Josh Ellis

1 week ago | ppai.org | Josh Ellis

(PPAI 111408, Gold), PPAI 100's No. 29 supplier, has announced that Pete Gleason, MAS, is returning to the company in the role of vice president of sales after nearly a decade away. Gleason had previously worked at BAG MAKERS from 2009-2016. He held the same VP of sales title when he departed the supplier. Between his two stints with the company, he worked at CPS Keystone Line, a plastic manufacturer, as the vice president of business development.

4 weeks ago | ppai.org | Josh Ellis

In what is expected to be a particularly busy year for promotional products industry consolidation, 2025 has its first merger of PPAI 100 suppliers. On Wednesday, private equity firm Mill Point Capital announced its acquisition of Clearwater, Florida-based Koozie Group (PPAI 114187, Platinum), which it is merging with fellow Sunshine State hard goods leader (PPAI 112004, Platinum), already a company in the Mill Point Capital portfolio.

1 month ago | medium.com | Josh Ellis

The Digital Id: On the Moral Perils of Political Demonization in Facebook ReelsThere is a strange kind of magic at work on social media — a magic that transforms complexity into cliché, nuance into noise, and our collective attention into a kind of commodified emotional fuel. Facebook, in particular, has evolved from a space for connection into something far more powerful and far more dangerous.

1 month ago | medium.com | Josh Ellis

Josh Ellis·Follow6 min read·--We live in an age where information is abundant, but not all information is created equal. We are constantly surrounded by news — stories that shape our understanding of the world, influence our decisions, and, in many ways, determine the course of our lives. Yet, the vast majority of what we consume is not objective; it’s filtered, framed, and often distorted.

1 month ago | medium.com | Josh Ellis

Josh Ellis·Follow5 min read·--In the digital age, our political discourse has been increasingly shaped by the rapid consumption of bite-sized information. Among the most potent instruments of persuasion — and often, of deception — are political memes. These images, adorned with bold text and simplified narratives, can distill complex issues into digestible, emotionally charged content that spreads virally.