ASI Promotes Dave Vagnoni to Editor of Advantages Magazine

TREVOSE, PA –November 20, 2015 – The Advertising Specialty Institute^® (ASI) today announced it has promoted Dave Vagnoni to editor of Advantages^® magazine.

Mr. Vagnoni, a recipient of a national Jesse H. Neal Award and several ASBPE awards, will continue as a top-rated speaker and spokesperson at ASI trade shows and Power Summit conferences. In addition, he will serve as co-host of PromoTalk, ASI’s new online video series, when it debuts in January.

Advantages is published by ASI and is the $21.5 billion promotional products industry’s go-to resource for distributor sales reps looking for new products, ideas and sales strategies. More suppliers advertise in Advantages than any other industry publication. Notable issues include the “Best Reps” issue in January, the September “Gift Guide” and “New Product Preview” in mid-December.

“Dave is, first and foremost, a terrific journalist who has made enormous contributions to the overall success of ASI’s award-winning editorial department as well as to our national trade shows and industry events,” said ASI Editor in Chief Melinda Ligos. “Now that we’re in the process of re-shaping Advantagesmagazine to appeal more to salespeople who are, by nature, always on the go, we couldn’t think of a stronger leader to usher in a new era for our most popular magazine.”

Under Mr. Vagnoni (Twitter handle @VagnoniASI) Advantageswill offer print and online readers more one-page, quick-read sections, along with a greater focus on self-help and career improvement tips and stronger targeted research to help sales reps narrow in on new and emerging markets. The magazine is also revamping its e-newsletter “Hot Deals,” creating a monthly sales expert online podcast and launching a “Great Debate” video series, featuring Mr. Vagnoni and Counselor Editor Andy Cohen.

Mr. Vagnoni began working as a writer for ASI’s editorial department in October 2008. Three years ago, he was promoted to senior editor of ASI’s award-winning Counselor^® magazine. Prior to joining ASI, Mr. Vagnoni worked as an on-air reporter at multiple network affiliates on the East Coast. He was recognized as one of the top TV storywriters in the country in 2004, honored by his peers with a national Edward R. Murrow Award. He has also been nominated for two television Emmys and several individual Neal Awards. He has appeared on CNN and Headline News, and was named the 2014 ASI Employee of the Year.

Mr. Vagnoni graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University in 2001 with degrees in political science and broadcast journalism, with a minor in psychology. He and his wife, Nanette, live in Pennsburg, PA, with their 3-year old daughter Audriana and 10-month-old son Dominic.

ASI publishes five magazines, eight catalogs and nine digital newsletters. ASI’s growing magazine circulation is audited, which ensures the quality of the readership, and Counselor magazine’s collection of “top” lists – including the Top 40 Distributors and Suppliers – are now the industry standard.

For more information, contact Dawn Marie, manager of public relations, at (215) 953-3119 or[email protected].

About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media, marketing and education organization serving the promotional products industry, with a network of over 25,000 distributors and suppliers throughout North America. ASI leads the industry in technology solutions, providing cloud-based e-commerce, enterprise resource planning software (ERP) and customer relationship management software (CRM). ESP Web^® is the industry’s leading tool for sourcing hundreds of thousands of products. A family-owned business since 1962, ASI also provides online research, marketing, advertising opportunities, trade shows, education, award-winning magazines, newsletters, custom websites and catalogs to help members sell, market and promote their brands. Visit ASI at www.uat-asicentral.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the CEO’s blog.