Group’s operational framework but also fortified its standing with key stakeholders. Grounded in a global perspective, Pierre brings a unique blend of operational expertise, strategic foresight, and private equity acumen, making him a sought-after thought leader in business transformation and growth strategy at national conferences and industry events.

Daniel Stewart

Self-taught and self-effacing. Daniel (or D, as we like to call him) is a creative by nature and business guy by accident. His graphic design work has received national accolades from the American Advertising Federation as well as industry publications like Communication Arts and Print Magazine. And if you’ve met him, he’s a bit of a talker... both around here and at industry conferences and institutions like Creative South, Dig South, Converge, The Southern Coterie, University of Georgia, Ole Miss and Augusta University.

These days, he’s responsible for balancing the fun and the financials of the agency and sister company, Showpony. He’s accountable for attracting the right kind of clients and partners to the rm and closing them, obviously. But mostly, he's about this.

Daniel Cardozo

In 2001, Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, sought to create a socially responsible apparel company. Backed by Cohen’s Venture Fund, SweatX was formed in 2002 with the goal of raising awareness of garment shop working conditions and demonstrating the viability of fair wages. Though SweatX closed in 2004, it inspired three former leaders to establish a new company with a new vision: Ethix Merch. In 2007, Ethix hired Daniel Cardozo, who eventually became CEO. As an activist CEO, Cardozo champions Ethix Merch's mission to connect socially responsible organizations with ethically sourced merchandise from sweatfree, union-made, fair trade, and eco-friendly suppliers, thereby strengthening the anti-sweatshop and environmental movements through purchasing power. Daniel has also served on the PPAI Promo for the Planet advisory board, and is co-chair of the Labor 411 Foundation.

John Henry

John Henry started JH Specialty (JH) in 1998 as a college sophomore, working out of his fraternity room. What began as a small venture has since grown into a thriving company with 50+ employees and a diversified go-to-market strategy. Within the promotional products industry, John has earned multiple accolades, including the prestigious ASI Distributor Entrepreneur of the Year award.

A firm believer in the power of company culture, John takes pride in fostering an environment where team members are excited to come to work—at least most days! At the heart of JH Specialty is a core purpose: to make a positive impact and improve quality of life through creative solutions and empathetic service to others.

In recent years, John has focused on growing, supporting, and empowering his team, and the results speak for themselves. Beyond his professional achievements, John and his wife, Tara, are proud parents to seven wonderful children, ranging in age from 24 to 5.

Ryan McAlister

Ryan McAlister is the Director of PRO at Purpose-Built Trade Co. Purpose Built is a one-stop outfitter for tradespeople and businesses. Their first store opened in 2010 and their mission is to make each trade and community stronger. They specialize in carrying everything a trades worker needs from head to toe on and off the job. Today, Purpose Built has both a B2C presence (with 8 retail locations) and a thriving B2B service that serves over 300 active nationwide accounts. Purpose Built is proudly known as the “home of the trades” and yet the word “trades” today takes on a different meaning, expanding beyond blue collar work to providing branded gear and uniforms for businesses of all kinds.

Joel Antymniuk

Create and appreciate. That’s the motive that drives Joel Antymniuk, CEO and Founder of MOTIF, a branded merch design agency that builds best-in-class merch experiences for brilliant brands. Joel founded MOTIF in 2016 and since, has grown their crew and in-house design agency to a full service firm including kitting and online stores. Joel’s passion is embodied in his creed for work: “The real magic isn’t just in reaching our goals; it’s in pursuing them. We need to shift our perspective and realize that happiness and fulfillment in our entrepreneurial lives don’t come from simply hitting targets, but from embracing the process of getting there.”

Catherine Graham

Catherine Graham is the Co-Founder and CEO of commonsku, a cloud-based CRM, order management and social collaboration platform that empowers entrepreneurial excellence. Designed for the promotional products industry by promotional products experts, commonsku makes it fun and easy to collaborate and connect with promotional products professionals. Distributors and suppliers use commonsku to share best practices, find great products, build closer relationships, and learn from industry experts and peers.

Catherine has over 15 years of experience in banking, management consulting, and growing businesses through her time at TD Bank, eBay, and A.T. Kearney. Catherine was also an owner and Managing Director at RIGHTSLEEVE, a leader in the online category of the promotional products industry, who sold to Genumark in 2019.

