Recognizing Excellence and Legacy: How the Facilisgroup Community Came Together to Celebrate One of Our Own 

During the State of Facilisgroup Breakfast at the 2026 Winter Summit during the PPAI Expo, Facilisgroup President, Chris Lee, wanted to honor Facilisgroup’s 20 years of service by recognizing the heartbeat of our company: our community. Out of the many distributors and suppliers we could have honored with the inaugural award, one name stood out. He wanted to highlight an individual who’s been a part of the Facilisgroup journey even before the name existed. This year’s Legacy Award was given to our Senior Supplier Success Manager, Wendy Wells.  

“Wendy Wells has been in a number of roles in our business over many years. She is loved by the team, is loved by the community, and has been with us throughout the terms of growth. The times have changed, but she’s been nothing but an amazing person to contribute to the community,” said Chris Lee.   

When Wendy heard her name, she was stunned to say the least. She was handed a Fairmont Medium Optically Perfect Award crafted by the talented suppliers from The Magnet Group. We reached out to the award winner to learn her reaction to the Legacy Award and what this recognition means to her. We also talked to The Magnet Group to learn what goes into crafting one-of-a-kind trophies and their partnership with Facilisgroup.  

Once You’re in This Industry, it’s Hard to Leave  

The Folio: Tell us how you got started with Facilisgroup, and what the early days were like.  

Wendy Wells, Senior Supplier Success Manager: I don’t know many people who say they want to work in the promotional products industry when they grow up. I know I didn’t. My journey in this industry began right out of university on the distributorship side, working under Dan Rochette, who would later go on to found what eventually became Facilisgroup. Once you enter this industry, it draws you in with its amazing people, creative products, and, let’s be honest, the fun! Once you’re in, it’s hard to leave.  

When you pair that with a company that believes in you, challenges you, and gives you room to grow alongside it, the experience becomes very rewarding. That combination is what brought me to where I am today.  

I remember the excitement in the office in 2001 when Panda Group was formed, and we signed our first Canadian distributor. In the first 3 years, our partner summits looked a little different from what they do now. All of the owners could fit in one minivan. 2006 was another milestone year when we brought Chuck Fandos onboard and officially renamed Panda Group to Facilisgroup, expanding into the US. It was a major win for a Canadian company that started with 4 employees. As you can imagine, in those early days, it was a small, tight-knit environment where everyone wore every hat imaginable. It still shocks me when I reflect on where we started from, to see all the growth that brings us to the company and community Facilisgroup is today.  

The Folio: What sets working at Facilisgroup apart from any other company?  

Wells: Hands down, it’s the community.  

Facilisgroup doesn’t operate like a traditional organization. It’s relationship-driven, collaborative, and built around helping each other grow. Whether you’re a Distributor Partner, Preferred Supplier, or internal team member, you’re a part of something interconnected, a network that values partnership, accountability, transparency, innovation, and genuine support.  

The Folio: Talk to us about winning the Facilisgroup Legacy Award?  

Wells: Winning the Legacy Award, especially as the inaugural recipient, is a huge honour. Being recognized in this way, during the kickoff of our 20-year celebration, with our amazing community, some of our community members having been there since the beginning, made this moment so memorable and special!  

It was a wonderful celebration of my time with Facilisgroup and my evolution at the company, from supporting our Distributor Partners to creating and growing our Preferred Supplier community. Seeing my name associated with a “legacy” at a company I’ve grown up with was honestly a bit emotional.  

The Folio: How did it feel to be recognized by Facilisgroup and the community as a whole?  

Wells: It was a really special moment, and a bit overwhelming in the best way.  

What meant the most wasn’t the award itself, but all the love and support that followed. Facilisgroup is a community I’ve grown with since its earliest days, and having that same community share in this celebration was a huge honour. I feel so lucky to get to work with the most incredible people and friends in this industry.  

It really felt like a shared win. There are so many friends I’ve gotten to work alongside during my time at Facilisgroup; it really was a moment that celebrated all the amazing connections I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and call my friends.  

The Folio: What would you say to someone curious about Facilisgroup?  

Wells: Facilisgroup is built on collaboration, trust, and a genuine desire to help each other succeed. I’ve been fortunate to be challenged, trusted, and grow alongside this company from its onset, and this award symbolizes that shared journey.  

If there’s one thing I’d add, it’s simply gratitude: I’m incredibly proud of the legacy we’ve built together, and even more excited for what’s ahead. None of this happens alone, and I’m grateful every day for the community, partners, suppliers, and teammates who make this meaningful and, most importantly, fun!  

What it Means to Craft Elegance with The Magnet Group  

The Folio: How long has The Magnet Group worked with Facilisgroup?   

Jessica Hiner, Vice President of Business Development & Key Account Relationships, The Magnet Group: The Magnet Group has been working with Facilisgroup since the inception of the program.  

The Folio: What goes into crafting each project that comes in?   

Hiner: When asked to assist with any project, especially recognition-based, it is very important to our team to provide quality pieces, with the customization of logos, names, and details accurately for each recipient.  

The Folio: How does it feel to work on a special project like the Legacy Award?    

Hiner: We were honored to be asked to assist, and based upon the close-working relationship with Wendy throughout the years, it made the award process extra special.  

The Folio: Besides working on the Legacy Award, you are also behind our Achiever’s Awards for the TASAs. How does it feel to help Facilisgroup celebrate their community?    

Hiner:  A while back, we were asked to be the supplier partner to assist with the annual TASA awards, and it’s been a pleasure each year.  With the list growing from year to year, it is a testament to the importance of the partner’s hard work and dedication to their expertise within each sales organization.  

The Folio: How quickly did you have to turn around this project, and what is the typical timeframe for each order that comes in?   

Hiner: For the inaugural Legacy award, we produced and shipped within 3 days. Typical award processing depends upon the quantity, decoration method, and personalization needs of each piece. Standard production time is roughly 7-10 Working Days, with customization for catalog quantities, and can increase with volume requirements.  

The Folio: What does it mean to be a part of the Facilisgroup Community?  

Hiner:  We value the partnership that we have with Facilisgroup, its partner distributors, and fellow suppliers that support the mission of the group.