Dan Messerschmidt, JDS Industries
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(November/December 2024) We’ll be walking the show floor of the International Personalization Expo in Las Vegas before you know it. Thousands of personalization pros will join us at the Horseshoe Las Vegas for the biggest show in the industry, Feb. 4–7. We will be there because we are all investing in the success of our companies—regardless of your business type or size.

Dan Messerschmidt, JDS Industries
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(September/October 2024) APA’s roots are carrots. Allow me to explain. APA   members have deep roots in corporate recog-nition. And in corporate recognition, the phrase “carrot and stick” describes the use of a mix of rewards (carrots) and punishments (sticks). You and I know that in the workplace, carrots are more effective motivators than sticks.

APA was founded in that belief. Sixty years ago, our association was started “when visionary Stan Seaman brought together 12 awards retailers and one supplier to form the Northern California Trophy Dealers Association,” APA’s website explains.

Dan Messerschmidt, JDS Industries
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(July/August 2024) For a lot of small businesses, hiring staff is hard. It’s an extra job to do, one that requires different skills than personalizing products or operating a company.

But when you think about it, needing to hire staff is often a good problem to have. If you’re adding to your staff, it’s likely due to the growth of your business, which is definitely a positive. If you are replacing an existing employee, you have an opportunity to add someone who will bring excellent skills and a great work ethic that could help re-energize existing staff.

Even with a lot of hiring experience, we’re always looking to get better. After all, it’s crucial that we hire team players who get what it is that we do and why we do want to be part of that success.

Dan Messerschmidt, JDS Industries
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(May/June 2024) The modern world can be isolating. We’re so busy that building genuine connections can seem like a lost art—or a luxury we can’t afford to make time for. But humans are social creatures. Craving connection isn’t a weakness, it’s a fundamental need.

Psychologist Abraham Harold Maslow is famous for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which outlines basic needs that must be met before we can address our psychological needs and eventually try to achieve self-fulfillment.

Belonging and love are smack-dab in the middle of Maslow’s pyramid. Once we’ve fulfilled our basic needs (physiological needs and safety), we need relationships and friends or we can’t advance to trying to meet our needs for respect, recognition, self-esteem, and eventually, self-actualization.

Dan Messerschmidt, JDS Industries
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(March/April 2024) Many of you know me, but for those who don’t: Hi, I’m Dan Messerschmidt, your recently inducted APA president. I’m the national sales director for JDS Industries, an APA supplier member and one of its strong supporters. I joined the industry in 2011 and volunteered with APA almost immediately.

My service to APA began on the Trade Show Committee (2012-2015). I chaired the committee for a year before being elected to APA’s Board of Directors from 2016 to 2018, serving the final year as a member of the Executive Committee. In 2021, the membership elected me to the board for a second time. This February, at the International Personalization Expo, I was officially inducted as APA president.

In the whirlwind of activities at the 2024 International Personalization Expo, two significant events stood as pillars of celebration and recognition: the Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation (ARIEF) Scholarships and the esteemed Gold Obelisk Award Ceremony. Nestled within the vibrant atmosphere of the expo, these events underscored the industry's commitment to education, innovation, and excellence.

As the APA steps into a new era, we are delighted to introduce the latest additions to our esteemed Board of Directors (BOD) for the 2024-25 term.

Amidst the vibrant energy of Las Vegas, APA hosted the annual International Personalization Expo at Paris Las Vegas, coinciding with the excitement of Super Bowl week. Welcoming industry leaders, innovators, and personalization enthusiasts, this year's expo was more than just a gathering —it was a celebration of collaboration, community, and the growing potential of the personalization industry.

Niels Norby, NetSoft Studio, LLC
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(January/February 2024) Leaders strive to leave a lasting impression on their organization. The way they want to make their mark—from passing along a legacy of innovation or being remembered for their empathy—is unique to each individual.

In my case, recent changes to APA’s branding will be part of my legacy as president of the organization. I couldn’t be prouder! As we previously announced, APA made important updates to our brand in November:

Niels Norby, NetSoft Studio, LLC
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(November/December 2023) No matter where your business is—physically or developmentally—APA offers specialized resources to cater to you.

I’ve been thinking about the cycle of business ownership because I recently completed the sale of my retail shop, officially moving to the supplier side of our association with my newer company. As I see it, there are four “eras” to a retail company’s evolution in our industry, and the upcoming International Personalization Expo is a great example of how the association helps you at each stage.

(November 2023)
We’re happy to share some exciting changes to our association.

