Greg Muzzillo, who built Proforma (PPAI 196835, Platinum) from a shoestring personal business into one of the largest organizations in the promotional products industry, has announced his retirement.

He steps away after 47 years involved with the company he founded just a year after graduating from college.

Greg Muzzillo

Founder, Proforma

In a Friday memo to employees and franchisees, he wrote: “After nearly 50 years of pursuing my Proforma dreams and also after entering my 70’s, I have decided it is time for me to step aside, retire, move on to the next phase of my life and let the many great leaders of Proforma step up their leadership to continue making Proforma and our Proforma Family the best of the best.

The story of Proforma began in 1978, when Muzzillo – then fresh out of accounting school – decided to leave behind his brief stint at the accounting firm that would become Deloitte to go into business for himself. As he expressed in the Friday memo, the business was started “with nothing more than a dining room table, an answering machine and some stationary.”

Over the next five decades, Proforma grew into a $662 million network of hundreds of distributor franchise owners across North America.

For 2025, the company ranks No. 3 among PPAI 100 distributors. This year it earned High Marks for Revenue, Growth, Industry Faith, Professional Development, Employee Happiness and Online Presence.

One of Muzzillo’s most consequential decisions came in 1986, when he launched Proforma’s franchise model. Rather than operate a traditional distributorship, he built a system that enabled other entrepreneurs to plug into Proforma’s technology, back-office support and branding. The move helped redefine what scalability could look like for promotional products businesses.

“Proforma is one of the quintessential stories of entrepreneurship in our industry,” says PPAI CEO Drew Holmgreen. “Greg Muzzillo was the leader who brought to life a vision that has created hundreds of million-dollar franchises spreading the American Dream. Beyond that, he’s been a dedicated philanthropist and trusted mentor to many, and in my recent dealings with him, an overall great person – warm, welcoming and willing to help.

“Promotional products are better off for Greg’s contributions, and PPAI is grateful for what he’s done for the industry.”

Proforma’s franchisees – more than two dozen of whom appeared on the most recent Inc. 5000 list – have benefited from Muzzillo’s long-standing focus on automation and e-commerce solutions. In recent years, the company has invested heavily in proprietary software and digital platforms to help its owners compete in an increasingly tech-driven environment.

Vera Muzzillo, his wife and a former PPAI Board Chair – and this year’s PPAI Woman of Achievement – remains the company’s CEO, a role she has served in since joining the company in 2000.

“Thanks to Vera, the Proforma Executive and Leadership team, the Owner Advisory Council, and Proforma Supplier Partners, and too many more people to mention, I am confident that Proforma is in great hands to help each of you pursue your big dreams,” he wrote in the memo.

Together, the couple has also championed entrepreneurship outside of Proforma, supporting programs at the University of Florida and mentoring aspiring business owners.

Written by: Josh Ellis

Published with Permission from PPAI