Andrew Spellman, CAS
Board Chair (Class of 2026)
Andrew Spellman, CAS
Andrew Spellman is the new vice president corporate markets for Therabody. Spellman formerly served as the senior vice president and general manager for Magnet, LLC. Magnet, LLC has been the world’s leading manufacturer of promotional magnets, and has won numerous awards for their products, service, and innovation. Prior to his tenure at Magnet, Spellman was the vice president corporate markets for Victorinox Swiss Army where he successfully managed their branded products division for over 14 years.
Spellman has also served on the Board of Directors of Guardian Angel Settlement Association in several different roles, including being chairman of their golf committee, vice chairman, and then escalating to the role of chairman of the Board. Guardian Angel has provided childcare services as well as social services in the city of St. Louis for over 150 years. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the St. Vincent De Paul Mission of Waterbury during his brief time in Connecticut.
Spellman received his BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. He lives in Wildwood, Missouri with his two teenage daughters.
Chris Anderson
Vice Chair, Financial Services (Class of 2026)
Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson joined the promotional products industry in 2002 with supplier HandStands and became president of the company in 2009 and CEO in 2010. Under his leadership, HandStands expanded its distribution into 138 countries and closed multiple strategic acquisitions, including the sale of the business to HPG in 2018. Anderson became CEO of HPG in 2019.
Dan Pantano
Director (Class of 2027)
Dan Pantano
With an amazing team in place, Dan is leading the way to capitalize on the company’s unique value proposition; being the industry’sonlytrue One Stop Shop Solution. Dan has been known to say,
“Your attitude determines your altitude”. Colleagues and Customers alike can count on his positive winning approach that offers Employees an engaging environment to advance, while providing Customers a trusted partnership to profitably grow their business.
Danny Rosin, CAS
2023
Danny Rosin, CAS
Danny Rosinis co-owner of Brand Fuel, a Raleigh based distributor that is a certified B Corp. He is the co-founder of Band Together, a nonprofit that has donated $12 million to nonprofits through live music experiences. He serves on the board of A Place at The Table, a “pay what you can” café and is advisor to Gabi’s Pals, a nonprofit that empowers people with special abilities through fulfillment programming. He is also the co-founder of social impact orgs like PromoKitchen, PromoCares, Reciprocity Road and Operation Smile International’s Student Programs. He is married with two teenage daughters and has come to grips with the idea that well-behaved women rarely make history.
Denise Taschereau
Chair Elect (Class of 2027)
Denise Taschereau
Denise Taschereau launched Fairware after realizing how difficult it was to source promotional merchandise that reflected the social and environmental priorities of the many of brands and organizations she admired. Previously, Taschereau oversaw the Mountain Equipment Co-op’s national environmental programs, community grant-making and ethical sourcing programs, and wrote their award-winning first Sustainability Report. She is currently a board member of PromoCares, an industry group driving awareness and education around sustainability issues in the promotional product industry.
Erin Reilly
Director (Class of 2028)
Erin Reilly
As a senior at John Hopkins University, Reilly and her best friend Sterling Wilson started making Pantone-matched sunglasses and accidentally fell head over heels into the promotional products industry. Launching College Glasses in 2012 and rebranding to Pop! Promos a year later, Reilly has worn just about every hat at the Philadelphia-based supplier, scaling the firm from a small startup to an award-winning organization with more than 125 employees in offices across the globe. Reilly also serves on the PPAI Women’s Leadership Committee.
Kara Keister, MAS
I am a passionate go-getter who has learned to ask questions and never take no for an answer. I started my promotional professional career 12 years ago in distributor sales. My role allowed me to use my marketing background and love of all things brand to become a top-level salesperson within the company and eventually birth and grow Social Good Promotions. I served as a volunteer on regional industry Boards in an executive capacity. After my tenure as regional board President, I was elected to the Regional Affiliate Council where I have played an integral role in advancing the way regional associations will operate within the promotional products industry moving forward.
I am a self-proclaimed nerd willing to learn and accept any challenge that comes my way. I have survived injuries, breast cancer, and mental hurdles, all while advancing my career and building a successful small business. I attribute that survival to my tribe, my amazing support system, and my work ethic.
