2013 National Sales Meeting A brief review of the activities and announcements from the 2013 National Sales Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

1. SPECIAL EDITION:
2013 NATIONAL
SALES MEETING
The Sterling News Published by HALO Branded Solutions
Editor Stephanie Preston | Director of Marketing | Layout, Design & Writing Marc Book | Marketing Consultant
AUGUST
2013
2013 National
Sales Meeting
A brief review of
the activities and
announcements from
the 2013 National
Sales Meeting in
Chicago, Illinois.
Page 1
NATIONAL SALES
MEETING PHOTO
GALLERY
Highlighting the 2013
National Sales Meeting
through photographs
and quotations from
Account Executives and
Preferred Suppliers.
Pages 2-8
2013 NATIONAL SALES MEETING
The amazing teams that make up the HALO organization gathered again,
this time for the 2013 National Sales Meeting. The Windy City beckoned
as Account Executives, staff and suppliers headed to Chicago, IL the week
of July 23rd-26th. This was the largest event to date, breaking all previous
records, with 210 AE’s in attendance and nearly 130 suppliers exhibiting
and participating in the trade show on Thursday.
The Sales Meeting kicked off with a short preview of the week from CEO, Marc Simon, before boarding
double-decker buses to tour downtown Chicago for a proper introduction to the city. The tours ended at
Navy Pier where the group boarded the Anita Dee II yacht for an adventurous dinner cruise. The waves
were strong on Lake Michigan but that didn’t keep the HALO group from having a great time catching up
and networking.
Wednesday morning marked the return of Vendor Compression Sessions. The 10 minute presentations
provided a quick and informative glimpse into 32 vendors’ strategies and specials to increase sales. The
evening offered dine arounds, sponsored by HALO’s Preferred Suppliers, at 20 of Chicago’s top restaurants.
The best trade show in the industry kicked off on Thursday. The theme, in true Chicago fashion, was
Blues Brothers. Nearly all of the suppliers participated in the theme this year. Gemline took top honors for
“Best Supplier Booth“ and the New Product Pavilion showcased over 75 of the hottest items of the year.
TriMark powered by Leeds took home the “Best New Product” this year with their Oyama Knit Jacket (Item
# 18120).
Thursday evening marked the long awaited return to the Sterling Corporate Office. It only took 8 buses
and 2 hours to get the entire team from Chicago to Sterling. The astonished AE’s walked off the buses
to cheers, clapping, and hugs from the Sterling Team as well as the spirited music of the Sterling High
School Marching Band! The night was a delight for everyone in attendance. Food was catered by Sterling’s
own Candlelight Inn (home of the famous “Chicken George”), music provided by a local jazz duo, and one
final performance from the Sterling High School Marching Band’s Drum Line capped the night with an
exclamation point. The Sterling visit was the true highlight of the week offering AE’s and staff the rare
opportunity to spend quality time with each other.
The final day in Chicago began with VIP sessions from 12 Preferred suppliers. The longer and more
comprehensive sessions closed the educational portion of the Sales Meeting. From there it was a short
walk to Chicago’s famous Millennium Park for the closing event. Account Executives and staff were able to
play games, dine on food and drink from Chicago’s own Goose Island Brewery, and were a short walk from
the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Chicago’s iconic Cloud Gate, also lovingly known as “The Bean.”
The 2013 National Sales Meeting was HALO’s greatest event yet made successful by the enthusiastic
participation of Account Executives, Preferred Suppliers and staff. Stay tuned for more details on the date
and location for the 2014 meeting.
Marc Simon, CEO

2. welcomeevent:yachtcruise
2 Kathy Kishpaugh (OH), Tom Thompson (UT), Al
DeMartini (CA) and Pat Thompson (UT)
Faye and John Smith (PA) are
greeted by Pam Gray (Director of
Customer Service)
Jack Mewhirter (President), Steve Parker
(CA) and Tomas Cohan (RVP-Mountain
States) on the Anita Dee II during the Lake
Michigan Dinner Cruise.
Kristi Worthman (CO), Kim Bot (SD), Mercy
Crespo (FL) and Norris Perez (FL) enjoy the view
from the double decker bus.
I feel HALO is a top notch organization
that I’m proud to belong to. The
marketing staff and others who were
involved in planning this deserve a big
round of applause.
- Karen Giattino (TN)
AE’s enjoyed a quick tour of downtown Chicago
atop 4 double-decker buses on Tuesday.

