The Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) has announced the 2022 Award Honorees
The Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) has announced the 2022 Award Honorees to be recognized at the Awards Celebration Dinner on November 3 at the Carpe Diem Banquet Hall in Southfield, MI.
The association’s highest honor — induction into the Hall of Fame will be recognizing Jane Mitchell MAS – Jungle Jane Promotions and Paul Zafarana MAS MASI – Pica Marketing Group. Jane Mitchell MAS started Jungle Jane Promotions in her home twenty-eight years ago. She joined MiPPA and immediately became an engaged volunteer. Joining the board in 2013, she served as President in 2018 and when her service on the Executive Committee ended in 2019, continued on as the regional delegate to PPAI. Jane created MiPPA’s Legislative Education Action Day in Lansing in 2016 and has continued as a leader in that very successful initiative since. She has been MiPPA’s delegate to Washington DC similarly advocating for members and the industry. Jane made contributions to the governance of MiPPA, with job descriptions and process recording for continuous succession of our leadership in the regional community. She is also a leader in the Lansing community Rotary Club, her church, chamber, and area women’s leadership groups.
Paul Zafarana MAS MASI has built Pica Marketing Group into a creative and innovation leader in the industry. Paul joined the MiPPA Board in 2013, served as President in 2015 and continued to make significant contributions to MiPPA in the years since. He headed up the initial Michigan Leadership Conference in 2019 and helped create the MiPPA Cares charitable initiatives. Paul served on the trade show committees throughout his years of service and was Chair of the Promotions That ROAR! Committee in 2016. At the initial Promotions That ROAR! Destination End User Show in 2014. he worked until the early morning hours to prepare the name badges for the show. The winner of 13 PPAl Pyramid Awards for Creativity, he is known for his innovative promotions and professionalism. He has been deeply involved in his community serving as a Scout Troop Leader since 2006 to present. He has also been a youth baseball coach, involved with University of Detroit Jesuit Dads, Sacred Heart Parish and Knights of Columbus.
The Great Lakes Supplier Rep of the Year Award will be presented to Kerry Schmock – KS Sales, Inc, a multiline rep for Cap America, Landway Apparel, Precision Crystal Gifts, EG PRO, Southern Plus and Premium Custom Products. Each year the association surveys its distributor members to find the supplier rep who has become their Most Valuable Partner and best exemplifies the qualities of the best supplier representative. One of her nominators wrote, “”Kerry is not only the kindest person in our industry, but the offers help in any of the most challenging situations with a smile on her face. Her wealth of knowledge and helper attitude exhibits the best of the best for every company she represents as well as distributor she serves.â€
The Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Monica Whitfield MBA MAS – Divine Edge Marketing Solutions, LLC. Ms Whitfield has been a valuable volunteer for the association’s trade shows and in 2022 was the Volunteer Coordinator for the Promotions That ROAR! End User Show at Ford Field. “Organizing the volunteers needed for a show with more than a thousand attendees and more than one hundred exhibitor personnel is a big job. From planning to the two days required to set-up and deliver the show, Monica recruited, placed and kept everything running smoothly,†said David Szidik – Proforma Infinite Marketing Solutions – MiPPA Board Member and the Trade Show Chair.
All of the honorees will be recognized at the Annual Members Meeting and Awards Celebration Dinner on Thursday, November 3 at Carpe Diem Banquet Hall in Southfield. Visit www.mippa.org for tickets.
