Strategy

Counselor Power 50 2023

The promo industry is evolving – and these are the leaders and forward-thinkers driving the change.

Decades into its existence, the promotional products industry remains fundamentally the same. And yet, it’s constantly evolving, with a multitude of exciting developments currently from product innovation to data integration to sustainability and beyond. It takes a group of dynamic leaders who can seize on these major shifts and position their companies – and the industry as a whole – on the cutting edge.

That’s the Counselor Power 50. These are the executives, entrepreneurs and visionaries whose decisions are pushing the industry into the future.

How is the Power 50 put together? First, we survey last year’s members and the promo industry at large to determine whose influence is rising and falling. We also put out a call for nominations of potential new members. We then research each candidate and examine their career accomplishments and achievements in the past year. Our efforts have yielded a list with 10 first-timers (many of whom are featured in our Spotlight Profiles) as well as four executives making their return after an extended absence – all part of a star-studded group that continue to move the needle.

Click on the names below to read more about each Power 50 honoree.

Counselor Power 50

2023 rank Name/Company 2022 rank Rank change Previous times on Power 50
1 Kevin Lyons-Tarr & Suzanne Worwood
4imprint (asi/197045)
11 10 17 & 4
2 CJ Schmidt
Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125)
6 4 13
3 Jeremy Lott
SanMar (asi/84863)
1 2 10
4 Marc Simon
HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000)
3 1 17
5 Jo-an Lantz
Geiger (asi/202900)
2 3 17
6 Greg Muzzillo & Vera Muzzillo
Proforma (asi/300094)
5 1 17
7 Chris Anderson
HPG (asi/61966)
9 2 4
8 Dan Pantano
alphabroder (asi/34063)
8 SAME 2
9 Larry Zavadil & Justin Zavadil
American Solutions for Business (asi/120075)
7 2 17 & 9
10 Jonathan Isaacson & Frank Carpenito
Gemline (asi/56070)
4 6 & N/A 17 & 0
11 John Bruellman & Kevin Walsh
Showdown Displays (asi/87188)
14 3 3
12 Jay Deutsch
BDA (asi/137616)
23 11 17
13 Craig Nadel & Debbie Abergel
Nadel (asi/279600)
16 3 11 & 6
14 Sai Koppaka & Alan Tabasky
BEL USA LLC
10 4 7 & 9
15 Ross Silverstein
iPROMOTEu (asi/232119)
15 SAME 17
16 Norm Hullinger & Megan Spire
BELLA+CANVAS (asi/39590)
21 N/A & 5 8 & 1
17 Lance Stier & David Miller
NC Custom (asi/44900)
20 3 5
18 Brandon Mackay & Brittany David
SnugZ USA (asi/88060)
24 6 12 & 5
19 Mark Freed & Mitch Freed
Genumark (asi/204588)
25 6 6 & 1
20 Trevor Gnesin
Logomark (asi/67866)
26 6 17
21 Jake Himelstein
BAMKO (asi/131431)
18 3 1
22 Ira Neaman
Vantage Apparel (asi/93390)
19 3 17
23 Nancy Schmidt
AIA Corp. (asi/109480)
22 1 3
24 Andy Shape
Stran & Company (asi/337725)
45 21 1
25 Carleen Gray
GroupeSTAHL
33 8 5
26 Frank Myers
S&S Activewear (asi/84358)
N/A N/A 0
27 Bill Korowitz
The Magnet Group (asi/68507)
28 1 15
28 Pierre Montaubin & Melissa Ralston
Koozie Group (asi/40480)
29 1 0 & 2
29 Jo Gilley
Overture Promotions (asi/288473)
31 2 4
30 Marc Katz
Custom Ink (asi/173232)
39 9 5
31 Chris Vernon & Lisa Hubbard
The Vernon Company (asi/351700)
37 6 17 & 1
32 Nikki Stella
AIM Smarter (asi/522700)
36 4 3
33 Memo Kahan
PromoShop (asi/300446)
38 5 6
34 Chris Lee
The Pebble Group
N/A N/A 4
35 Daron Hines
Staples Promotional Products (asi/120601)
43 8 1
36 Neil Ringel
PCNA (asi/66887)
34 2 2
37 Susan Drenning
Taylor Corporation
N/A N/A 0
38 Derek Block
Touchstone (asi/345631)
35 3 7
39 Ray Titus & Andrew Titus
Fully Promoted (asi/384000)
N/A N/A 7 & 0
40 Tamara Borello
ePromos Promotional Products (asi/188515)
N/A N/A 0
41 Kurt Kaeser & Liza Sachs
Kaeser & Blair (asi/238600)
44 3 17 & 1
42 Dale Denham
PPAI
48 6 2
43 Michael Scott Cohen & Jon Alagem
Harper + Scott (asi/220052)
50 7 1
44 Mark Graham & Catherine Graham
commonsku
47 3 6
45 David Schneiderman & Todd Schneiderman
Something Inked (asi/329822)
N/A N/A 0
46 Tracey Barton
Deluxe/Safeguard (asi/178720/316203)
41 5 5
47 Kenny Ved
Goldstar (asi/73295)
N/A N/A 0
48 Catherine Monson
Propelled Brands
46 2 4
49 Ben Grossman
Grossman Marketing Group (asi/215205)/SwagCycle
N/A N/A 0
50 Jeff Lederer
Myron (asi/278980)
N/A N/A 11

N/A=not applicable, new to list

Spotlight Profiles

Frank Myers

Frank Myers

S&S Activewear (asi/84358)

Susan Drenning

Susan Drenning

Taylor Corporation

Ray & Andrew Titus

Ray Titus & Andrew Titus

Fully Promoted (asi/384000)

Tamara Borello

Tamara Borello

ePromos Promotional Products (asi/188515)

David & Todd

David Schneiderman & Todd Schneiderman

Something Inked (asi/329822)

Kenny Ved

Kenny Ved

Goldstar (asi/73295)

Ben Grossman

Ben Grossman

Grossman Marketing Group (asi/215205)/SwagCycle