Incentive Federation Goes to Washington

Twenty Incentive Federation leaders went to Washington D.C. on Tuesday, October 20, as a part of its Congressional Symposium to raise Congress’s awareness of the role incentives play in driving business. The day included formal presentations made by Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) members Richard Blabolil, Marketing Innovators; Michael Dermer, IncentOne; Steve Maselko, Marriott Individual Incentives; Tom Miller, The Miller Company; Stacy Milne, Marriott; Sean Roark, PromoPros; Dave Peer, Hinda Incentives; and Michelle Smith, O.C. Tanner. They shared compelling data on how incentive programs are used to increase participation and meet target goals in employee wellness and safety programs.

Members of IMA, the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Site, and Recognition Planners International (RPI), including IMA president Norma Jean Knollenberg of Top Brands, also met individually with key staff personnel representing Senator Dahlkemper, Senator Durbin, Senator Grassley, Senator Hatch, Senator Kerry, Senator Schumer, and Senator Snow. Under the direction of Incentive Federation executive director and lobbyist Jim Miller, Winston & Strawn LLP, the Federation asked legislators to support a measure allowing tangible awards for participation in wellness programs valued up to $400 for each employee to be nontaxable to the employee and deductible to the employer. The meetings also helped to set the stage for ongoing dialog with Congress on how incentives benefit American business.

The information presented at the Incentive Federation’s Congressional Symposium will be consolidated in a position paper that will be made available to the industry later this year. For information on the Incentive Federation or its Congressional outreach efforts, go to www.incentivefederation.org. To download the Incentive Federation’s white paper on the economic benefits of corporate wellness programs, click here.