Distributor Sites Education as a Key to Business Growth

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Sonya Beam, co-owner of the superhero themed promotions firm, The P.O.P. Shop, sites executive education as a key to business growth. Beam received the Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) designation.

After acquiring more than 100 education hours and many years of experience in the promotional products industry, Beam passed a certification examination administered by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) to receive the CAS certification. Beam is on schedule to test for the Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) designation in 2009, at which time her husband, Brian, will test for the CAS designation.

Individuals with CAS/MAS certification designation are recognized as industry leaders — those who have attained a superior standard of professionalism, knowledge and experience.

One of the ways Sonya Beam accumulated hours toward CAS education included her involvement in the TUCK-WBENC Executive Education Program, presented by IBM. Beam was one of 50 certified Women Business Enterprises (WBE) selected to attend the week-long Ivy League executive education experience provided by Dartmouth College. The primary case study was the participants’ own businesses, and the intensive learning experience focused primarily on increasing the competitive advantage of these 50 WBE companies.

Beam was one of four individuals awarded a $1,250 Professional Development Grant through the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) to cover the cost of industry education.

Sonya Beam