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There are moments in our personal and professional lives when we must make a decision. This year’s Counselor Awards recipients faced those moments, made the hard choices and took the road less traveled. It set them on the path to success …. and into the same hallowed space as many of promo’s greatest luminaries. Consider the backstories of some of this year’s honorees:

  • The longtime distributor leader who had a desire to make his company a Top 40 player – and boldly took it public on the stock market to get there.
  • The young duo who committed to the promo industry and are now creating some of the highest profile merch collaborations.
  • The supplier exec who blurted out on live TV her intention to donate $5 million to charity, and then doubled down on that promise.
  • The humble kid from Iowa who took an interest in gifts of Smucker’s jelly ... and followed that curiosity to become the architect of the modern promo industry.

Read our stories of their bold swings and consider the next time you face a monumental decision. What will you do?

Andy Shape

Person of the Year

Andy Shape

Stran & Company (asi/337725)

Stran’s dedicated leader boldly took the company public as part of an ambitious growth strategy to make the distributor one of the biggest players in promo.

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Teresa Fang

International Person of the Year

Teresa Fang

alphabroder (asi/34063)

In her important sourcing role, Fang expertly navigated the worst that the global supply chain could throw at her.

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Distributor Entrepreneurs of the Year

Michael Scott Cohen & Jon Alagem

Harper + Scott (asi/220052)

This dynamic pair is making their mark with high-profile merch collaborations and top-tier creativity.

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Jon Alagem & Michael Scott Cohen
William Lovelace

Supplier Entrepreneur of the Year

William Lovelace

Diamondback Branding (asi/49546)

Entrepreneurship runs through the blood of this business owner, who started his first company at age 14.

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Woman of Distinction

Mary Dobsch

The Chest (asi/44830)

The promo lifer has built a career out of supporting others and making distributors look good.

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Mary Dobsch
Irwin Goldstein

Technology Executive of the Year

Irwin Goldstein

HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000)

This vocal digital integration proponent is helping his billion-dollar distributor reach new heights.

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Distributor Family Business of the Year

Walker-Clay (asi/354530)

The Clay family has spent generations in the promo industry, staying true to its values and commitment to excellence.

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Walker-Clay
Burnside/Sierra Pacifi

Supplier Family Business of the Year

Burnside/Sierra Pacific (asi/87224)

Wolf Finkelman survived the Holocaust, emigrated to the U.S. and built a family and a company that spans generations.

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Bess Cohn Humanitarian Award

Donna Raucher

Proforma GPS (asi/490714)

The Las Vegas woman regularly volunteers at Living Grace Homes, which provides transitional housing and other social services to young mothers.

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Donna Raucher
Teresa Fudenberg

Bess Cohn Humanitarian Award

Teresa Fudenberg

Storm Creek (asi/89879)

The CEO of the Eagan, MN-based sustainable apparel supplier says her company has committed to donating at least $5 million in charity by 2030.

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Norman Cohn

Lifetime Achievement Award

Norman Cohn

Advertising Specialty Institute (asi/33020)

Through passion, curiosity and honesty, a kid from Iowa built the promo industry we know and love today.

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ASI would like to thank the sponsors of this year’s Counselor Awards:

AIA
Bath Promotions
Logo Mats
Orbus
Greater Pacific
STAHLS
Show Down Display
Soardist
The Magnet Group