Education Conference

Catch the latest in decorated apparel at The ASI Show’s all-new Wearables University. Apparel suppliers and distributor market experts will bring samples of their most innovative products and cutting-edge techniques. You’ll see a variety of traditional and edgy new T-shirt offerings and imprint capabilities. Join us for our opening session on how to build a distinctive, varied and high quality apparel program. This session will be immediately followed by a wide variety of 40-minute instructional workshops explaining apparel fabrics and decorating techniques. Attend one or two sessions, or spend the day learning everything you need to know to position yourself as an apparel expert with your customers.
   
How to Build an Apparel Program  
Ira Neaman, Vantage Apparel
Tuesday, May 6 • 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.15 CEU
 
Create your own competitive advantage when you learn how to build a distinctive, varied and high- quality apparel program. Armed with this capability, your profits will soar and your pipeline will fill with new customers who want a skilled apparel program designer with the latest decorating techniques and the latest style and graphic designs. Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the textiles market and learn how to keep up with evolving technology and imprinting techniques available today
• Learn which components every apparel program needs to offer and how to keep a program fresh, functional and fashionable 
• Get tips and techniques for making your custom designs and imprints exclusive and difficult to imitate
• Discover new decorating processes, how to use mixed media, special inks and embroidery techniques to create unique images 
• Learn innovative strategies to increase sales with complimentary or add-on products
• Realize how to make the most money on apparel sales and how to re-generate sales year after year
  

Experience these informative sessions led by industry experts:

T-Shirts and More  
Tom Vann, Target Graphics
Tuesday, May 6 • 12:00 p.m.-12:40 p.m.;
1:45 p.m.-2:25 p.m.; 3:20 p.m.-3:55 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.05 CEU

Embroidery Decorating Techniques
Brian Greul, Texas Shirt Company
Tuesday, May 6 • 12:00 p.m.-12:40 p.m.;
1:45 p.m.-2:25 p.m.; 3:20 p.m.-3:55 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.05 CEU

The Latest Apparel Decorating Techniques  
Teresa Johnson, Vantage Apparel
Tuesday, May 6 • 12:00 p.m.-12:40 p.m.;
1:45 p.m.-2:25 p.m.; 3:20 p.m.-3:55 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.05 CEU

Innovative and Traditional Screen Printing Techniques  
Tom Vann, Target Graphics
Tuesday, May 6 • 12:45 p.m. -1:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m.; 4:00 p.m.-4:35 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.05 CEU

Designing Custom Apparel Programs for Your Clients  
Dan Tushar, SanMar  
Tuesday, May 6 • 12:45 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m.; 4:00 p.m.-4:35 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing    
.05 CEU


Uniform Fabrics and Design  
Dave Janosik, SanMar
Tuesday, May 6 • 12:45 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m.;4:00 p.m.-4:35 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing    
.05 CEU

Ira Neaman, Vantage Apparel
Ira Neaman founded Vantage Apparel, a Counselor Top 40 supplier of decorated wearables in 1977. For more than 30 years, he has served as President of Vantage. Ira has been an active member in the advertising specialty industry, serving on committees including Leadership Advisory, Strategic Planning, Marketing and Research. In 2003, Neaman was named the Counselor magazine’s Person of the Year and in 2007 was included on Counselor’s Power 50. Ira shares his expertise in all areas of manufacturing, decoration and apparel trends as a regular speaker for the industry’s continuing education program.

Tom Vann, Target Graphics
In 1987, Tom Vann founded Target Graphics, a contract screen-printing company that exclusively services promotional products distributors. He has transformed a basement business into a Multi-Million Dollar Powerhouse. Accolades include winning over 30 screen-printing awards for SGIA, Impressions, and PPAI. He is a frequent writer for Impressions Magazine, Wearables, PPB, and Counselor. Tom is a regular presenter with credits for educational seminars at ASI Shows, AIA, PPAC, ISS Shows, & PAE Shows.

