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Strategy

2022 Power 50

Learn more about this year’s roster of innovators, risk-takers and visionaries who are defining the future of promo.

First it was tariffs. Then it was COVID. After that it was supply chain.

The crises seem to be never-ending – especially for promotional products companies. It’s in these times that the leaders of our industry have stepped up again and again. They’ve steadied the ship, devised solutions, protected their people and mapped out the path to success, no matter the obstacles.

We once again honor these leaders – the most influential people in promo – with the Counselor Power 50.

The creation of the Power 50 starts with voting by last year’s members along with nominations of potential new members from industry pros. Then, we gauge each candidate based on their accomplishments over the past year as well as their career-long track record. There are 11 newcomers to this year’s list – young leaders and fresh thinkers who join a group that is challenging the status quo and fearlessly driving the industry into a new era that prizes technology, sustainability, diversity and unbridled creativity. Come meet this year’s Power 50.

Scroll down to learn more about some of this year’s new members and see our full Power 50 list. In the list, click on the links in red to read more about each Power 50 honoree. 

Spotlight Profiles

Jake Himelstein

2022 Rank: 18

Jake Himelstein

BAMKO (asi/131431)

Chris Blakeslee and Megan Spire

2022 Rank: 21

Mark and Mitch Freed

2022 Rank: 25

Chris Vernon and Lisa Hubbard

2022 Rank: 37

Daron Hines
Britney Godsey

2022 Rank: 49

Counselor Power 50

2022 rank Name/Company 2021 rank Rank change Previous times on Power 50
1 Jeremy Lott
SanMar, asi/84863
4   3 9
2 Jo-an Lantz
Geiger, asi/202900
3   1 16
3 Marc Simon
HALO Branded Solutions, asi/356000
5   2 16
4 Jonathan Isaacson
Gemline, asi/56070
2   2 16
5 Greg Muzzillo & Vera Muzzillo
Proforma, asi/300094
6   1 16
6 CJ Schmidt
Hit Promotional Products, asi/61125
11   5 12
7 Larry Zavadil & Justin Zavadil
American Solutions for Business, asi/120075
10   3 16 & 8
8 Dan Pantano
alphabroder, asi/34063
15   7 1
9 Chris Anderson
HPG, asi/61966
9 same 3
10 Sai Koppaka & Alan Tabasky
DiscountMugs.com, asi/181120
8   2 6 & 8
11 Kevin Lyons-Tarr & Suzanne Worwood
4imprint, asi/197045
7   4 16 & 3
12 Jim Shannon
S&S Activewear, asi/84358
12 same 2
13 Jon Norris
Starline USA Inc., asi/89320
20   7 3
14 John Bruellman & Kevin Walsh
Showdown Displays, asi/87188
16   2 2
15 Ross Silverstein
iPROMOTEu, asi/232119
14   1 16
16 Craig Nadel & Debbie Abergel
Nadel, asi/279600
17   1 10 & 5
17 Ashley McCune
Facilisgroup
19   2 2
18 Jake Himelstein
BAMKO, asi/131431
N/A N/A 0
19 Ira Neaman
Vantage Apparel, asi/93390
13   6 16
20 Lance Stier & David Miller
NC Custom, asi/44900
25   5 4
21 Chris Blakeslee & Megan Spire
BELLA+CANVAS, asi/39590
24 & N/A   3 9 & 0
22 Nancy Schmidt
AIA Corp., asi/109480
23   1 2
23 Jay Deutsch
BDA, asi/137616
21   2 16
24 Brandon Mackay & Brittany David
SnugZ USA, asi/88060
18   6 11 & 4
25 Mark Freed & Mitch Freed
Genumark, asi/204588
27 & N/A   2 5 & 0
26 Trevor Gnesin
Logomark, asi/67866
30   4 16
27 Alan Vaught
Evans Manufacturing, asi/52840
35   8 14
28 Bill Korowitz
The Magnet Group, asi/68507
22   6 14
29 David Klatt & Melissa Ralston
Koozie Group, asi/40480
39   10 4 & 1
30 Eric Simsolo & Jason Buchanan
Next Level Apparel, asi/73867
33 & N/A   3 2 & 0
31 Jo Gilley
Overture Promotions, asi/288473
36   5 3
32 Michael Brugger
Fully Promoted, asi/384000
41   9 1
33 Carleen Gray
GroupeSTAHL North America
37   4 4
34 Neil Ringel
Polyconcept, asi/78897
49   15 1
35 Derek Block
Touchstone, asi/345631
43   8 6
36 Nikki Stella
AIM Smarter, asi/522700
34   2 2
37 Chris Vernon & Lisa Hubbard
The Vernon Company, asi/351700
44 & N/A   7 16 & 0
38 Memo Kahan
PromoShop, asi/300446
47   9 5
39 Marc Katz
Custom Ink
26   13 4
40 Sandy Gonzalez
MadeToOrder, asi/259540
46   6 1
41 Tracey Barton
Deluxe/Safeguard, asi/178720/316203
42   1 4
42 Dilip Bhavnani
Sunscope, asi/90075
38   4 6
43 Daron Hines
Staples Promotional Products, asi/120601
N/A N/A 0
44 Kurt Kaeser & Liza Sachs
Kaeser & Blair, asi/238600
31 & N/A   13 16 & 0
45 Andy Shape
Stran & Company, asi/337725
N/A N/A 0
46 Catherine Monson
FastSigns, asi/395000
29   17 3
47 Mark Graham & Catherine Graham
commonsku
48   1 5
48 Dale Denham
PPAI
50   2 1
49 Britney Godsey
Gold Bond, asi/57653
N/A N/A 0
50 Michael Scott Cohen & Jon Alagem
Harper + Scott, asi/220052
N/A N/A 0

N/A=not applicable, new to list