Hinda Welcomes Greg Whitacre on Board as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Hinda Incentives is pleased to announce the hiring of Greg Whitacre as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. During the past five years, Greg held sales leadership roles with Marriott International, Inc., most notably its Global Individual Incentives business.

Prior to Marriott, Greg amassed an impressive career in the incentive marketing/employee engagement industry, spending 13 years at Maritz and 10 years managing his own company, G-FORCE Incentives, Meetings and Events. His undergraduate degree and graduate studies were at Northern Illinois University while on a full football scholarship, followed by a graduate assistant coaching position.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Greg join our senior executive team,” says Dave Peer, President of Hinda Incentives. “He’s a tremendous leader who has a great passion for incentive marketing and employee engagement strategies. Hinda, as well as the whole industry, will benefit greatly from his experience, knowledge of the business and long-standing industry relations.”

LeeAnn Schumacher Joins Hinda as Director of Merchandising

Hinda Incentives is pleased to announce the newest addition to the team. LeeAnn Schumacher has been named the Director of Merchandising. Previously, LeeAnn was the director, merchandising and procurement for Summit Group, LLC. Prior to that, she was vice president business management/ sourcing for Enesco, Inc. and also had stints with Wilton Industries and Spiegel, Inc. She brings more than 25 years of global sourcing experience to Hinda.

“LeeAnn brings extensive experience in all aspects of the incentive merchandising supply chain to Hinda,” says Hinda president Dave Peer. “Her client focus provides the ability to partner with our suppliers as well as with clients, providing a new level of engagement in this important area of Hinda.”

LeeAnn, who has her Incentive Professional (IP) designation from the Incentive Marketing Association, will be responsible for finding innovative products and designing new merchandise assortments to programs. “I’m really excited to be working with such a successful and growing organization,” she says. “I plan on strengthening supplier relations and using these techniques to maximize revenue.”

LeeAnn lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, Jeffrey Forsythe. She enjoys reading, vintage shopping, scrapbooking, art and theater. She’s also an avid button collector.

Welcome aboard, LeeAnn!

Dave Peer Talks to Premium Incentive Products about the Future of the IMA

“As we approach the end of the year, the IMA maintains its quest to inspire – through annual events such as the Motivation Show – and looks to 2013 and beyond with optimism, continuing its position as a promoter of the incentive industry,” says Deborah L. Vence, Associate Editor of Premium Incentive Products (PIP) magazine, at the beginning of her article “IMA Roundtable: Education and Partnerships are Vital for Incentive Industry Growth.”

Vence’s article in the November/December 2012 issue surveys top industry experts who are also IMA board members about what the IMA has to offer, and Hinda president Dave Peer – who is also the president of the IMA – weighed in.

According to her article, Vence states that, “…the Incentive Marketing Association [is] an organization that’s become known to many for imparting value to its members by offering education, research and networking opportunities, all while presenting resourceful ways to acknowledge employees, sales professionals, channel partners and customers.” And there’s no sign of this changing or slowing down in the coming year.

“A big benefit is the opportunity to exchange information with people who are experienced and who are facing the same challenges as you,” Peer says. “[There’s a] great deal of trust, so even competitors can get together and discuss things in a way that is mutually beneficial… One of the most important benefits is the annual IMA summit, which will be held in Denver in 2013. The Summit has emerged as one of the premier events in our industry where top talent is able to get together, attend workshops, exchange information and educate one another.”

Peer also says that that the IMA and its members are vital when it comes to lobbying the benefits of properly designed and managed reward programs with legislators in Washington, DC. The industry came under fire earlier this year with the GSA scandal, and the IMA and its members have taken pains in the aftermath to return the industry to a positive light and to stress the key initiatives of the IMA, which Peer says include ensuring the financial strength of the association, continuing to improve member benefits and communication and collaboration with industry trade groups to further generate awareness of the business.

“I’m confident about the future of our industry,” he says. “We’re seeing significant recovery from the Great Recession, and companies have recognized the need to engage and retain employees. There is also fierce competition in consumer loyalty… The IMA will remain the primary resource and advocate for all facets of the incentive industry but will adapt to change as the market does. The IMA services as the primary industry resource for education, research, advocacy and networking, and the association will evolve and continue to serve in this important role.”

Hinda Announces 2012 Golden Carrot Award Winners: Apple and Mach 1 Global Services

Hinda Incentives has announced the winners of the prestigious Golden Carrot Award, which were presented at the Hinda Incentives headquarters today in conjunction with the Motivation Show. 

Apple and Mach 1 Global Services, Hinda’s home delivery carrier, were selected as this year’s winners by demonstrating a solid commitment to providing innovation, service and cutting-edge products to the multi-billion-dollar incentive market. Hinda’s Golden Carrot Award recognizes its supplier partners who have consistently demonstrated dedication to the field of incentives.

