ASI® Announces the Counselor® Power 50

TREVOSE, PA – Dec. 8, 2005 – Advertising Specialty Institute^®, the largest media organization serving the promotional products industry, announced today it will recognize top industry companies and individuals with the new Counselor Power 50 initiative.

Editors of Counselor magazine, the publication serving as the “voice of the industry” for over 50 years, will compile the 50 most influential distributors and suppliers for the first time.  These are the people at firms who constantly challenge the status quo, who are a driving force for growth and are the innovators who continually bring new and exciting products to the marketplace.  ASI members and non-members will be considered for nominations and Counselor magazine will publish the completed list in the December 2006 issue.

Rich Fairfield, publisher for ASI, said “There has not been anything like this before to recognize the achievements of distributors and suppliers who are the movers and shakers in the industry.  These individuals mend fences among peers experiencing conflicts, help develop raw industry talent and mentor the leaders who are today’s stellar businesspeople at dynamic companies.” 

Industry executives are equally excited about the new effort.  Jack Teague, president of BIC Group Graphic (asi/40480), commented “We’re looking forward to seeing which leaders are chosen for this recognition.  When an individual is nationally recognized, it validates the strength and contribution of their supporting cast of team members.  This will become an industry ‘must see’ for the future.”

Kurt Kaeser, president and CEO of Kaeser & Blair, Inc. (asi/238600), said “This compilation will be a great way to recognize those that contribute so much to this industry.  It appears to be a fresh idea that may uncover more great contributors who we may not even know about in the business.” 

Nominees for the list can be ASI members or non-members and nominations can be made by a representative working at any promotional products company in North America.

To nominate a candidate for the Counselor Power 50, contact Rich Fairfield at ASI, at [email protected] or at 800-546-1350, ext. 3627.

About ASI
Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest media organization serving the promotional products industry, with a membership of 21,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of promotional products.  Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to more than 18,000 ASI distributor firms.  Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain more than 750,000 promotional products, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers.  ASI provides catalogs, informational directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers interactive e-commerce, marketing and selling tools.  Visit www.asicentral.com.