Who’s shaking up the industry today and making it a unique, successful, challenging and innovative sector? The members of the 2016 Counselor Hot 25. Check out their stories.

Stacee Gilmore’s mother ran an office supply and promotional product company for 26 years. Was it fate that her daughter would follow in her footsteps? “She wanted me to get a corporate job and not take this small-business route,” says Gilmore.

It didn’t work. After a brief dalliance in the corporate world, Gilmore took over the promo business and created Promotions Pronto (asi/301257) a decade ago. As the sole salesperson, the St. Louis-area resident is bumping up against a million dollars in sales through deep relationship building and impeccable customer service. Gilmore is active with several nonprofits and chambers of commerce, tapping into her proficiency for networking and the pleasure she takes in helping others be successful. And when she says she’s very close with family, it’s not just lip service – mom still works in the business too.

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