ASHEVILLE, NC – April 30, 2025 – Premier Group Network proudly celebrated the achievements of its member companies and individual representatives during the 2025 Annual Meeting at the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. Each year, PG honors individuals and organizations who exemplify outstanding service, innovation, and the spirit of partnership that defines the Premier Group community.

Download all award winner photography here.

Top Honors: Recognizing Leadership, Collaboration, and Ingenuity

• MVPG – Most Valuable Premier Group Player Award:
  Alicia Rhodes (Action Plus Ideas)– Recognized for exceptional leadership, impact, and commitment to PG’s mission.

• Wingman Award (Supplier Rep):
  Cecilla Chicone (Logomak)– Honored for reliability, partnership, and unwavering support of distributor members.

• Allstar Award (Distributor Rep):
  RJ Dunnigan (Renaissance Promotions) – Celebrated for collaboration, leadership, and excellence in service.

• MacGyver Award:
  Menda Wright (Creative Studio Promotions)– Acknowledged for resourcefulness and creative problem-solving.

Doug Bruce Distributor Performance Award

Named in memory of longtime PG co-founder Doug Bruce, this award recognizes distributor companies who embody the spirit of partnership and collaboration. Voted on by supplier members, recipients stand out in the following areas: meaningful relationships with PG suppliers, understanding of timelines and process and commitment to solution oriented approaches when faced with challenges. 

2025 Recipients:
(by sales category)

• Under $3.5M: Skylight Creative

• $3.5M–$7.5M: JH Specialty

• Over $7.5M: The Promotions Dept

Paul Smith Supplier Performance Award

Voted on by distributor members, this award recognizes suppliers who exemplify the collaborative values of Premier Group and deliver consistent excellence in: product quality, marketing support, customer service, sales support, problem resolution and management engagement.

2025 Recipients:
(by sales category)

• Under $20M: Pop Promos!

• $20M–$50M: Cap America

• Over $50M: Hit Promotional Products

Sales Awards: Celebrating Growth and Volume

Highest Supplier Sales Volume with PG Distributors:
(by sales category)

• Under $20M: Ball Pro / Diversified

• $20M–$50M: Cap America

• Over $50M: SanMar

Highest Year-Over-Year Supplier Sales Growth with PG Distributors:
(by sales category)

• Under $20M: The Chest

• $20M–$50M: NC Custom

• Over $50M: Gill Studios

Highest Distributor Purchase Volume with PG Suppliers:
(by sales category)

• Under $3.5M: City Apparel & Merch

• $3.5M–$7.5M: Bright Ideas in Broad Ripple

• Over $7.5M: Barker Specialty

Highest Distributor Purchase Percentage with PG Suppliers:
(by sales category)

• Under $3.5M: City Apparel + Merch

• $3.5M–$7.5M: Renaissance Promotions

• Over $7.5M: The Callard Company

Introducing The Wagner Award

Established in 2025, The Wagner Award was created to honor the extraordinary leadership and service of Matt Wagner, whose legacy as PG Board Chair continues to inspire the organization. This distinguished award recognizes a Premier Group member whose contributions reflect the same values Matt embodies—integrity, kindness, objectivity, and an unwavering commitment to what is best for the association.

The award is not given annually, but is reserved for moments when the Board of Directors identifies a member whose voluntary service is truly exceptional.

We are proud to announce that Matt Wagner was named the inaugural recipient of The Wagner Award in 2025, a fitting tribute to his years of dedication, steady leadership, and lasting impact on the PG community as he completes his board service.

Award Criteria:
Honorees will have:

• Made sustained, meaningful contributions to PG’s mission

• Acted selflessly and without expectation of recognition

• Demonstrated consistent leadership, fairness, and support across the PG community

Premier Group congratulates all 2025 award recipients and expresses deep appreciation for the continued collaboration, excellence, and leadership shown by its members. Together, these individuals and companies represent the very best of what Premier Group stands for.