Mary Jo Tomasini has grown her business in many ways over the past 25 years, but her expansion into a major market presence through establishment of a new Denver, Colorado office is a huge advancement, bringing a real game-changing potential to her entire Competitive Edge line-up. Tomasini announced Thursday the addition not only of a second unit — the Denver site — but also key new players at her Stevensville headquarters going forward.
According to Tomasini, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Competitive Edge, “The opening of a second location in Denver strengthens the Competitive Edge brand and presence in a very dynamic and growing market. The time is right to expand our reach of providing best-in-class promotional products coupled with our outstanding customer service to markets throughout the country.”
Katie Kapp is running the Denver Competitive Edge location as Market Manager. Kapp began her career at Competitive Edge as an account executive at the company’s headquarters in Stevensville, in October 2016. Kapp will be developing business in the West. She has already been cultivating customer relationships and growing the business with various companies throughout the region.
Prior to joining Competitive Edge, Kapp received her Bachelors of Business Administration from Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business with a major in marketing and a minor in general business. She has played a pivotal role at Competitive Edge keeping new ideas flowing while working alongside team members to increase awareness of the importance that promotional products play in branding.
Tomasini says, “Katie’s commitment to our customers and prospects is a perfect fit for her new role,” and adds, “We are delighted that she will be working to create awareness of the CE Competitive Edge brand and build a successful client base in our second location.”
Also supporting the growth of the Colorado market will be Niki Strong, Account Manager, who will be providing consultation for promotional products, branding, award and recognition programs for customers in Colorado and beyond.
Before joining the Competitive Edge team, Strong spent most of her time serving the country in the United States Army, and was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in both 2004 and 2006. Strong met her husband during her first deployment. She transitioned into the Army Reserves in 2008, and in 2010 she left the military to start a family.
She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in 2018 from the University of Phoenix. Strong, dedicated to the lifelong learning process, is pursuing her Certified Advertising Specialist certification from the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI).
Meanwhile, Tomasini’s team has added two key positions at the home office in Stevensville through promotions as they expand their expertise and brand into additional markets.
Shelly Wermund has been promoted to Program Manager where she will be responsible for managing Competitive Edge’s online and print custom stores created for its customers. She will be involved with the creation and execution of customer programs, as well as customer service and logistics management. She will partner with clients to build programs customized to fit their specific needs.
Wermund joined the team in 2014 as a Sales and Project Assistant and has played a significant role on the Competitive Edge team. President Paula Wygonik says, “Shelly has earned this opportunity through the successful development and implementation of many ongoing programs across several industry verticals including financial, education, healthcare, manufacturing and many more. Our program clients have come to rely on Shelly for insightful product recommendations, user-friendly ordering interface and buttoned-up fulfillment and delivery. Shelly is considered by many of our clients as part of their marketing team.”
Jenna Stanton will be managing Competitive Edge’s Marketing & Partner Support. She will coordinate the organization’s marketing initiatives and social media. Stanton will also serve as a liaison for Competitive Edge’s vendor and supplier relations. According CEO, Mary Jo Tomasini, “Jenna is a true advocate for our clients and their success which makes this a natural fit for this pivotal role. As we grow the Competitive Edge footprint, Jenna will be able to identify and reach into various markets creating awareness and highlighting the importance that promotional products play in an organization’s marketing initiatives.”
Stanton started with Competitive Edge in June 2018. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Business from Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana, in 2011.
Shown in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market are new Denver reps Katie Kapp on the left and Niki Strong on the right.