3. welcomeevent:yachtcruise
3
Scott Balestra (MO) & Lisa Madsen (KS)
enjoying the camaraderie and skyline view on the
Anita Dee Dinner cruise.
Dale Limes (SR. VP of Sales), Cathy
Chapman (LA), Kay Rehorn (KS)
Pam Dunagan (TX), Julie Laguarta (TX)
and Brenda Spillman (TX)
Jim Stutz (Exec VP Business Development), Nicki
Staats (Supplier Compliance), Dawn Olds (VP of
Operations), Sunil Reddy (Director of IT Services),
Julie Harms (Supplier Relations), Stephanie
Preston (Director of Marketing)
Debbie Ward (CA), Susan Kornblatt (MD), Cathy
Hodin (MD) and Linda Carrow (SC)
Carole Higgins-Kelly (TX), Marilyn Dowell
(TX), Jon Kelly (TX) and Kirsten Bury (GA)
Karen Giattino (TN) and
Laura Bernon (FL)
The immense effort it took to pull
off the logistics of this meeting is
amazing... and greatly appreciated!
The Sterling visit was the highpoint
for sure.
- Cathy Chapman (LA)

4. EveningEvent:sterlingvisit
4
“The positive energy we created
in Chicago provides tremendous
momentum for our team for the
balance of 2013!”
- Jim Stutz (Exec VP of Business
Development)
Casey Halsne (Sterling CSR) greets one her
Account Executives, Deb McKenzie (CO).
Katie Sweeney (OH) shows her excitement
upon arriving in Sterling.
Jim Stutz thanked the teams for their
tremendous efforts this year and highlighted
achievements and anniversaries.
Marc Simon (CEO) addressed the crowd in
Sterling.

5. EveningEvent:sterlingvisit
5
Sharon Steffan (CA) and Steven Perlmuter (CA)
Eric Tucker (CA), Mandie Kusk (Apparel Order Editor),
Jim Ianora (NY) and Paul Steinberg (RVP-Northeast)
HALO AE’s and Staff playing the back yard
game of Cornhole.
Seated: Rick Greene (RVP-Western Region), Jeff
Goda (AZ), Jean Sillman (MI). Standing: Linda
Carrow (SC), Georgia Staley (Billing) and Kevin
Vaughn (AZ)
Tomas Cohan (RVP-Mountain States) and his
Colorado crew pose for a photo.
The Sterling High School Drum Line performs.
Chris Reese (TX), Scott Berry (MI), Tracy Kuhn
(CSR), Jane Miller (MI), Linda Stephens (CO)

6. Closingevent:MilliniumPark
6
Seated: Charlie Stevens (RVP-Baltimore), Rich
Rothschild (MD). Standing: Jack Wilson (CO), Sara
Fran Richman (MD), Linda Cline (NY), Linda Milikin
(MD) and Becky Schumacher (MD)
Sara McDermott (MO), Linda Greathouse (MO),
Ross Loevy (MO), Karen Salger (IL), Julie Reimer
(IL), Brian Hiner (RVP-Midwest), Matt Gallegos (IL)
and Casey Silseth (IL)
Kim Bot (SD), Randy
Southard (OH) and Eric
Ekstrand (RVP-Mid-Atlantic)
Guests enjoy The Grant Park Symphony at the Jay Pritzker
Pavilion in Millennium Park.
Front: Ginger Hutter (TX), Donna LeBlanc
(TX), Sheri Breaux (TX). Back: Susan
Kornblatt (MD) and Steven Perlmuter (CA)
Jim Pribble (OH), Dawn Olds (VP of Operations),
Jim Woodburn (CO), Jack Mewhirter (President),
John Helder (NJ) and Tom Heneghan (MA)
As a supplier, the HALO
meeting is a ‘can’t
miss.’ The format,
sales people, and
organization are simply
the best in the industry.
- Patty Ceranski
(Gemline)

7. Closingevent:MilleniumPark
7
Chris Piper (RVP-Northwest), Mitch Rhodus (OH),
Dale Limes (SVP Sales), Jim Stutz (EVP), Tomas
Cohan (RVP-Mountain States), Chuck Connelley (CO)
Seated: Danny Simon (IL), Stanley Ng (CA), Marcy Simon, Marc Simon (CEO). Standing: Julie Harms
(Supplier Relations), Sunil Reddy (Director of IT Services), Marti Eastman (Program Operations Manager),
Shannon Weinrich (OP Manager), Lisa LeMond (Gill Studios) and Stephanie Preston (Director of Marketing).
Seated: Pam Gray (Director of Customer
Service), Linda Janczkowski (CFO). Standing:
Mary Pat Stewart (Customer Service
Supervisor), Hilary Abes (FL), Phyllis Jones
(RVP-South), Mary Wickstrom (MN), Darren
Ankosko (RTB West) and Michael Abes (FL)
“It was another outstanding meeting, Chicago was a great town to
see - Sterling was so much fun! So great to meet the people we
work with on a daily basis, thank you!
- Gwen Knight (PA)
HALO Account Executives and staff enjoy the symphony at Millennium Park.

8. Education,Tradeshow
&dinearounds
8
Stephen Smidt (St. Regis Crystal) shows off some
new products during Compresssion Sessions.
Kelly Borre (AAA Umbrella) shows off custom
printing options during Compression Sessions.
Brett Garran (Edwards Garment) presents
at a VIP Session.
Phyllis Jones (RVP-South), DeShaun Diggs
(Gemline), Patty Ceranski (Gemline) and Lori
Dobrez (Gemline) show product to HALO AE, Dell
Macklin (AL).
Suppliers treated groups of HALO
AE’s to dinner at 20 of Chicago’s best
restaurants on Wednesday Night.
Chris Piper (RVP-Northwest) and Rick Greene
(RVP-West) show off their Blues Brothers look.