PromoKitchen Introduces New Chair of the Board for 2024, Adds 6 Industry Professionals to Its Board of Directors
(January 1, 2024) New flavors, new spices, new chefs! PromoKitchen, the all-volunteer, 501C non-profit that focuses on education and mentorship in the promotional products industry, is spicing things up in the kitchen with a brand-new chair and six new board members.
After two years as a chef on the board of PromoKitchen, Ashley Colautti has been named PromoKitchen’s new chair for 2024.
With 16 years of experience in the promotional products industry and perspective in the distributor, supplier and service provider functions of the field, Colautti has most recently been named director of new markets for supplier Spector & Co. She has been a board member of PromoKitchen since 2022 and has been an integral part of the editorial team as well as leading the Mixer committee for the past two years.
On rising to this position Colautti notes, “What I love most about my job is the people I get to work with and the supportive nature of the broader promo culture. In other industries, it's rare to see competitors collaborating but our industry is based on sharing, mentorship and elevating each other to be stronger.” She continues, “organizations like Promokitchen — entering its eleventh year — are central to creating this culture. I’m so excited to have been chosen to lead this group of trailblazers into the future. I’m looking forward to recruiting new members, uncovering new perspectives and seeing the mentorship program thrive.”
2023 PromoKitchen co-chair, Johanna Gottlieb, will move into a vice chair position to assist Colautti in the transition and act, in full PromoKitchen fashion, as a mentor in the new role. Current vice chair Kate Plummer will step down from her position as chair but remain a member of the PromoKitchen Board.
“Change seems to be a trend in my life these days and I’m thrilled to see change at PromoKitchen too! I am confident Ashley is going to lead us to greatness as chair, as she is a proven leader with great vision and execution. I’m so glad I’ll be working with her and helping to take us in new directions. Over the last year, we have revamped our mentor program and gained much traction there. We have so much momentum and I’m excited to see how far we can go!” says Gottlieb.
Adding even more experience and wisdom is the addition of six new chefs to the board. Each chef started as part of PromoKitchen’s sous-chef volunteer program and have continuously proved themselves as standouts and doers in the organization. These change-makers, rockstars and innovators are:
Alyson Anderson, product marketing manager, commonsku
Kate Alvarez, COO, PromoShop Inc.
Kate Masewich, VP Marketing, commonsku
Raul Rodriguez, CPO, Imprint Engine
Christopher Duffy, CEO, Signature Group
Alicia Matthai, owner, Haymaker Promotions
Kate Plummer, board member of PromoKitchen and outgoing vice chair notes, “All of these new chefs have been important parts of PromoKitchen’s evolution and growth. Each has brought something new to the kitchen table and I’m looking forward to what creativity this new slate has cooking.” All new board members have been part of PK’s thriving mentorship program, content creation, and the famous Mixer that happens every year at PPAI’s Expo.
Want to meet the chefs in person? Be sure to come to our Mixer in Vegas on January 15, 2024. Register for the PromoKitchen Mixer here, before it sells out!
About PromoKitchen
PromoKitchen is an all-volunteer, 501c3 non-profit organization (46-5227901) serving the promotional products industry. Led by a cross-section of professionals: suppliers, distributors and service providers, PromoKitchen is committed to furthering the education of industry professionals and elevating the industry status through mentorship opportunities. If you would like to support PromoKitchen, or for ways to get involved, please visit www.promokitchen.org. Follow along on social media @promokitchen, to keep up with all of PromoKitchen’s upcoming initiatives.
By PromoKitchen
Contact: Alyson Anderson
PromoKitchen Communications
[email protected]