At the highly anticipated Counselor Awards banquet, held on the evening of July 13, during the ASI Show in Chicago, ASI gave two of its prestigious annual awards to Canadian natives. Kathy Cheng, the founder and president of Toronto-based Redwood Classics Apparel (asi/81627), was named this year’s Supplier Woman of Distinction. Among her many achievements, she oversaw the successful restructuring of her family’s garment company, and led Redwood Classics to 160% growth in just two years.

Dave Saracino, originally from Welland, ON, and now the Tampa, FL-based vice president of field sales for BIC Graphic North America (asi/40480), received the Marvin Spike Lifetime Achievement Award for his service in the industry. “I’ve watched Dave Saracino advocate for the industry for years, both in Canada and the U.S.,” said Steve Levschuk, owner of the Ontario-based distributor Talbot Marketing (asi/341500). “He’s willing to help everyone, and there’s no one quite like him.”

For more information, read the full reports on Kathy Cheng and Dave Saracino at ASI Central and in Counselor's special State of the Industry issue.