SAAGNY News

This year the SAAGNY family lost an industry legend, SAAGNY Past President, John J. Pagano. John’s personality might have only have been matched by his personal style and flair.  John was a rock star in the industry and a person that was loved by everyone. The SAAGNY Past Presidents as a tribute to this great man had decided that the SAAGNY Multi-Line Rep of the Year Award will be renamed the John J. Pagano Multi-Line Rep of the Year Award in honor of John’s legacy of greatness, warmth, humanity, and professionalism to everyone including clients and competitors.  

Congratulations to All the Winners of the 2017 SAAGNY Achievement Awards

SAAGNY is pleased to announce the winners of the association’s annual awards during its Holiday Party, held this past evening at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY.  Supplier, Distributor, John J. Pagano Multiline Representative, Customer Service Representative, and Humanitarian of the Year and more were among the awards presented.  The Past President Scholarship Award, Rising Star Award, and the Diamond Award Winners were also announced.  In addition, Jonathan Riegel, MAS, was inducted into the SAAGNY Hall of Fame.

The SAAGNY Board of Directors established these awards to recognize those companies and individuals that best represent the ideals of the promotional advertising industry.  The winners of these awards were all nominated and voted on by the association’s members in balloting conducted in September and October.  A selection committee of determined the winners of the SAAGNY Past President Scholarship, the SAAGNY Rising Star Award, and the SAAGNY Diamond Awards.  The winners were:

Company Awards

 Supplier of the Year:                                 SanMar

 Distributor of the Year:                            Axis Promotions

Supplier Technology Award:                    Hub Pen

Distributor Technology Award:               Axis Promotions

Individual Awards

John J. Pagano Multiline Rep. of the Year:                               Jason Bickoff, Jules Scheck Associates

Customer Service Rep of the Year:                                           Lynn Londrie, BIC Graphic USA

Supplier Representative of the Year:                                        Christian Brandt, Vantage Apparel

Humanitarian of the Year:                                                          Sharon Schiffelhuber, Beacon Promotions

Past President Scholarship:                                                      Gail Deutchman, MAS, Distinctive Promotions

Rising Star Award:                                                                      Tim Howe, Spectrum Designs

Diamond Award – Internal Promotion                                       RiteLine

Diamond Award – Goodwill/Non-Profit/Fundraising               Shari Verrone, Stackable Sensations    

The Past President Scholarship applications were reviewed by a panel of judges and the winner selected.  The judging committee also reviewed the nominees for the SAAGNY Rising Star Award and selected a winner from the pool of nominees. SAAGNY Diamond Award Winners were also reviewed by a panel of judges and winners selected.

“Recognizing our membership for their achievements throughout the year is by far my favorite aspect of the holiday party,” said SAAGNY President John R. B. Cudahy, CAS.  “What makes it even more special is many of the awards were selected by their peers.  We are proud to have created these awards and to recognize the great work performed by our members and their employees.  Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners.”

                                                                              

Thank you Pacesetter Awards for donating all of the awards.  

Congratulations to Jonathan Riegel, MAS who will be inducted into the SAAGNY Hall of Fame on Wednesday, December 6.  Click here for the full press release. 

Please click here and catch up on all the SAAGNY news. 

SAAGNY members were treated to a fantastic day at Peerless Umbrella.  Peerless Umbrella, located in Newark, NJ, was established in 1927 and is third generation family owned.  If you were at Peerless today you would know that when the company was established it did NOT sell umbrellas - It sold parachutes!  After the war, they moved into umbrellas.  The day included a thorough tour by the owner, Gene Moscowitz, a compelling educational presentation by Peter Hiatrides, and with the help of the Peerless staff each of us were able to decorate our own umbrella.  Thank you Peerless!

Congratulations to SAAGNY Past President Eileen Lynch being named one of PPAI Best Bosses of 2017.  Click here for the link to the story.  Eileen is a Regional Sales Manager at BIC Graphic. Congratulations Eileen and all the other Best Bosses.

If you were not at yesterday's SAAGNY Fall Showcase you should have been!  

SAAGNY held its annual Fall Showcase yesterday at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, NJ.  This year's show included more than 105 suppliers and multi-line representatives occupying more than 190 tables.  

The day began with an Educational program featuring Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI and Mary Jo Tomasini, Chairman, PPAI, presenting "Creating Success In An Era of Transformation" which was attended by more than 90 people.  The "Night Before the Show," a networking reception held in the Glen Bar where more than 50 attendees were able to mix and mingle in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Congratulations to our Raffle Winners - Aimee Zeidman, Unforgettable Goods, LLC. and Betsy Shuster, CPS Keystone!

Thank you to our sponsors - Hit Promotional Products, Jules Scheck Associates, and Bic Graphic.

See you all at the Winter Show - February 1, 2018!

Twelve Past Presidents of SAAGNY gathered with some current board members for an evening of camaraderie, dinner, and sharing stories from the past. This was the second Annual Past President Dinner held in New York City. 

These personalities helped shape SAAGNY into the rich organization it is today.  Through the reminiscing, laughs, and stories those that could not join us, were there in spirit.   Thank you to everyone who joined us!