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CHICAGO, IL – July 23, 2026
Randy Carr of World Emblem named Counselor Person of the Year;
Counselor Top 40 rankings revealed
The Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI), the leading authority in the $27.7 billion promotional products industry, today announced the recipients of the 2026 Counselor Awards, recognizing the most influential leaders, companies and innovators in the promotional products industry.
Randy Carr, president and CEO of World Emblem (asi/98264), was named Counselor Person of the Year. A bold, unconventional leader known for taking calculated risks, Carr has transformed the Counselor Top 40 supplier into one of the industry’s fastest-growing companies through strategic investments in manufacturing and technology. He has also become one of the industry’s leading voices on business strategy and tariffs, expanding World Emblem’s manufacturing footprint while earning national recognition from The New York Times and CNN for his insights on global trade.
Fred Misseri of SYNNEO was named Counselor International Person of the Year. During nearly 35 years in the promotional products industry, he helped transform SYNNEO into France’s largest distributor while building a reputation for uniting industry leaders, advancing sustainability and championing promo’s measurable ROI. He spearheaded a landmark global CO2 study highlighting promo’s environmental advantages over digital advertising, helping elevate the industry voice and impact worldwide.
Counselor also unveiled its annual Top 40 distributor and supplier rankings, recognizing the largest companies in the promotional products industry based on 2025 North American promotional products revenue. Together, Counselor Top 40 distributors generated $10.6 billion in 2025, while Top 40 suppliers produced $13.8 billion.
The 2026 Counselor Awards were presented Wednesday night at a celebratory ceremony at McCormick Place Convention Center during the 27th annual ASI Show Chicago. Full profiles and photos of all award recipients are available now at asicentral.com/news.
First presented in 1965, the Counselor Person of the Year honor is one of the promotional products industry’s most prestigious recognitions.
“The Counselor Awards celebrate the very best of our industry – the leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and organizations who continue to raise the bar for everyone around them,” said ASI CEO Ashish Mittal. “Their achievements remind us that success isn’t just measured by growth or sales, but by a willingness to keep learning, embrace change, build strong relationships and inspire others. While we’re celebrating individual achievements, we’re also celebrating the collective strength and bright future of our entire industry.”
The 2026 Counselor Award recipients are:
2026 Counselor Top 40 Highlights:
Recipients of the Counselor Awards are nominated by industry peers and selected by an in-house committee. Honorees are featured in Counselor magazine’s annual State of the Industry issue, published online and in print this week. Drawing on data from Counselor’s annual State of the Industry survey, the issue provides in-depth reporting and analysis on the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the promotional products industry.
About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI®, asicentral.com) is the premier technology, marketing and information provider in the $27.7 billion promotional products industry. ASI’s flagship platform ESP+ connects tens of thousands of distributors and suppliers through a powerful, all-in-one system for product discovery, sourcing, presentations and online stores. Family-owned since 1962, ASI also delivers trusted industry news, research, shows, events and education that help companies grow.