Brian Greul, Texas Shirt Company
Brian Greul is the president of Texas Shirt Company, a distributor company based in Houston, Texas.  Brian is a columnist for Stitches Magazine and Advantages magazine and has written for Counselor with an emphasis on profitable and efficient marketing for distributors.  Brian’s background includes working as a Network Administrator, Consultant, and Sales Engineer within the Information Technology field.  Brian excels at translating the technical into the saleable.  Within the industry Brian has done all aspects of production from pulling squeegees for printing to threading needles, digitizing for embroidery and even some first hand selling.

Teresa Johnson, Vantage Apparel
Teresa Johnson has 19 years experience in the promotional products industry, including 16 years on the supplier side in sales and sales management for top industry suppliers like A T Cross, Hazel and Norwood. She also has three years experience managing a multi- million-dollar a year program for distributor firm, T. R Miller Co, Inc. Currently Teresa represents Vantage Apparel, and has had extensive training in decoration processes and apparel trends.

Dan Tushar, SanMar
Dan Tushar is the National Sales Manager for SanMar Corporation, and has over 25 years of experience in sales for the apparel industry. Prior to joining SanMar in 1997, he was the Pacific Northwest Territory Manager for Adidas Apparel. Dan also previously spent 11 years running a sales agency for Champion Apparel and five years with Reebok as the Southern California Territory Manager. Dan received his B.A. from Bowling Green State University in 1981.

David Janosik, SanMar
David E. Janosik is the Eastern USA CornerStone sales representative for SanMar Corporation. He has spent over 25 years in the industrial uniform and linen supply market on both the operational laundry side as well as the supplier side of the business. With his vast knowledge of the market he has joined SanMar to help build and position the Cornerstone brand as the leading industrial workwear apparel of choice for the industrial laundry and direct sales markets.

ASI Trainers
Tuesday, May 6 • 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.  

If you are a new ESP Online user, this is the class for you. During this dynamic session, you’ll learn how easy it is to quickly find the right promotional product, create a virtual sample and send a professional presentation to your customer.

A new education offering this year! Learn shortcuts, idea and theme searches. Let us show you how to customize ESP Online and view results displayed the way you want to see them. In just 30 minutes, you will learn how to set ESP Online preferences to reflect your colors and format with every easy search. 

First time to an ASI Show? Then be our guest as we welcome you and other industry newcomers. Get tips for working the show more effectively and learn about all the available services and free amenities available to distributors/decorators at an ASI Show! Over a light breakfast, you’ll gain some great advice on how to make your first and future ASI Show experiences memorable!

Natalie Townes, The ASI Show!
Natalie Townes is Professional Develoment Projects Manager for The ASI Show. She has been involved in education conference design and production for the advertising specialty industry for 20 years, and is well known as an industry education and training consultant. In 2001, Natalie was named to Counselor magazine’s “40 under 40” people to watch in the industry. She is a founding member of the Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South (PPAMS), served as the first President and is Education Chair Emeritus for PPAMS.

Melinda Ligos, ASI Publications, and Andrew Cohen,
Editor of Counselor magazine
Tuesday, May 6 • 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. 
Sales & Marketing      
.15 CEU

Each year, the fastest-growing distributor companies are identified and honored by ASI. We’ve invited several of these company owners to share their secrets for fast growth and insights for managing that growth profitably. Counselor editors will interview these wildly successful entrepreneurs delving into their fascinating backgrounds and business approaches, their drive to succeed and secret sales strategies. Don’t miss this exciting and revealing probe into what success looks like for an ad specialty distributor in today’s competitive market.

Melinda Ligos, ASI Magazines
Melinda Ligos is Editor-in-Chief of ASI Magazines. Before joining ASI, she spent more than 13 years at Nielsen Media in New York overseeing a group of business-focused magazines that included Sales & Marketing Management. Under her leadership, Sales & Marketing Management was awarded the honor of “Magazine of the Year” from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). She also has been a frequent contributor to the business section of The New York Times, and her work was featured in the 2001 edition of The Best Business Stories of the Year.

