Ball Pro (asi/3812) hosted an open house on April 16 at its new facility in Golden Valley, MN. The event featured door prizes, lunch, educational sessions, facility tours, golf club and ball fittings, a contest for a new golf simulator and numerous giveaways. Ball Pro President Adam Hanson thanked attendees and vendors, which include Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Wilson and Footjoy. “We especially want to thank our incredible staff for their hard work in planning,” Hanson said. “After months of preparation, everything came together, exceeding all our expectations. It was a memorable day.” 

BAMKO (asi/131431), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, is hosting a tariff and supply chain Q&A webinar featuring Jake Himelstein, BAMKO president, and Neal Ringel, CEO of Counselor Top 40 supplier PCNA (asi/66887), on Wednesday, April 23 at 1 p.m. ET. Register here.

GNP Branded Gear (asi/200020) has added Christopher Keating to its team as a senior branding specialist. Keating will be based in Pownal, ME, and brings more than a decade of promotional products experience working with clients across all markets to the distributor. 

The Specialty Advertising Association of California (SAAC) announced its SAAC Expo 2025, set to take place from Aug. 19 to 21 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The event will include professional development meetings, more than 150 supplier booths, and a ticketed networking dinner at Disney’s California Adventure Hyperion Theatre.

Crystal D (asi/47759), a supplier of crystal awards and gifts, has added Shelley Bednarski as a sales team territory manager. “Shelley has a long history of working with major suppliers in our industry, so her experience will be essential to Crystal D as we grow,” said Ray Rodriguez, vice president of sales. “In addition, her passion for awards and recognition, as well as for helping clients see the returns in their investments, are invaluable resources for our customers.”

Outdoor Cap Company (asi/75420), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has added Brandon Grumieaux as an account manager in its promotional products division. He joins the company from a background in the nonprofit sector. “When we met Brandon, it was clear he was exactly what we were missing,” said Jamie Jeter, Outdoor Cap’s head of promo sales. “His background fits our culture, and he brings a hopeful vision to the team.”

Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has launched eight new styles, as part of an effort to redefine its line from budget-friendly basics to higher-quality solutions that feature upgraded materials and improved construction. The launch is part of the brand’s 25 anniversary. “We went all in on these new styles with a focus on fit and quality with production just a stone’s throw away. Sportsman was my baby when I started in the industry. I’m excited to watch it grow up and continue to deliver,” said CEO Dan Saferstein.

Facilisgroup, a software-as-a-service company and partnering community in the promo industry, recently hosted a Top Executive event at the headquarters of Counselor Top 40 supplier Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125) in Largo, FL. The event, held April 2 to 4, brought together a select group of distributor and supplier executives and featured a curated agenda focused on innovation, growth and partnership. “Bringing partners together to share and collaborate is the foundation of the Facilisgroup community,” said Kevin Schnepp, director of partner success at Facilisgroup. “Partners have expressed how much they value opportunities like this to connect, learn and grow. Hit was an amazing host, and the collaboration was both productive and beneficial. We identified great opportunities and takeaways, making this event truly memorable.”

Cooley Group (asi/168125) was named one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York for the fourth consecutive year. The Best Companies to Work for in New York program identifies organizations that excel in workplace policies, practices and employee satisfaction. Winners are selected based on a two-part evaluation process, including an in-depth review of company culture and an anonymous employee survey. “We are incredibly honored to be recognized once again as a Best Company to Work for in New York,” said Phil Yawman, president of Cooley Group. “This award reflects the dedication of our employee-owners, whose passion and expertise drive our success. As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we remain committed to fostering a workplace where every team member is valued, supported, and empowered to grow.”

S&S Activewear (asi/84358), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, said it’s making significant investments into its Fresno, CA, distribution center. CEO Frank Myers said the improvements will enhance delivery speeds and expand inventory at the facility, directly benefiting central and southern California. “Continuing operations in Fresno also relieves pressure on our Reno distribution center, allowing us to create additional capacity and ensure more consistent performance across our Western network,” according to Myers.

Commonsku, a Toronto-based provider of business and sales software for the promo industry, has hired Dileshni Jayasinghe as vice president of technology. Jayasinghe brings more than 15 years of experience in designing and building scalable software systems and a strong passion for AI-led development. Most recently, she served as director of engineering for runbook automation at PagerDuty. “Her deep understanding of building scalable software systems and her passion for cultivating strong engineering teams align perfectly with our vision for the future particularly as the industry has grown more complex,” said commonsku CEO Catherine Graham.

Logomark (asi/67866), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has added Tara Sena as its new regional sales manager for the Southeast, covering Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico. She brings a background in marketing and sales, both in the tech sector and on the distributor sales side of promo, to the supplier. “Tara’s insights from the distributor side give her a unique advantage in understanding client needs,” said Michael Bistocchi, chief revenue officer for Logomark. “She’s walked in their shoes—and that perspective is invaluable.”

