News July 27, 2022
Competitive Edge Aims to Bolster Leadership Team With Promotion, New Hire
The promo products distributorship, a fixture on Counselor’s Best Places to Work list, believes Lisa DeJong and Dawn (Ruler) Janis will help accelerate sales growth.
Competitive Edge (asi/166085) is making personnel moves that company leadership believes will propel greater growth at the Stevensville, MI-based promotional products distributorship.
A fixture on Counselor’s Best Places to Work list, Competitive Edge has hired industry veteran Dawn (Ruler) Janis to the role of market vice president, with a focus on the Grand Rapids, MI, area. Meanwhile, Competitive Edge has promoted vastly experienced promo pro Lisa DeJong to executive vice president of sales.
Lisa DeJong and Dawn (Ruler) Janis, Competitive Edge
Mary Jo Tomasini, CEO of Competitive Edge, said Janis and DeJong bring a depth of experience and fresh perspective to the leadership team that will help drive sales and customer satisfaction.
“This move is just the next step in executing our plan for growth, as Lisa and Dawn will be instrumental in expanding our footprint and growing our capacity to serve more customers,” Tomasini said.
DeJong has been with Competitive Edge for 20 years, rising from account manager to sales leadership roles and now the executive VP position.
“Lisa is able to cast a vision that keeps the company on the cutting-edge of industry innovation,” Competitive Edge said in a statement on DeJong, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and communications from Central College in Pella, IA.
Janis brings what Competitive Edge said is 22 years of industry sales and management experience to the market vice president position. Her resume includes time at Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900). Janis, who holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Illinois State University, has been active in the promo industry, serving as president of the PPAChicago association and as a member of the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA).
“Dawn demonstrates an exemplary commitment to the promotional products profession,” Competitive Edge said in a statement. “Her deep roots within the industry will serve to strengthen the company’s commitment to the Grand Rapids and West Michigan markets.”