Chuck Fandos, GatewayCDI, and Kris Robinson, PromoShop/ecopromos.com
Tuesday, May 6 • 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Sales & Marketing  
.15 CEU

Environmental awareness has accelerated into a full-scale Green Revolution, and the demand for eco-friendly products and services has skyrocketed. Help your existing clients “Go Green” and learn how to market to forward-looking businesses, and enthusiastic organizations striving to create a sustainable future. In this fast-paced program, you’ll learn:

• What it means to be “Green” and how to help your customers reduce their impact on the environment
• How to use advertising specialties to promote your clients’ efforts and message of “eco-awareness”
• How to define what an eco-friendly product is and learn how to find truly sustainable imprintable products
• How to introduce and sell eco-friendly products and programs to new and existing clients
• How to reduce your own carbon footprint and be more sustainable in YOUR everyday life and business

Chuck Fandos, GatewayCDI
Chuck Fandos is President of GatewayCDI, a company known for developing, promoting and selling environmentally friendly advertising specialty products and incentive programs to some of the largest multi-national corporations in the world. Chuck and his wife Susie opened GatewayCDI in July 1988 with one phone line and no clients. Today, Chuck handles day-to-day operations of the company while simultaneously negotiating with suppliers via The Legacy Buying Group. Prior to opening GatewayCDI, Chuck spent three years at Maritz, designing programs for one of the largest incentive companies in the world.

Kris Robinson, PromoShop/ecopromos.com
Kris Robinson is Vice President of PromoShop, a $30 million distributorship. A 14-year industry veteran, Kris was named HALO’s Salesperson of the Year in 2000. From his Boise, Idaho office, Kris actively works to save the Earth’s vital resources while revolutionizing the way the advertising specialty industry thinks and responds to the environment. He founded the industry’s first “eco-friendly” division for PromoShop, ecopromos.com, which focuses on the development of sustainable products, education in the industry and responsibly building their clients’ brands.

Lori Bauer and Laura High, BIC Graphic Group
Tuesday, May 6 • 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. 
Professional Development      
.15 CEU

Your clients want to know that the ad specialties you’re selling are safe. Find out how to know if the products you’re buying have been imported, if they were imprinted locally or abroad and if all aspects of the final product have been tested and approved for sale in the U.S. BIC, a leading supplier in the industry, will share what they watch for in terms of product safety, what distributors should ask suppliers and how to protect yourself and your company if an issue does arise. Plus, you’ll receive advice on how to be proactive with your customers during the sales process. You will receive valuable information about the testing process and what types of product safety/compliance verification you may need. You’ll save precious time and research efforts and position yourself as an informed professional when you attend this timely and informative session. 

Lori Bauer, BIC Graphic USA
Lori Bauer is a nine year industry veteran. In 1998, she joined BIC Graphic. Over the course of her career in marketing with BIC she has played an integral role in the growth of writing instruments and the company’s diversification into new product categories. In her current position as Marketing Manager, she is responsible for leading BIC’s new product development of both domestically produced and sourced products, as well as the overall marketing strategy for the company.

Laura High, BIC Graphic USA
Laura High has been in the promotional products industry for 14 years and with BIC Graphic USA for the past 6 years.  In her current role as Group Product Manager, Laura is responsible for the growth of the non-writing instrument brands including Sticky Notes, Magnets and Mouse Pads.  She has also been fundamental in the development of BIC’s imported product categories including Drinkware, Notebooks and Key Rings.  Laura’s understanding of product safety and social responsibility is a valuable asset in working with overseas manufacturers.

