Steven Meyer, MAS PPAI Hall of Fame Building Lasting Relationships STEVEN MEYER, MAS, was managing a drugstore in Willmar, Minnesota, in 1998, when he received a phone call from Jim Moore, MAS, principal at then-supplier Molenaar, inviting him to an interview. Meyer didn’t know Moore and wasn’t looking for a job, but a mutual friend, Dan Hansen of Hansen Advertising, thought Meyer would be a perfect fit for selling promotional products. Meyer was not at all interested in sales, but he says Moore’s pitch and professionalism captivated him and sealed the deal. In exchange for training Meyer, Moore stipulated that he had to get involved in a regional association. “Part of our agreement was that I would volunteer for UMAPP, and someday, if I was lucky, I might be able to get on a PPAI task force or committee,” Meyer says. While attending PPAI’s 1998 Summer Show in St. Louis, he watched a board presentation and was immediately hooked. Meyer became an active participant in the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals, which ultimately led to his election to its board in 2003. He went on to serve as vice president in 2008 and then as president in 2009. At the same time, he volunteered for PPAI, starting on the Suppliers Committee and Membership Committee in 2002. Over the next decade, Meyer served a term, and sometimes two, on most of PPAI’s committees, advisory councils and work groups. He also was an industry speaker and a participant in PPAI’s Legislative Education and Action Day on Capitol Hill. In 2009, Meyer was elected to the PPAI Board of Directors, becoming chair in 2012. But his love for industry service wasn’t yet satiated. After his board service was complete, he continued to give of his time and talent to the Promotional Products Education Foundation, among other initiatives. “Steven’s dedication to the growth and integrity of our industry is both exemplary and inspiring.” —STEVE EHLERT 56 • JANUARY 2026 • PPAI Must Read | PPAI Icons
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