These 5 Sales Reps Stood Above the Rest to Earn Rep of the Year Honors | 2026 Retailer Excellence Awards

As part of the 75th annual Retailer Excellence Awards, hosted each year by Gifts & Decorative Accessories, five sales reps were chosen for a 2026 Sales Representative of the Year award at a live ceremony Wednesday, June 24 in Dallas. As GDA has done for the past four years, winners were broken down by region, aiming to recognize the best of the best in five distinct geographical areas.

This year’s awards were presented by Richard Freeman of GSMA and Angela Schmook of Reps are Local Too.

“Sales reps work tirelessly to keep our industry connected and work as valuable partners to both vendors and retailers, and tonight we honor some of the best in our industry who consistently go the extra mile for their clients,” Schmook said just before announcing the winners.

This year’s Sales Representative of the Year winners are:

Northeast: Debbie Traynor, Blake Road Collection

Debbie Traynor has been in sales for more than 30 years, including a decade with Anne McGilvray & Company, covering Western Connecticut, the Hudson Valley, the Bronx, Staten Island and Southern New Jersey. Walk into any store in her territory and her influence is immediately visible: thoughtfully merchandised displays, well-ordered shelves and store owners who speak of her with genuine appreciation. Traynor is hands-on in every account, helping with displays, offering smart ordering guidance and advocating directly with vendors on her retailers’ behalf. She is also mentoring her daughter in the territory and generously guides fellow reps within her agency, sharing her strategies and experience without reservation.

Southeast: Meredith Emory, The Portico Collection

Meredith Emory has been with the Portico Collection for three years, covering Louisiana. In that time, she has built a reputation as one of the most attentive and enthusiastic reps her retailers have encountered. Emory takes inventory, restocks shelves, and refreshes displays. She then follows up with an email summary so busy store owners never miss a beat. Her sharp eye for trends keeps stores well-positioned, and she adapts her communication style to meet each customer’s needs. At market, she brings thoughtful display suggestions and helps buyers envision how pieces will live in their stores. Her response time is consistently fast, and her energy consistently high.

Central/Midwest: Michelle Swearengin, KBD Sales

Michelle Swearengin began her career in the industry in January 2000 and now represents KBD Sales across Southwest Missouri and Northeast Oklahoma. In a territory where many reps go unseen, Swearengin stands out through constant, proactive contact — visiting stores in person, sending texts, and keeping buyers informed of specials, new arrivals and items being discontinued. She hosts open houses and brand events, working alongside her retailers to drive foot traffic and sales. In the showroom, she is often there early and stays as late as needed to support her customers. Her ability to anticipate seasonal trends and understand each retailer’s brand makes her far more than an order taker.

Southwest: Joanie Fleming, Road Runners

Joanie Fleming is beginning her 10th year as a sales representative, currently working with Road Runners and serving the Fort Worth and West Central Texas market. Fleming is known throughout her territory for the kind of genuine warmth that turns business relationships into lasting friendships. She shows up to support store events, assists with merchandising, and meets her retailers with patience and understanding whenever they need to regroup. She even bakes cookies for her customers during market. Her responsiveness and professionalism make her a reliable liaison between vendors and retailers.

West: Lenice Snedden-Coury, CMA

Lenice Snedden-Coury has represented CMA, now under the Ivystone umbrella, for more than 26 years, serving the Los Angeles, San Fernando, San Gabriel Valley and South Bay areas. Colleagues describe her as the first to respond to any question, whether from a customer, a vendor or a fellow rep seeking guidance. She shares her organizational expertise freely — including tips on road readiness for newer representatives — and has embraced emerging tools like AI to sharpen her work. Even after a particularly challenging year in which many of her accounts were affected by wildfires, Snedden-Coury persevered, took on new lines and met every task with her trademark can-do attitude.

Diamond Sales Rep Agencies Honored

In addition to its usual awards program, the magazine also handed out Diamond Awards to three key manufacturers, retailers, sales rep agencies and influencers who have helped carry the industry through the years.

Representatives from Ivystone, the Link Companies and Diverse Marketing each accepted a Diamond Sales Rep Agency award for their influence and commitment to the industry. Each Diamond honoree received a frame by Olivia Riegel.

GDA also crowned the winners of eight retail award categories and named the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year.  The awards program closed with the honoring of Peter Schauben, the 2026 Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award recipient.