Bobby Lehew, ROBYN
Tuesday, May 6 • 1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.  
Advanced Sales      
.15 CEU

Blogging, Social Media, PR and the new Web World: Come learn how small businesses can get heard in a big way. Discover tools that will help you harness the power of the Conversation Age and raise the online visibility of your company. Learn how to move from consultative salesperson to trusted advisor by using the web to demonstrate your experience. This is a general overview of the tools and resources you can use to build your marketing potential. We’ll explore:

• Why new media matters
• Blogging — get published/get noticed
• MySpace, Facebook and Twitter — the social networking phenomena
• White papers — catching big clients in simple ways
• Do-it-yourself PR and the online tools that make it possible
• How to integrate your marketing communications and increase your user interaction 
  

Bobby Lehew, ROBYN
Bobby Lehew is Director of Operations for ROBYN, a fulfillment company that creates and distributes branded products and collateral printed materials through private-label company stores. A passionate believer in the effectiveness of well-placed promotional marketing and the strategic significance of well-managed brand assets, Bobby cut his teeth 15 years ago in the industry, packing boxes for a corporate catalog program. Now he oversees a multi-million dollar distributorship. With an exceptional staff, ROBYN has doubled its sales since 2002 due to a direct emphasis on company stores.

Rosalie Marcus, PromoBizCoach.com
Tuesday, May 6 • 1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.15 CEU  


There has never been a better time for women in promotional products sales, but to succeed you must be knowledgeable. Women have more economic clout than any other time in history, and many major corporations are actively seeking women to do business with. More marketing campaigns are geared toward women and the trend is growing. Start here to learn what you need to know to make more money, have more fun and enjoy more freedom in your business and your life!

Rosalie Marcus, PromoBizCoach.com
Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach™, shortens the learning curve for people in the promotional products industry, teaching them how to get more sales, more clients and more income FAST! Rosalie is the creator of The Fast Track to Promotional Products Sales Success: How to Make More Money in Promotional Products Salesand the facilitator of the Women’s Selling Advantage Success Circle. A successful distributor herself, Rosalie is passionate about inspiring promotional products distributor professionals to grow their sales faster and farther than they ever thought possible!

Lisa Leitch, Teneo Results
Tuesday, May 6 • 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 
Sales & Marketing      
.15 CEU    

Get hot, new selling ideas for your clients’ tradeshows, fundraisers, golf tournament, health and fitness fair and more. Enjoy a hands-on opportunity to see the industries hottest new products and brainstorm selling ideas with other distributors. Compete to see who comes up with the most creative and marketable campaigns. Winners will walk away with prizes, plus selling ideas for their clients. You’ll leave this exciting and interactive workshop armed with many new selling ideas. Plus, you’ll discover:

• How to accelerate your sales by showing the HOTTEST new products to clients and prospects
• How to utilize the brainstorming process to create marketing solutions for your clients
• The latest industry stats on the top selling products
• How ESP Centerstage and Event Planner can be an EASY, effective tool to create and present these ideas to your clients

Lisa Leitch, Teneo Results
People who know Lisa Leitch describe her as a “fireball.” Contributing to a wealth of marketing, promotions and sales hands-on experience, Lisa delivers results. As a national advertising manager, Lisa understands the client and buyer’s perspective. As a multi-million dollar salesperson and VP of sales for one of the largest Canadian promotional distributors, selling to IBM, Hershey, Daimler Chrysler and YTV, she knows the promotional industry. And as a strategist, speaker and trainer, it is Lisa’s goal to help you “master” the sales game.

Rosalie Marcus, PromoBizCoach.com
Tuesday, May 6 • 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing      
.15 CEU    

In a world where customers are bombarded with 4,000+ marketing messages each day, how can you make your services stand out from the crowd? How can you reach the marketing-weary public and attract new clients? From the book of the same name, this inspirational program features a 28-day marketing program that shows you how to locate, land and keep new clients in greater numbers than you ever dreamed possible.

