The fifth-largest supplier in the North American promotional products industry has announced two key moves at the top of its marketing department.

Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125) has promoted longtime employees Jennifer Grigorian and Krista Ward.

Jennifer Grigorian and Krista Ward, Hit Promo

Grigorian, who has been with the Florida-headquartered Top 40 firm since 2011, has risen from vice president of marketing to chief marketing officer. Ward, who joined Hit in 2008, has elevated from director of marketing to vice president of marketing.

“Krista and Jennifer have been key players in the company’s success story and their promotions are a well-deserved recognition of their efforts,” said Hit President Eric Shonebarger.

Hit CEO CJ Schmidt, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people, said the experience that Grigorian and Ward have at the firm puts them in a strong position to drive success for the business and best serve customers. He noted that Hit has a long-standing policy of promoting from within.

“We fully expect that Jennifer and Krista 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,” Schmidt said, adding on a personal note that Ward and Grigorian have become like family over the decade-plus time they’ve been at Hit.

Both Ward and Grigorian have extensive experience in promo. Grigorian joined the industry in 1996, starting in a temp position while in college. She has worked on the supplier side of the business for most of the time since then. Grigorian said she really found a home with Hit and the Schmidt family that owns the business. 

“I love what I do and all the lifelong friendships and connections I have made through the years,” Grigorian stated. “Hit has allowed me to grow and thrive in a creative way I could never have imagined. I am grateful for all the amazing opportunities and projects I have been a part of. I am incredibly humbled by all the support I have received from the company, my peers and my team. I am very excited and look forward to the continued success and growth of Hit and our great industry.”

Ward started in promo in the early 2000s with another Top 40 supplier – BIC Graphic North America, which has since rebranded as Koozie Group (asi/40480). Roles there included inside sales rep and marketing services coordinator.

After joining Hit, Ward served as an inside sales account manager, working with the Midwest territory and various national accounts and buying groups, before becoming director of marketing. She gained her first exposure to the promo industry in college. It felt like the right fit, compelling her to pursue a career in the merch world.

Speaking of her time at Hit, Ward said: “I’ve been grateful to be a part of the company’s growth over the past 14 years and enjoy the challenge of helping to further it.”

Hit reported 2021 North American promotional product revenue of $433.8 million – good enough to earn the Florida firm the fifth spot on Counselor’s annual ranking of the 40 largest suppliers in the industry.