
<p>With a new year comes a new awards season. I certainly can&#8217;t speak for anyone else, but I for one am ready to celebrate those mavericks who make the gift and stationery communities feel a little smaller, a little warmer, perhaps even approaching the feel of a second family. After all, isn&#8217;t that what a heartfelt card, a thoughtful gift, or even a visit to a welcoming shop aims to achieve? </p>



<p>Thankfully, there are no shortage of awards programs in the gift and stationery space. I always read about who is honored each time! In this climate, the <a href="https://giftshopmag.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gift Shop® Plus</a> and ;<a href="https://stationerytrends.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stationery Trends</a> teams felt the need to devise a program to genuinely capture the leadership, creativity, compassion and ingenuity shown by those exceptional professionals who drive our communities forward in their diverse roles. </p>



<p>Thus, our dynamic dozen is comprised of retailers, manufacturers, designers, sales managers and executives. Certainly some will be familiar to you, and some won’t. While their job titles vary, all bring that a powerful energy with their presence, prompting their peers to nominate them for this enormous honor. And with that, I&#8217;m so proud to help announce the second class of Gift + Stationery Spotlight Awards honorees. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Angela-Schmook-1-1085x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017427"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Angela Schmook</h3>



<p><strong>Vice President of Operations &; Marketing, ;<a href="https://roadrunnersllc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Road Runners</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Christina-Hall-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017417"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Christina Hall</h3>



<p><strong>Sales Representative, ;<a href="https://www.danrichgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daniel Richards</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-id="10017418" src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Delaney-Womack.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017418"/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-id="10017419" src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dillon-Womack.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017419"/></figure>
</figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Delaney &; Dillon Womack</h3>



<p><strong>Co-Founders, ;<a href="https://wholesaletalent.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Specialty Wholesale Talent Association (SWTA)</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ejibola-Adetokunbo-Taiwo.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017420"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo</h3>



<p><strong>CEO &; Founder, ;<a href="https://www.simplyejibola.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Simply Ejibola</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Erik-Legenhausen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017422"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Erik Legenhausen</h3>



<p><strong>Owner, ;<a href="https://www.noblemicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Noble Mick’s</a> ;&; ;<a href="https://lotusjewelrystudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lotus Jewelry Studio</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Janie-Valencia-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017423"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Janie Velencia</h3>



<p><strong>CEO, ;<a href="https://www.shipfluence.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shipfluence</a> ;&; ;<a href="https://www.thecardbureau.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Card Bureau</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lauren-Hawkins.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017424"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lauren Hawkins</h3>



<p><strong>Showroom Director &; Senior Creative Specialist, ;<a href="https://ctwhomecollection.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CTW Home Collection</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://giftshopmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Liesel-Anne-Callahan.png.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-91735"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Liesel Anne Callahan</h3>



<p><strong>Business Owner, Artist &; Designer, ;<a href="https://lieselannestudios.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liesel Anne Studios</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://giftshopmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lisa-Roberts.png.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-91736"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lisa Roberts</h3>



<p><strong>Owner, ;<a href="https://rockpaperscissorsshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Paper Scissors</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://giftshopmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Renata-Bokalo.png.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-91737"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Renata Bokalo</h3>



<p><strong>Director of Sales, ;<a href="https://shoppeobject.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shoppe Object/ANDMORE</a></strong></p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-30035" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-30035 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="30035" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-10020592 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-favorites tag-noted-2 tag-ampersand-m-studio tag-and-here-we-are tag-approved-by-fritz tag-dear-annabelle tag-design tag-donna-wilson tag-e-frances-paper tag-gert-co tag-greeting-cards tag-gumball-poodle tag-halfpenny-postage tag-heartell-press tag-honeyberry-studios tag-hot-dang-press tag-humdrum-paper tag-illustrating-amy tag-jessica-frasz-studio tag-jones-street-press tag-kands-co tag-karst-goods tag-kyn-you-believe-it tag-letterpress tag-ny-now tag-sarah-schwartz tag-stationery tag-stationery-blog tag-stationery-design tag-stationery-designer tag-stationery-trends tag-thank-you-stationery" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/my-analog-adventure-with-additional-assets/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=120%2C120&;ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=275%2C275&;ssl=1 275w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=372%2C372&;ssl=1 372w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=567%2C567&;ssl=1 567w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=882%2C882&;ssl=1 882w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?resize=50%2C50&;ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/me-3.jpeg?zoom=2&;resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1 200w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/favorites/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Favorites</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/my-analog-adventure-with-additional-assets/">My Analog Adventure, with Additional Assets</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2026-02-13T15:01:15+00:00">February 13, 2026</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="10020592"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://giftshopmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ryan-Martz.png.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-91738"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ryan Martz</h3>



<p><strong>Owner, ;<a href="https://www.fireandpine.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorZZSLhkbM_N3ye8bvOP-8VpCpkkuB38656K2WgX-45n_i1aZrx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fire &; Pine</a></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Shannon-Martin.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017425"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shannon Martin</h3>



<p><strong>Owner &; Creative Director, ;<a href="https://shannonmartindesign.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon Martin Design</a></strong></p>



<p>Congratulations everyone! The Gift Shop Plus team put together more extensive interviews with the honorees <a href="https://giftshopmag.com/article/gift-stationery-spotlight-awards-introducing-the-2025-class-of-honorees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> — ;and we&#8217;ll be sharing stories and advice throughout 2025. </p>



<p>Enormous thanks to our sponsors, <a href="https://www.giftforlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gift For Life</a> and <a href="https://www.andmore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ANDMORE</a>. And I cannot close without tipping my hat to Andrea Padilla of <a href="https://transpacbrands.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Transpac Brands</a> and a 2021 Gift Shop Plus 40 Under 40 winner, Carlos Llanso of <a href="https://www.shoplegacy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Legacy Publishing</a> and a 2024 Spotlight Award Winner, and Eleanor Hunt of ANDMORE. All three stepped up in a big way to help our teams evaluate the entries — not an easy job! — and then jumped on a call to help us finesse this dynamic dozen.</p>



<p>Finally, if you are going to Atlanta Market, your jaunt will not be complete without attending our industry star-studded breakfast reception on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. in AmericasMart, Building 1, Floor 14 Seminar Space. We&#8217;ll officially kick off the year’s festivities — ;and it is always memorable to connect with so many paper and gift nerds in person in one place before we all go back to our screens! </p>



<p>Attendance is free and open to all, but we encourage you to RSVP. ;<a href="https://giftshopmag.com/gift-stationery-spotlight-award-presentation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Please RSVP at this link</a>, and the Spotlight Awards button you see on my site will also take you to the RSVP link. I hope to see you there!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SpotlightAwards_Logo_Black-copy-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017429"/></figure>


Spotlight (Awards) on Atlanta!
