Every Connection Matters

Universal Connect 2026

 

May 18th – 20th, 2026

See you in Greenville, SC.

 

Join Us in Greenville, SC for Universal Connect!

We’re excited to invite you to Universal Connect, a dynamic, speed-dating style conference where every attendee will have the opportunity to meet with each supplier. This is a fantastic chance to network, explore Greenville, and socialize with fellow members and suppliers.

This year’s reception will feature a Casino Night, an exciting evening of networking, games, and celebration right at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Greenville, SC. Get ready for two days of meaningful one-on-one meetings with top industry suppliers, insightful education sessions, and a little fun along the way.

We look forward to connecting with you and strengthening our relationships! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at +1 864-877-0020.

*Hosted-buyer event: Expenses covered for one attendee, $1,000 for each additional guest.

**You must attend all meetings to be eligible for travel reimbursement. **

 
 

Universal Connect

May 18th - 20th, 2026

P.O. Box 2628
Greer, SC 29652
(864) 877-0020
Congratulations, you have been invited to join us at Universal Connect 2026!
**ONLY members in good standing will be approved to attend the event**
(Membership dues are up to date, and Purchases have been made within the past 6 months)

Member Registration!

Event Schedule

Here is an abbreviated agenda of what you should expect at the next Universal Connect 2026

 

Day 1 – Monday, May 18th

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Education Sessions

Education Session 1 | Accelerating Promotional Products Sales: Proven Strategies from Top Distributors
Presented by: Joan Miracle – ASI

In today’s competitive promotional products marketplace, sustained growth requires more than great products—it takes smarter strategies, stronger processes, and a disciplined approach to winning and keeping clients. In this session, join Joan Miracle of ASI as she shares proven, real‑world sales strategies used by top-performing distributors to drive revenue, increase deal size, and shorten sales cycles through greater efficiency.
Attendees will learn how successful distributors:

  • Position themselves to stand out and win business with corporate buyers
  • Build effective self‑promotion strategies that keep them visible and top of mind
  • Leverage technology to streamline selling and improve sales efficiency
  • Use a consultative sales approach to clearly differentiate from competitors
  • Apply best practices to increase sales, protect margins, and improve profitability

This fast-paced session delivers practical, repeatable strategies distributors can immediately apply to accelerate sales and grow their promotional products business.

Education Session 2 | AI That Actually Sells: Automate Your Outreach, Follow-Up & Pipeline
Presented by: Ron Friedman – MerchPilot

Most distributors know they should be using AI—but few are using it in a way that actually drives revenue.
In this session, Ron Friedman, founder of MerchPilot, will show you how to implement AI agents and automation directly into your sales workflow—so leads don’t fall through the cracks and follow-up happens automatically.
You’ll learn how to:

  • Automate prospecting and outreach without sounding robotic
  • Build AI-powered follow-up systems that nurture and convert
  • Save hours every week while increasing consistency and close rates
  • Turn your sales process into a scalable, repeatable engine

Education SessioEducation Session 3 | Turn Branded Merch Into Recurring Revenue with the Employee Engagement Fund
Presented by: Bernie Borges – Fulfilled@Work Academy™

In today’s price-driven promo market, one-off orders aren’t enough.
In this session, Bernie Borges, founder of Fulfilled@Work Academy™, introduces the Employee Engagement Fund (EEF)—a smarter way to position branded merchandise as part of a funded, strategic initiative instead of a discretionary expense.
You’ll discover how to:

  • Shift from transactional sales to strategic, executive-level conversations
  • Compete (and win) against software-based recognition platforms
  • Help clients allocate annual engagement budgets ($200–$500 per employee)
  • Create predictable, recurring merch revenue streams
  • Compete (and win) against software-based recognition platforms

04:30 PM – 05:30 PM | Registration

05:30 PM | Opening Remarks

06:00 PM – 09:00 PM| Reception

This year’s reception will feature a Casino Night at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Greenville, SC.

Day 2 – Tuesday, May 19th

8:30 AM – 12:05 PM | Suite Meetings

12:05 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM | Keynote Speaker: Jonathan G. Isaacson

Jonathan G. Isaacson, Executive Chair of The Gem Group (Gemline), brings decades of visionary leadership and innovation from one of the promotional products industry’s most respected organizations. Under his guidance, Gemline has grown into an award-winning global leader known for excellence, quality, and forward-thinking business practices, earning distinctions such as Counselor Magazine’s Supplier of the Year and recognition for its impact on economic growth and community leadership.

A widely respected industry leader, Jonathan has been honored as Counselor’s International Person of the Year, Person of the Year, and was recently inducted into the Promotional Products Association Hall of Fame. His expertise in leadership, global expansion, operational excellence, and purpose-driven growth makes him an inspiring voice for the future of business.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Jonathan share insights on innovation, leadership, and building organizations that create lasting impact.

1:50 PM – 3:10 PM | Suite Meetings

3:10 PM – 3:30 PM | Break

3:30 PM – 4:50 PM | Suite Meetings

6:30 PM | Dinner

 

Day 3 – Wednesday, May 20th

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Suite Meetings

12:30 PM | Closing Remarks

Wrap up the conference with final insights, key takeaways, and acknowledgments.