Rosalie Marcus, PromoBizCoach.com
Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach™, shortens the learning curve for people in the promotional products industry, teaching them how to get more sales, more clients and more income FAST! Rosalie is the creator of The Fast Track to Promotional Products Sales Success: How to Make More Money in Promotional Products Salesand the facilitator of the Women’s Selling Advantage Success Circle. A successful distributor herself, Rosalie is passionate about inspiring promotional products distributor professionals to grow their sales faster and farther than they ever thought possible!

Greg Muzzillo, Proforma  
Tuesday, May 6 • 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.  
Sales & Marketing    
.15 CEU    

Achieving $1 million in sales begins with knowing what is possible, believing in yourself, and BHAG (big hairy audacious goals). Learn how million-dollar achievers plan, execute and evaluate on their plan every day. Identify planning tools that keep you focused and productive. Explore proven strategies to find and develop new accounts and increase sales with existing clients. Discover how other million-dollar producers break out of their comfort zone, fill their pipeline with new opportunities and tap into profitable new markets.

Greg Muzzillo, Proforma
Greg Muzzillo is Founder and Co-CEO of Counselor Top 40 Distributor Proforma, one of the largest promotional products distributorships in North America. He founded the company in 1978 and has built Proforma to 650 franchise members and over $300 million in annual sales, winning awards for his proven sales training programs. Greg has helped over 100 Proforma members achieve sales over $1 million per year. In fact, Proforma has more million-dollar performers than any other company in our industry.

Bill Jones, Atlanta Promotional Products
Tuesday, May 6 • 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 
Sales & Marketing      
.15 CEU

Selling promotional products in the Internet age is a whole new ballgame. Give up on pounding the pavement and learn how to make sales by pounding on your computer keyboard. Discover effective techniques for getting new clients, making more sales and increasing your income without leaving the comfort of your office. Learn how to create effective sales presentations that sell themselves even when you are 1,000 miles away and — selling in your slippers.” The Internet hasn’t eliminated the need for distributors — it has made us able to be even more effective resources for our clients. Get your share of the $20 billion promotional products business regardless of your local market. And don’t worry — you don’t have to be a computer geek to be an Internet sales superstar!

Bill Jones, Atlanta Promotional Products
Bill Jones, Atlanta Promotional Products, was recognized as one of ASI’s Top 10 Fastest-Growing Distributors in 2006. With 20 years industry experience, Bill has worked with large companies, small companies and now owns his own company. He is contributing editor for industry publications and has won awards for creative design in advertising specialty marketing campaigns. Bill’s selling strategies and case histories are drawn from his experiences as a top sales performer, his varied client base and his ability to grow new business while still getting home for dinner by 5:30 p.m.

Paul Kent and Mike Landis, ASI
Tuesday, May 6 • 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.  
ASI Product Training      
.15 CEU      


Discover how ESP Online and LogoMall web site can make your company more successful by increasing your sales, saving time and improving overall efficiency. During this session, you will learn: 

• Why ESP Online and LogoMall is the industry’s #1 business management package for client development, product research and marketing
• How to take advantage of ESP Online’s exclusive features, like virtual samples, mobile client project access and editable PDF presentations
• How to leverage ASI’s LogoMall web site platform, with its world-class new shopping engine, to help your customers and prospects find products faster, provide them with more relevant results and, most importantly, increase the number of leads from your web site!

Paul Kent, ASI
Paul Kent is a 13 year ASI veteran who specializes in helping to maximize the sales, profits and efficiency of ASI distributors. Paul has a good working knowledge of what actions and applications lead to success in the promotional products industry. Join him for an “off-road” tour that will lead you to a place that the most successful distributors have already found.

Mike Landis, ASI
Mike Landis is an account executive with ASI Catalogs. A 2005 graduate of Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, Mike takes pride in his ability to help distributors effectively brand and market themselves in their marketplace.  Specializing in multi-channel marketing, Mike assists his clients daily with creating a consistent image across multiple mediums. In addition to his duties for ASI Catalogs, he also heads up ASI Canada’s catalog team. Mike is an active member in the American Marketing Association.