I was named to the Promotional Products Association International Rising Star list in 2021. Our company has received PPAI Silver Pyramid Awards in the Social Responsibility Program and Digital Self-Promotion categories. Social Good was named to the AIM Eco Leaders list in 2020 and we have consistently grown our gross sales by over 80% per year since our 2019 inception.
My passion is for education, advocacy, and volunteerism for the promotional products industry and organizations close to my heart like Special Olympics, local schools, and leadership programs for youth.
Karie Cowden, MAS
Director (Class of 2025)
Karie Cowden, MAS
Karie Cowden, MAS is Founder and President of Connect the Dots Promotions out of Phoenix, AZ. Karie brings a wealth of experience to the board with almost 30 years in the promotional products industry. She has had the opportunity to work on both the distributor and supplier sides of the fence which brings a unique perspective to share with the PPAI Board of Directors. Karie served as President of her regional board Azppa, RAC President as well as on the PPAI board 2008-2012. While RAC President, with the help of her board she initiated the Affiliate program with 28 regionals then on while on the PPAI board the SAGE initiative was born. She is currently a board member of PromoCares, an industry group driving awareness and education around sustainability issues in the promotional product industry. Karie is married to Steve and has 2 lovely teenage daughters, Emma and Averie and a black lab named Luna.
Kevin Walsh, CAS
Immediate Past Board Chair (Class of 2025)
Kevin Walsh, CAS
Kevin Walsh, CAS is a proud member of the Showdown Displays team, where he has worked the past eight (8) years serving in several leadership roles, the most recent of which is President. Kevin’s creative vision and ‘customer first’ mentality has contributed to the success of numerous industry suppliers including New Buffalo Shirt Factory, Lee Printwear, VF Imagewear and Wrangler Jeans and Shirts. In each of these organizations, Kevin has demonstrated a leadership philosophy that is founded in the belief of having the vision to recognize evolving landscapes and the courage to embrace the change needed to succeed. Kevin’s sales and marketing expertise combined with his bias for solutions utilizing technology, will prove to be a great addition to the PPAI Board.
Lori Bauer
2015
Lori Bauer
Prior to joining iPROMOTEu, Bauer spent 23 years at Koozie Group, where she was an integral part of the supplier’s success with responsibilities spanning across sales and marketing. Named a PPB Rising Star in 2010 and honored with the PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015, Bauer has long been a supporter of PPAI’s Women’s Leadership Conference, serving on the WLC Advisory Group for multiple years.Bauer has also served as president of the Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF) and as board chair of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF).
Zack Ottenstein
Director (Class of 2028)
Zack Ottenstein
Ottenstein joined The Image Group in 2016 and became president of the Holland, Ohio-based firm in 2020. During his tenure, Ottenstein has led the company’s transformation into a vertical-focused marketing solutions business. Prior to promo, he served as an investment analyst and director of marketing communications for Welltower, a $40 billion-plus enterprise value company. A 2018 PPB Rising Star, he is currently a board member for several local nonprofits and is also a highly involved member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
Dale Denham, MAS+
Ex Officio Member
Dale Denham, MAS+
Dale Denham, MAS+, has more than 25 years of experience in the promotional products industry. Before joining PPAI as president and CEO in August 2021, Denham spent 10 years at distributor Geiger as senior vice president and CIO. As a member of the executive team, he was responsible for significant growth, including international growth, and successfully led the organization’s digital transformation.
Prior to Geiger, Denham was a member of the ASI executive team for 10 years where he was responsible for growth, including all technology, strategic partners and publications. His first experience in the industry came in the 1990s as president of Impact, a company that provided numerous resources to the industry. Before joining Impact, Denham was general manager for several consulting and sales organizations.
Denham served on the PPAI Board of Directors from 2015-2020, including as chair in 2018.
He has served on numerous other industry boards and has been a consistent volunteer for PPAI and other industry organizations, as well as a sought-after speaker. Denham graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s in business and a minor in economics.
Cory Halliburton
Ex Officio Member
Cory Halliburton is an attorney with the law firm of Freeman Law, PLLC, a tax, white-collar, and litigation law firm based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and with clients throughout the world. He has served as General Counsel for PPAI since May 2014. He serves as outside general counsel for other international trade associations, public charities, multi-state engineering firms, and others. Cory Halliburton graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2003.
