Outsiders to Promo Industry Leaders Panel Discussion

Outsiders to Promo Industry Leaders Panel Discussion

Join us for an insightful and inspiring panel discussion that explores how three top promo professionals transformed their careers by successfully transitioning from outside industries into the promotional products space. Whether you’re new to promo or looking to pivot within your career, this panel discussion offers a roadmap for leveraging past experience to thrive in a fast-evolving industry.

Our panel features industry leaders who didn’t start in promo—but are now leaders in this industry and ultimately helping to shape its future:

Jill Pascuzzi – A dynamic and results-driven sales leader with a proven ability to drive revenue growth, optimize sales processes, and build high-performing teams. As Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Brand Blvd, she has led a diverse team of Account Executives, Account Managers, SDRs, and marketing professionals, achieving double-digit revenue growth and significantly outperforming industry trends. With extensive experience in B2B sales, business development, and marketing, Jill specializes in scaling organizations through consultative selling, data-driven decision-making, and innovative sales strategies. She has successfully implemented new sales processes, restructured compensation models, and introduced customer segmentation strategies—leading to increased customer satisfaction and stronger market positioning. Jill understands the power of hiring outside the industry, leveraging fresh perspectives to build adaptable, high-performing sales teams. She has a track record of mentoring top talent, utilizing technology-driven sales enablement, and fostering a culture of innovation to drive sustained business success.

Dana Zezzo – A professional with over 25 years of experience in the promotional products industry, the majority of which has been spent on the vendor side. Seven years ago, Dana joined American Solutions for Business’ (ASB) senior leadership team as Vice President of Vendor Relations, Marketing, and Events. ASB is recognized as one of the top 20 distributors in the United States, generating over $400 million in annual revenue. Dana’s role at ASB has continuously evolved, and he now serves as the Vice President of Strategic Growth for both ASB and CSB. In this capacity, he leads all global growth initiatives for the parent company, with a strong emphasis on expanding into the Canadian and European markets. Dana is also spearheading the development of a team sports and golf division within the U.S. market. With his vast experience and strategic vision, he plays a crucial role in driving the future growth of ASB and CSB, solidifying their positions as industry leaders.

Yousuf Sandeela – A banker turned entrepreneur who quit banking and bought the Canadian operations of Fully Promoted in early 2021 and became the Franchisor of the brand for all of Canada. Fully Promoted is the world’s largest retail promotional products franchise system with around 300 franchises worldwide. It started operating in Canada in 2002 and currently has 36 franchises across the country serving every sector of the economy. In his banking career, Yousuf served as the Managing Director/ Region Head of Citgroup’s Global Markets businesses in multiple geographies and as a member of the Board of Directors of some of Citigroup’s subsidiaries. He has been an active member of industry associations, consultative committees and self regulatory bodies and has spoken in a variety of public and private sector conferences. He holds an MBA in Finance and a BBA (Honors) in Marketing and Banking. He was recently awarded the Global Master Partner of the Year by the United Franchise Group.

Moderated by Paul Wieleba – Is the owner of {WE} Promotional Advertising, a multi-line sales agency specializing in high-value promotional products. A dedicated leader in the promotional marketing industry, Paul currently serves as the Chair of the PPPC National Board of Directors and is a former President of the PPPC Ontario Chapter, where he has volunteered for over a decade. Paul’s commitment to industry education and growth is evident in the dozens of national and regional educational events he has organized and hosted. His expertise in helping distributors succeed has earned him numerous industry accolades, including Best Supplier Education Tool, Multi-Line of the Year (in partnership with CSI), and the Momentum Award, recognizing creative leaders and dynamic innovators who are dedicated to paving the way for the future of the promotional products industry.

What You’ll Learn:

Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned pro seeking fresh perspectives, this session will leave you energized, informed, and ready to take bold steps in your own career journey.