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Following A Great Leader, Leading A Great Industry
By: Scott Siegel, MAS
Issue: 2010feb
By the time you read this, I will be your chairman of the board, and Sherri Lennarson, MAS, will have assumed the role of immediate past chair. During the past year as chair-elect, I had the good fortune to be able to learn from and observe Sherri as she led the board of directors and PPAI. We were all fortunate to be served by this gifted leader.
Sherri’s theme for the year was, “The Sixth Sense,” which meant leading and acting from the heart, and she infused this theme in everything she did. She treated everyone with kindness and respect, was passionate about the Association and our industry and worked exhaustively and diligently to promote and protect our products, image and members. In meetings, whether in person or in frequent conference calls, Sherri was always prepared, in control and inclusive.
As a fellow Midwesterner, Sherri exhibits the traits I find common to those from the middle of our country; she is strong, independent, caring and friendly. In addition, she possesses leadership qualities that are not regional in nature but are innate and gifted. Sherri is quietly intelligent and savvy in the world of politics and organizational effectiveness.
During the past year, Sherri was confronted with several serious issues, and she addressed them head on. The most serious challenge facing our Association began with the Pharma ban on promotional products and is now embodied in the impending federal limits on the use of promotional products within the healthcare industry. Sherri visited Senator Grassley, her senator from Iowa and co-sponsor of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, now part of the overall healthcare bill, which virtually restricts the use of promotional products to doctors and hospitals. She has traveled across the country visiting regional associations and encouraging members to call, write and visit their congressional representatives. She worked with PPAI staff to develop the website PPAI LAW, an easy-to-use tool for members to voice their opinions to their congressional
Representatives, and was instrumental in PPAI hiring Robert Drummer, an experienced lobbyist, who is working on the industry’s behalf to affect the language regarding promotional products in the House and Senate bills.
It is crucial for all industry members to heed Sherri’s words: “Government relations will require personal accountability from all of us. We cannot sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to educate, persuade and influence legislators. Our industry needs our collective effort on the issues. Be informed. Be engaged!”
With this rallying cry in mind, your board will continue to lead the fight against the unfair restriction of our livelihoods. We will focus on the threats confronting our members, and the opportunities to enhance our members’ success and increase the effectiveness of our Association. During the past six months, the incoming Executive Committee, comprised of Roni Wright, MAS; Tina Montgomery, MAS; David Woods, MAS; Eric Ekstrand, MAS; Brandon Mackay and myself, along with Sherri and PPAI staff, have worked diligently to revamp the committee structure to improve the volunteer experience, add flexibility, increase efficacy and encourage forward thinking and planning. The new structure has been presented to and approved by the PPAI board and introduced at the Volunteer Luncheon at last month’s PPAI Expo.
Those of you who know me know I am interested in moving PPAI toward becoming a more global Association. I believe there are opportunities for suppliers in our industry to export to mature and developing nations and opportunities for distributors to sell products or services in many countries where the knowledge and use of promotional products is nonexistent or just beginning.
This year we hope to have a task force explore the Association’s name and perception of our Association to determine if the name is reflective of all we do or is outmoded and restrictive. We want to find additional ways to increase the acceptance and awareness of promotional products as effective advertising tools that hit all the senses.
As a former teacher, I hope to help our volunteers and staff find ways to enhance our already superior and extensive education opportunities.
I also hope to find a way to encourage some of the incredibly strong, intelligent, capable women in our Association to run for the Board after two years of all-male board classes.
And lastly, I will do everything in my power to help members survive and prosper from these difficult and challenging economic conditions. It may be a tough year, but it will be a year of difference to our Association and our industry. With your support, I am ready for the challenge.
Scott Siegel, MAS, is president for Chicago, Illinois-based supplier R.S. Owens & Co., Inc. (UPIC: RSOWENS).
773-628-5201
s.siegel@rsowens.com
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