"When you put two top companies like Apple and Hinda together, it results in a great partnership,” says Rick Bowen, Hinda’s Merchandise Manager. “Candice Lacrosse (Senior Account Manager, Corporate Gifting and Rewards for Apple, Great Lakes Region), has worked very hard with our team to include Apple products in our programs in a timely manner. We are both dedicated to delivering the best product and the best service to our award winners. Candice and Apple have been supportive and are an important partnership."

“It's an honor to receive the Golden Carrot Award,” says Lacrosse. “We’re very excited about it. We have built a solid relationship with both Rick Bowen and Michelle Flores (Merchandise Buyer and Hinda) and only see that relationship growing. Both are a pleasure to work with and they definitely keep us on our toes.”

Winning the Golden Carrot Award was a sweet surprise for Kari Thomsen, District Manager for Mach 1 Global Services.

“We are so happy to receive this award because we had to work hard to earn Hinda’s business,” says Thomsen. “I went to see Benito [Bustamante, Hinda’s Warehouse Manager] every Thursday to promise him the world. It took a lot of work to gain his trust and earn some business, but after six months he finally gave us an opportunity. Now I feel like we are an extension of Hinda.” Mach 1 Global Services CEO, Jamie Fletcher, who is based in Phoenix, also attended the award presentation.

Bustamante did finally give Thomsen an opportunity, but admits they tested Mach 1 with some really difficult deliveries.

“We gave Mach 1 some very challenging shipments and they stepped up to the plate,” says Bustamante. “Kari goes above and beyond. She’s on call 24/7 for us. She gets it. She knows we are delivering awards and how important that is. At Hinda, we deliver a superior customer experience.”

Selection for the Golden Carrot Award is very competitive. The extensive list of criteria for winning suppliers include high-quality products, innovation, timeliness of deliveries, prompt follow-up, the ability to provide updated product information and reliability, among others.

Check out pictures from the ceremony here!

Two Recognition Leaders Merge: The TharpeRobbins Company Teams Up with Hinda Incentives

Based on a foundation of innovation and success, two leaders in the managed recognition and rewards industry have joined forces. Hinda Incentives based in Chicago has been acquired by the TharpeRobbins Company Inc. headquartered in Statesville, N.C. The companies will continue to operate separately under their current leaderships, with Brett Tharpe as president and chief executive officer of TharpeRobbins and Dave Peer as president of Hinda Incentives.

“This strategic merger combines the strengths of two companies built on innovation, customer service and flexibility,” Tharpe says. “Together we will strengthen our consultative services, rewards and new programs to help our customers achieve higher levels of employee engagement and retention in an increasingly competitive labor market.”

“The collective strength of our companies and our commitment to the incentive industry will provide clients with the best possible resources when implementing reward and recognition programs,” Peer says.  “With TharpeRobbins’s expertise in the employee arena and Hinda’s expertise in the consumer, sales and channel programs, the products and services offered by each company naturally complement one another. It is an ideal fit.” 

Hinda’s focus remains on being the premier award supplier offering innovative technology and award solutions. Through infinitE℠, the 40-year-old Hinda Incentives offers millions of reward choices ranging from brand-name merchandise and digital awards to books and entertainment with flexible solutions and well-developed web platforms for program management.

TharpeRobbins is one of the first companies to bundle program design and administration with product fulfillment, thereby providing human resources professionals with one-stop shopping for employee recognition solutions. With its world-class technology, ranging from basic reporting to full system integration for service and performance awards programs, TharpeRobbins offers options that are easily configurable. 

“Today’s dynamic workforce is diverse with rapidly changing interests,” Tharpe says.  “This merger will enable us to bring ever creative solutions while identifying emerging trends. We will be able to provide even greater program configuration and corporate personalization in the products we offer, as well as in the presentation of the awards.”

For more than 100 years, TharpeRobbins’ rich history as an innovator has covered the breadth of managed reward and recognition programs.  The company fosters superior performance by creating new standards for employee recognition and rewards through imaginative solutions, cutting edge programs, flawless execution, professional service and world-class technology. TharpeRobbins built its reputation on developing customized programs to help clients reach their employee attraction and retention goals. The company is passionate about recognition because they know that an engaged workforce produces satisfied customers, which in turn produces more business. With TharpeRobbins, Recognition Changes Everything.   

The privately-held TharpeRobbins was created through the February 2007 merger of The Robbins Company, founded in 1892, and the Tharpe Company Inc., founded in 1981. The company headquarters are located on a 25-acre campus in Statesville, N.C. and include an extensive showroom and state-of-the-art distribution facility. The ISO-certified Attleboro, Mass., operations include creative services, software development and jewelry manufacturing.