Leadership has conducted months of research and focus groups ahead of these updates. We needed to be certain we’re heading in the right direction—one that is visibly inclusive of our current and future members, regardless of which products they personalize.

Niels Norby, NetSoft Studio, LLC
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(September/October 2023) The personalization industry is always changing, and you’ve had to make sure your business evolves with it to guarantee success and longevity.

APA’s leadership—which comprises industry professionals—is tasked with ensuring our association evolves, too. Ideally, we keep APA on pace with the member companies known for innovation! Sometimes, we just need to bring the right ideas to the table. Other times, we need to make tough decisions to boldly move forward. We have to explore and take risks so the association’s membership can reap the rewards.

Niels Norby, NetSoft Studio, LLC
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(July/August 2023) The International Personalization Expo is always exciting. It’s the biggest and best trade show in our industry, and we’re looking forward to the 2024 Expo, Feb. 6-9, at Paris Las Vegas.

We’re not the only ones. Las Vegas hosts 24,000 conventions with 6.5 million attendees annually, which would probably overwhelm any other city. Like any convention location, we’ve occasionally shared hallways with other convention attendees—which is sometimes eyebrow-raising when our meeting-space neighbors are there for an entertainment fan fest rather than a professional conference.

Niels Norby, NetSoft Studio, LLC
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(May/June 2023) Your APA leaders—the Board of Directors and our committees—are all active members of the industry. We’re people who have gained so much from APA membership that we decided to give back by volunteering.

We’re not significantly different than you, nor are our businesses. We face the same challenges and represent a healthy mix of retailer and supplier companies. (Or, in my case, I’ve been a retailer and a supplier.) This enables us to look out for members’ best interests.

Niels Norby, NetSoft Studio, LLC
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(March/April 2023) As is our organization’s tradition, outgoing APA President John Stangle, CRM, passed the gavel to me in February at the International Personalization & Awards Expo in Las Vegas.

The ceremonial handoff, from a retailer to a supplier, highlights APA’s unique partnership between the two groups. The association must continually ensure that the interests of both types of members are balanced, and that’s a job I’m uniquely qualified for.

John Stangle, CRM, Creative Awards & Screen Printing
President, APA - Where Personalization Pros Connect

(January/February 2023) Well, this past year has sure flown by. I want to thank everyone for the journey of being associated with this great organization.

On the surface, the APA is an organization that connects you to a wider group that is committed to talking about engraving or awards or gifts or the many other commonalities we share. But the APA is also a family—a community if you will. I have been fortunate enough to meet some of the nicest and most dedicated volunteers who all share one common trait: the love for our industry.

John Stangle, CRM, Creative Awards & Screen Printing
President, Awards and Personalization Association

(November/December 2022) APA’s 2023 International Personalization & Awards Expo is coming along beautifully. Our website, awardspersonalization.org, has all the information you need about the Expo, including a list of suppliers that will be showing off classic and new products. On the website, you can register for the Expo and select educational classes you would like to attend. In addition to learning opportunities, attendees will be able to take part in the Party on the Show Floor on Wednesday evening, the awards celebration on Thursday evening (for an additional fee) and the member breakfast meeting on Friday morning.

John Stangle, CRM, Creative Awards & Screen Printing
President, Awards and Personalization Association

(September/October 2022) Tony Robbins, a prolific motivational speaker, doesn’t mince words when it comes to volunteering. According to an article on his website, Robbins says: “Giving back is paramount to finding meaning in your life. Why? Because the secret to living is giving. No matter how busy or cash-strapped you might be, you have something unique to offer others.” 

John Stangle, CRM, Creative Awards & Screen Printing
President, Awards and Personalization Association

(July/August 2022) I received a phone call the other day, with the caller wanting to know if we had any trophies. I told her, “Yes, we do!” She said she was looking for an unusual trophy, something to do with dogs. I told her we had dog figures available. She further explained that she was looking for an inexpensive trophy for a fundraiser. Sound familiar so far? She then said it could be something we had lying around, like a discontinued or leftover trophy. By now I’m thinking to myself, “How do I get rid of this call politely?”

(May/June 2022) I take it for granted that information is available at my fingertips whenever I want. The difficulty now is determining what is relevant and useful.

Over the last decade or so, I’ve discovered many online resources that are indispensable to me and my career. These resources include, but aren’t limited to, fonts, images/photos, production tutorials, community resources, templates, color knowledge and examples, graphic design tutorials, fabrication tips and design inspiration.