Valerie Hayman Sklar Elected to MiPPA Board of Directors

Valerie Hayman Sklar, president of Corporate Specialties and a 17-year promotional products industry veteran, has been elected to the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) board of directors. She joins Sarah Merrill of Mercury Promotions and Fulfillment, as well as Jane Mitchell of Jungle Jane Promotions, as members of the Class of 2017. The three-year term begins Jan. 1, 2015 and extends through Dec. 31, 2017.

The MiPPA board of directors provides guidance and direction for the association, sets policy and works to create valuable connections between association members to facilitate personal, professional and industry growth. As a member of the board, Hayman Sklar will serve on committees and task forces to coordinate volunteers and engage the membership.

"In April, I was fortunate enough to join a contingency that traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak to our elected officials about the current judicial issues facing the promotional products industry. And the experience inspired me to become involved on a deeper level," said Hayman Sklar.

"There are more than 850 Michigan-based promotional products companies selling more than a half-a-billion dollars of promotional products annually, which creates nearly 8,000 jobs in the state," she continued. "MiPPA's mission is to promote integrity and professionalism through quality education and training, increase the awareness of our industry in the marketplace, and provide a forum for personal growth. There is tremendous opportunity to further this mission beyond our current member base, and I am honored to be elected by my peers to carry out this mission and serve their needs in the best way I can."

As a professional trade association, MiPPA produces trade shows, professional development opportunities, webinars, lunch and learns, product safety courses and industry certification services for its members. It serves more than 200 member companies consisting of suppliers who make, import and decorate promotional materials; distributors who buy from suppliers and resell promotional products to advertisers and end-buyers; and multiline representatives who represent suppliers and sell to distributors.

"We're delighted that Valerie has been elected to serve on our board of directors," said Paul Kiewiet, MAS+, MiPPA executive director. "She has demonstrated her commitment to the industry and our association by traveling to Washington, D.C. last spring with our leadership to advocate for us with our representatives in Congress. She has a stellar industry reputation as a creative and innovative thinker. We look forward to her contributions in making MiPPA more relevant to the needs of our members."

For more information, visit www.mippa.org.