The Vernon Company Recognized with Champion of United Way Award

United Way of Jasper County, Iowa, recently recognized The Vernon Company, Newton, Iowa, with the inaugural Champion of United Way Award.

During the organization’s 2015 annual meeting and awards celebration, Jessica Lowe, executive director for United Way of Jasper County, presented the award to company representatives. “Vernon has gone above and beyond in its efforts to help United Way meet its goals, share its mission and provide United Way with the tools, resources and volunteers necessary to make positive change in our community,” Lowe stated.

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Geiger Announces Appointment of Satagaj To Board

Geiger, Lewiston, Maine, announced the appointment of John Satagaj to its board of directors for a three-year term.

Satagaj was a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer and lobbyist. Before his retirement in 2014, he had served as general counsel and/or Washington counsel to a number of business trade associations for more than 30 years, including two decades as the Promotional Products Association International’s general counsel and Washington lobbyist.

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Branded Papal Merchandise Unveiled for the Pope’s First U.S. Visit

Aramark, a Philadelphia-based food and facilities management company, will be the official retailer for the World Meeting of Families Congress and Papal visit, Sept. 22 to 27, 2015.

More than 200 items, including keychains, T-shirts and other apparel, tote bags, and glassware, will be available to commemorate the Philadelphia stop of Pope Francis’ first trip to the U.S. The Pope Francis plush doll has proven an early favorite, and the selection of rosaries is expected to be a big seller, according to Philly.com.

The papal-themed and faith-based merchandise will have items on sale from $5 to $500. Many of the items will display the World Meeting of Families logo, which features a family of figures inside the Liberty Bell that has a cross on the top.

Souvenirs will be sold online ahead of the pope’s arrival on the World of Families Meeting web-store. The memorabilia will also be sold at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and pop-up locations along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during the pope’s visit, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Pope Francis will be in Philadelphia in late September. On Sept. 26, he will attend the closing of the World Meeting of Families, an international gathering for Catholics focused on strengthening family bonds; and on Sept. 27, he will host an outdoor Mass along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that is expected to draw 2 million people.

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Promotional Products Association International Announces 2016 Board Officers

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, a nonprofit association serving more than 11,000 corporate members of the $19.8 billion promotional products industry, just announced the 2016 PPAI board of directors officers: Tom Goos, CAS, chair of the board; Mary Jo Tomasini, CAS, chair-elect of the board; Bruce Perryman, MAS+, vice chair of financial services; and Rick Brenner, MAS+, immediate past chair. The new board officers will begin their terms immediately following The PPAI Expo, Jan. 10 to 14, 2016.

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GatewayCDI Signs a Worldwide Partnership Agreement with IRIS

GatewayCDI, St. Louis, announced plans to expand its global reach with the execution of a strategic partnership agreement with IRIS, Lenexa, Kan.

Under terms of the agreement, IRIS and GatewayCDI will combine their marketing and sales capabilities to expand existing relationships and pursue new opportunities throughout North America and abroad.

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MediaTree Reaches Half a Billion Digital Gifts Delivered

Over the last 20 years, MediaTree, Parsippany, N.J., has been navigating the many changes in business and technology. The company has grown from a supplier that offered branded phone cards to one that brought music downloads to the industry. Today, it is an industry leader in digital entertainment promotions and digital marketing strategies.

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5 Festive Products for the Fourth of July

Independence Day is officially a month away. Time to start planning which parades to watch, fireworks displays to enjoy, and day trips to make to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Here are five items that will make that pursuit a little easier.

Bonus: the Americana look is on-trend right now, meaning these red, white and blue must-haves aren’t good for holiday use only.

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