Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), the not-for-profit association for more than 500,000 industry professionals and 10,800 corporate members of the $19.8 billion promotional products industry, announced Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has been named the association’s 2015 Legislator of the Year. The award will be presented during the PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.), May 20 to 21, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
Johnson will be recognized for his history of serving the needs of the promotional products industry by encouraging economic stability and growth through advocating for small business, promoting manufacturing and preserving jobs.
“We are pleased to recognize Sen. Johnson, who has been a champion of regulatory reform in the Senate,” said Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. “His focus on reform and small-business issues supports the promotional products industry and protects its interests.”
The PPAI Legislator of the Year Award recognizes members of Congress who have shown a commitment to small-business interests and success, a willingness to meet with industry professionals and have given their support to issues critical to the promotional products industry.
In Johnson’s home state of Wisconsin, 94 percent of promotional products companies are small businesses, employing approximately 8,700 and generating revenues of more than $1.94 billion.
Johnson has served in the Senate since 2010 and serves on several committees, including the Committee on Budget, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs and Foreign Relations. He also serves as a ranking member of the Subcommittee of European Affairs and Financial and Contracting Oversight.
The PPAI Legislator of the Year Award is presented as part of the PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.), when PPAI leadership and industry professionals visit Washington, D.C., for the sixth annual L.E.A.D. event. Nearly 80 advocates from 30 states will conduct more than 250 meetings with senators, congressional representatives and their legislative staffs on Capitol Hill to discuss pending legislation and issues relevant to the promotional products industry.
Past recipients of the PPAI Legislator of the Year award are Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), 2012; Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), 2013; and Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC), 2014.
For more information on PPAI, visit www.ppai.org.