Proforma (asi/300094), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has added Mike Campanaro, founder of central Ohio-based PrintSource, to its network of more than 500 distributor owners. Campanaro has been in the print and promo space for nearly 25 years. “After nearly a quarter of a century in the print and promotional products arena, I’ve seen the industry change in monumental ways,” Campanaro said. “As technology reshapes how we serve clients, I knew it was time to align with a partner that could help take my business to the next level. I heavily researched the market, and from a professional and personal standpoint, partnering with Proforma was the clear choice because they provide the perfect mix of tech-forward thinking, financial backing, and industry-leading resources and support.”

Orbus (asi/75209), a supplier of visual communications products for trade shows and live events, has unveiled its new website: orbusvisualcommunicationsgroup.com. The new site serves as a comprehensive overview of the company’s six brands: Orbus, Nimlok, Fabric Images, SEG Systems, SEG Services and CRĒO Industrial Arts. “The Orbus Visual Communications Group website clearly explains our market positioning, brands, and capabilities and is a testament to the strengths, partnership, and capabilities of the group,” said Natalie Whited, enterprise vice president of marketing. “There is no other collection of brands that offers all that we do; we are a powerhouse on a mission to visually empower brands.”

Spector & Co. (asi/88660; Canada, 88631), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, celebrates 75 years of business this year. The Montreal, QC-based company was established in 1950 as a pen supplier and has since expanded to offer all major hard goods categories, including writing instruments, bags, drinkware, travel items and gift sets. “We have navigated everything from recessions to tariffs, and shifting global markets, all thanks to the unwavering dedication of our exceptional team and the continued support of [our clients],” said CEO Alan Meinstein. “I feel incredibly proud to be part of a company with such a strong foundation and enduring Canadian spirit. From coast to coast, this country represents opportunity, grit, and an unshakable sense of community – values that are deeply woven into the fabric of Spector & Co.” 

Cintas (asi/162167), a Counselor Top 40 distributor, has announced executive moves. Mike Hansen, who is currently executive vice president and chief financial officer, is transitioning to the new role of assistant to the CEO. Scott Garula, currently president of Cintas’ Rental Division, will succeed Hansen as executive vice president and chief financial officer. The changes are effective May 31. “Continuity of leadership is important, and this planned transition follows a thoughtful succession process,” said Todd Schneider, Cintas’ president and CEO. “We have a tremendous bench of world-class leaders ensuring the right team is in place to guide our company into the future.”

SanMar (asi/84863), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has appointed Jim Weber, former CEO of Brooks Running, to its board of advisers. Weber spent more than two decades growing Brooks Running into a leading global running brand and is known for transforming large-scale businesses with a strong sense of purpose. “His leadership approach and strategic vision are going to be real assets to our advisory board. Jim’s proven success in aligning business with purpose is exactly the mindset we strive for at SanMar,” said Jeremy Lott, SanMar president and CEO.

Koozie Group (asi/40480), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, has fully integrated Skinner & Kennedy Co’s calendars, paper fans and scratchpads into its portfolio of products, following Koozie Group’s acquisition of the line in January. The products will now be available under the Skinner & Kennedy brand through Koozie Group’s normal distributor sales process.

Liqui-Mark Corp. (asi/67675), a writing instruments supplier has added new sales reps. JSA Promo - Jules Scheck Associates, represented by Jason Bickoff, Lori Ruderman, Beata Miller and Sean Kurtzman, will cover the Northeast region, including the states of CT, DC, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME, RI, NJ, NY, PA and DE. Bridge Marketing Services, represented by Cory Schroepfer, Kristian Pawlikowski and Richard Schmidt, will cover the Midwest, including the states of OH, MI, IN, WI, IL, MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, SD and ND.

Storm Creek (asi/89879), a supplier of sustainable apparel, has hired two new salespeople: Tom Clouser as director of national accounts and Mason Lovich as inside sales account manager. Clouser has more than 20 years in the promo space, most recently serving as national sales manager at BEL Promo (asi/39552), where he increased revenue by 72% through key account expansion and strategic planning. Lovich previously worked as a sales rep at Cintas (asi/162167). “Tom’s years in the industry and Mason’s fresh enthusiasm make them invaluable additions to our team as we continue to elevate our brand, expand our reach and identify how we can better partner with our distributor customers,” said Doug Jackson, Storm Creek president.

Vantage Apparel (asi/93390), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of its Vansport line. Originally introduced as a moisture-wicking polo line, Vansport has expanded over the last two decades to include a full range of performance-driven styles designed for versatility, comfort and durability, according to the company. “Performance wear was trending — its permanence after 20 years speaks for itself,” said Ira Neaman, president of Vantage Apparel.