SAAC Installs New Board Members at Annual Dinner (VIDEO)

The Specialty Advertising Association of California (SAAC), the California region's nonprofit association and the force behind the annual SAAC Show in Long Beach, Calif., held its annual board of directors installation dinner on Jan. 29 at the Anaheim White House in Anaheim, Calif.

David Messe, executive vice president of Pinnacle Designs and SAAC past president, installed the new board at the event. The 2013 SAAC board of directors includes: Sarah deBoer, MAS of A.T. Cross as association president; Beverly Walter, CAS of Brown & Bigelow as vice president; Bob Levitt of Bob Levitt Company as treasurer; David Chen of Totally Bamboo as secretary. Paul Bergman of Caden Concepts, Jennifer Centanni of Americana Sportswear, Michael Duke of Otto International, Craig A. Hughes of Geiger, Paige Millard of Jetline and Sasha Pirrie of Logomark were all added as directors to the board. Craig Reese of Jack Nadel International will serve as immediate past president.

The evening was hosted and emceed by Rick Green of HALO Branded Solutions, who welcomed attendees and honored outgoing board members Jay Lewitt of Every Promotional Product and Stephanie Woods of Limelight Branding, as well as immediate past president Brian P. Padian of Logomark.

When asked about her goals for the term, deBoer told the assembly that improving and expanding the association's annual trade show was her top priority. "We are working hard to increase the buzz at The SACC Show and make some amazing changes this year," she said. "We're so excited about it."

In addition to changes at The SAAC Show, deBoer said that the association, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2013, wanted increase memberships from both promotional products suppliers and distributors. One of deBoer's aims is to encourage more participation between SAAC and association members.

"My goal is to communicate the value proposition of being a SAAC member and being part of this association," she said. "I can't emphasize that enough. We'll only be stronger if we work together."

Formed in 1953, SAAC serves suppliers and distributors in California's promotional products industry. In addition to its summer trade show, SAAC coordinates regional networking events, provides scholarships for the students of SAAC members, hosts education seminars, secures exclusive discounts and supports the regional industry in political and legislative efforts.

Footage of the event, provided by FreePromoTips' Jeff Solomon, is available below.

For more information, visit www.saac.net.