Strengthening Member Engagement and Industry Advancement
Bethlehem, PA — PromoStandards, the leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing data standards within the promotional products industry, announced strategic staff updates designed to enhance execution, strengthen member engagement, and support continued growth across its expanding network.
These changes reflect PromoStandards’ ongoing commitment to delivering greater value to its members while scaling adoption of its API standards across suppliers, distributors, and technology providers.
Expanded Marketing & Communications Leadership
PromoStandards has appointed Kari Banner as its Marketing and Communications Manager, formalizing her contributions to the organization. Many within the PromoStandards community already recognize Kari from her volunteer involvement with the Marketing & Membership Committee since February 2025, where she played a key role in supporting communication efforts and member engagement initiatives.
Kari is a well-known industry professional with deep experience in member engagement, marketing strategy, and program development. She has held roles at Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), where she led member retention programs, strategic communications, partner programs, and industry-facing marketing initiatives. Her background also includes work with Antera Software USA, where she worked with industry companies adopting software solutions leveraging PromoStandards APIs, executing targeted marketing campaigns, managing high-value partnerships, and driving brand visibility across the promotional products landscape.
“We are excited to welcome Kari into an official staff capacity,” said Jessica Shonebarger. “Her deep understanding of the promotional products industry and PromoStandards’ mission, combined with her marketing expertise and industry relationships, will help elevate how we communicate our value and engage with the broader market.”
Refined Focus on Member Engagement
As part of the organizational update, Alex Griffitt has transitioned into the role of Member Engagement & Digital Communications Coordinator, bringing a strong blend of creative media production, digital marketing, and customer-facing experience.
Alex has been actively supporting PromoStandards through content creation, social media management, and event representation, helping to strengthen the organization’s digital presence and industry visibility.
Prior to and alongside his work with PromoStandards, Alex has built a diverse background in digital media and marketing, including:
- Producing & editing digital audio content and podcasts, with a focus on storytelling and audience engagement
- Managing social media channels and creating multimedia content across platforms
- Experience in broadcast and radio production, including scripting, recording, and producing advertisements
- Running an independent creative business, overseeing e-commerce operations, product management, and customer experience
- Supporting local and regional marketing initiatives as an account executive, working directly with clients to develop effective campaigns
His technical skill set spans audio and video production, copywriting, social media strategy, and digital communications, enabling him to connect both creatively and technically with PromoStandards members.
In this role, Alex will focus on improving the member experience through:
- Expanded Office Hours and real-time support
- Website updates and digital communications
- Endpoint assistance and technical member engagement
- Ongoing content development to support education and adoption
- Aligning Staff Execution with Strategic Leadership
Supporting Continued Industry Momentum
“As PromoStandards continues to grow, it is important that we align our team structure with the needs of our members and the evolving demands of the industry,” said Jessica Shonebarger, Executive Director of PromoStandards. “These changes allow us to strengthen member support, improve communication, expand educational opportunities, and continue driving adoption of standards that help organizations work more efficiently together. Both Kari and Alex bring valuable experience and unique strengths that will help us better serve the PromoStandards community.” The staff report directly to Jessica Shoenbarger with the goal of these updates is to strengthen operational execution on the staff side while enabling the volunteer leaders to focus more deeply on strategic direction, governance, and leadership within the organization.
“This evolution allows us to better align our resources with the needs of our growing membership,” said Catherine Graham, Vice Chair of PromoStandards. “By strengthening execution and clarifying roles, we can accelerate progress while maintaining strong strategic oversight.”
PromoStandards continues to see increasing adoption of its standards as companies seek greater efficiency, accuracy, and automation across the promotional products supply chain. These changes position the organization to better support that momentum through improved communication, stronger member support, and increased industry visibility.