PPAI Names Sen. Gary Peters 2017 Legislator of the Year

PPAI named Sen. Gary Peters the 2017 Legislator of the Year.

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, has selected Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) as the association’s 2017 Legislator of the Year. The award will be presented during the PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (LEAD), April 26 to 27, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

PPAI will recognize Peters 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 Peters, who’s top priority is to support job creation and economic growth to strengthen small businesses,” said Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI's president and CEO. “His willingness to work with bipartisan groups to further small business, job creation, and tax credit legislation and other issues important to our industry have been essential to the promotional products industry and protecting 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 Peters’ home state of Michigan, 98 percent of promotional products companies are small businesses, employing approximately 7,812 people and generating revenues of more than $501.5 million.

Elected in 2014, Peters represents the state of Michigan in the U.S. Senate. Throughout his career in public service, Peters has been a strong, independent voice for Michigan’s families and small businesses. He has focused on uniting communities by supporting a stronger economy, good paying jobs, affordable health care, a secure retirement and a fair chance for everyone to succeed.

At LEAD, nearly 80 advocates from 33 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-Minn.), 2013; Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), 2014; Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), 2015; and Reps. Steven Chabot (R-Ohio) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) in 2016.

For more information on PPAI, visit www.ppai.org.