Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) announced Sherri C. Lennarson, MAS, as the 2015 PPAI Woman of Achievement award recipient. Lennarson is the former president of Bankers Advertising Company, Tucson, Ariz.
The PPAI Woman of Achievement will be honored with a custom award created by Chicago-based R.S. Owens & Co., at an awards presentation during the opening ceremony at PPAI’s Women’s Leadership Conference in New Orleans July 27 to 29.
Each year, PPAI recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the industry, exhibited outstanding leadership and made significant contributions to the industry and her community. The recipient must constantly strive to go above and beyond, and lead the way by setting the standard of excellence in the industry. The winner must be an inspiration to others, a role model and a mentor.
“It is an honor to be recognized as PPAI’s 2015 Woman of Achievement,” said Lennarson. “I have gained so much from my service to the association, our industry and my community. I am inspired by John Wesley’s words, ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’ I encourage others to be inspired as well.”
Lennarson’s career in the promotional products industry began in the 1980s with Bankers Advertising Company as the executive assistant to the president in 1981, and continued to advance in responsibility and titles. In 2003, Lennarson became president of the company. She retired in 2009. She is now the owner of Having Fun Promotions in Tucson, Ariz., and sells as an independent contractor for Bankers Advertising Company.
She also was an active participant in PPAI, with service on the PPAI Board of Directors, (2006-2011), as PPAI Chair of the Board, (2009-2010), and Immediate Past Chair of the Board, (2010-2011). Lennarson is an industry speaker, a PPAI Lifetime Member, Gold Pyramid winner, Distinguished Service Award recipient, former Marketing Information Research Committee Chair, and Promotional Products Education Foundation Century Club Donor; additionally she has held a host of volunteer leadership positions on numerous industry task forces and committees. She played an instrumental role in the formation of the Government Relations Action Council (GRAC) as well.
She is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity and was named Panhellenic Woman of the Year in 1979. Lennarson was active in the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s and 1990s, and a member of the Steering Committee that envisioned, established and executed the Greater Iowa City Area Community Leadership Program (CLP). She was an enthusiastic volunteer for Junior Achievement, teaching at the elementary school level. Sherri took part in various career panels for the University of Iowa and was a guest speaker for the University of Iowa Women in Business group on several occasions. She continues to volunteer in her current hometown of Tucson. A dedicated philanthropist, she has been recognized by the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS network (TIHAN) for her service and works throughout her community through her church.
Lennarson is the ninth recipient of the PPAI Woman of Achievement Award. Previous winners are Carol Aastad, MAS; Margaret Custer-Ford, MAS; Margie Price, MAS; Mary Ann Farmer, MAS; Janelle Nevins; Roni Wright, MAS; Jo-an Lantz, MAS; and Maribeth Sandford, CAS.
