Overture Promotions Named to List of 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies

Overture Promotions, the distributor based in Waukegan, Ill., was named to the Women Presidents’ Organization’s 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list for 2020. The list, a collaboration with American Express, spans multiple industries and is based on 2019 revenue.

The list ranks companies using a sales growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth. To qualify, companies must have annual sales revenues of at least $500,000. Overture ranked No. 38 on the list with 73.5 percent sales growth from 2017 to 2019.

“Our growth is a tribute to all the players on the Overture team who keep asking ‘How can we do this better?’” Jo Ann Gilley, CEO of Overture Promotions, told Promo Marketing. “We have invested in operations and technology so we can perfectly execute for our customers. We’ve raised our communication game and invested in staff training. And, as always, our sales teams keep growing their customers with creative solutions and excellent service.”

Jo Ann Gilley, Overture Promotions CEO

Gilley stepped into the CEO role at Overture in 2017 after Heather Sanderson, Overture’s first CEO, departed the company. Gilley has since attributed the company’s success to its core values, company culture and continuous improvement strategy, which she’s written about in detail for Promo Marketing.

“At Overture we believe it is imperative for all of our stakeholders to adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards,” she wrote in 2019. “While there may be situations in which choosing the path of integrity costs us short-term gains, we know that it will lead to building our company the right way with the right people. This commitment to truth and mutual respect should be displayed throughout all levels of the organization, as well as across our supplier and client partners. The Overture culture is not only about how we behave toward each other within our walls, but also how we represent ourselves in the general community every day.”

A meeting room at Overture headquarters displaying the company's core values | Credit: Overture Promotions

The results of that strategy appear to be evident in this year’s rankings. Overture ranked No. 19 on our 2020 Top Distributors List, reporting 2019 promotional products sales of $81.7 million, up from $60.6 million in 2018. That placed Overture among the year’s fastest-growing promo distributors as well. Last year, the company also moved into its new headquarters in Waukegan, opened two new sales offices and expanded its distribution capabilities.

"The 50 Fastest Growing Women Owned/Led Companies are a trailblazing group of women who are leading some of the most successful businesses around the globe,” Jessica Ling, vice president and general manager of marketing strategy, content and experiences at American Express, said in a press release. “At American Express, we are committed to supporting and backing the growth of women-owned and -led companies and are delighted to recognize these leaders for their success. Not only do women-owned businesses fuel the economy with trillions of dollars in revenue and the millions of jobs they provide, many have also pivoted their offerings and business strategies to provide essential services and accommodate their employees, which has proven to be vital for navigating the pandemic."

View the full 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list here.