In her work with RIGHTSLEEVE, Catherine has been recognized as a PPB’s Best Boss and as an ASI Power 50 list honoree and she led RIGHTSLEEVE to multiple awards including ASI Distributor Entrepreneur of the Year, PPAI Web Award, and Counselor’s Best Places to Work. Under her leadership, commonsku has received two PPAI pyramid awards and twice been recognized as a PPB Best Places to Work.

Mark Graham

Mark is the co-founder of commonsku, a business software application designed specifically for the promotional products industry. Mark is one of the founding chefs of PromoKitchen and is the host of the popular PromoKitchen podcast where he interviews industry thought leaders as well as business luminaries such as Seth Godin and Dan Pink. Recognized with multiple honors in the industry, including ASI's Distributor Entrepreneur of the Year, ASI’s Hot List, and PPAI’s Rising Stars, Mark has been featured in several major media publications (PPB, Counselor Magazine, Stitches, and Advantages). An innovative leader, Mark frequently mentors promotional entrepreneurs through writing, speaking, and training, and shares his technology expertise with promotional professionals across North America (PPAI Expo, ASI Chicago, ASI San Diego, PPPC, MAPPA, SPPA, Promo East, Partnering Group, NALC, ASI Power Summit).

Erin Burley

Erin Burley is a Customer Success Manager with commonsku, a cloud-based CRM and order management platform designed for the promotional products industry. As a member of the Customer Success team, she specializes in onboarding new distributorships, building and maintaining educational resources for the platform, and offering ongoing support to commonsku’s many users. Erin takes pride in the close relationships she has cultivated within the commonsku community and prioritizes finding new ways to help users streamline and elevate their business.

Aaron Kucherawy

Recognized by PPAI’s PPB Magazine in 2016 as one of the industry’s most Powerful Partners and by PPB Magazine as a 2018 Rising Star, Aaron Kucherawy’s grace under pressure is legendary. Aaron began with commonsku in the early days and with the platform’s rise and success, he grew from Manager to VP of customer success, leading a team that’s always there when you need him. Aaron remains one of the most admired team members by customers. An expert in platform proficiency and systems integration, Aaron thrives on guiding new users and advising the pros on how to scale and grow their business using the commonsku platform.

Charlie Moscoe

Charlie Moscoe is the VP of Product management at commonsku, bringing over 10 years of business-to-business Product Management experience to the team. With a background in design and computer science, he has worked across a wide variety of industries, with a focus on marketplace applications. Charlie combines user-centric design processes with data-driven experimentation to help commonsku's customers grow and thrive. Outside of work, Charlie loves to get out in nature, hiking in the forest or out in the back country on his snowboard.

Sarah Remple

Sarah Remple is the Senior Community Manager at commonsku, where she leverages her expertise in social media marketing, public relations, and event planning, to ignite brand engagement with commonsku’s distributor and supplier customers.

Passionate about sustainability and community marketing, Sarah thrives on crafting innovative campaigns and creating impactful and sustainable branded merchandise with commonsku’s network of suppliers. Her latest passion has been creating a Merch Standards Guide, that supports positive collaboration with commonsku supplier partners to create merchandise that matters at our events. The goal of the Merch Standards Guide is to empower suppliers in the branded merch industry to understand the impact branded merch has on people and the planet, and to increase the pace of positive change in our industry.

Sarah also hosts the skummunity forum and helps orchestrate the industry’s most coveted event experiences that help inspire and educate the industry.

With a strong background in event and brand marketing, Sarah is the former Brand Marketing Manager for a sustainable fashion brand and holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Manitoba as well as spent time studying abroad at Linköping University.

Bobby Lehew

Bobby Lehew is the Chief Content Officer at commonsku, a cloud-based CRM, order management platform designed for the promotional products industry by promotional product experts. Bobby was the CEO for 15 years at Robyn, a branded products fulfillment company that specialized in private-label, e-commerce company stores. A multiple PPAI Gold Pyramid Award winner, a PPAI Silver Technology recipient, an Addy Award recipient, and recognized (in his work with Robyn) three years in a row by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., Bobby is co-host of the popular podcast, skucast, and a national speaker on topics related to B2B marketing, B2B selling, and storyselling. Bobby is an ardent bibliophile who loves to explore creative insights from entrepreneurs who bridge the world between art + commerce.