About Stephen L. Capper

 

Stephen Capper grew up in Warren Township in Indianapolis, Indiana where he and his wife Nora now live on their horse farm. They raise and train registered Tennessee Walking horses, which Stephen has been involved with since 1961. He is past president of the Indiana Walking Horse Association.

He attended Warren Central High School, which is one of the largest high schools in the United States with over 1,000,000 square feet under roof. In his senior year of high school, Stephen was selected as one of the "top five high school speakers in Indiana". Stephen followed in his father's footsteps and was the Commencement Speaker for Warren Central in 1963. His father was the 1937 Commencement Speaker.

After high school Stephen attended the Reppert School of Auctioneering, where he attained the third highest grade in the schools 88 year history and was conveyed the title of "Colonel". Stephen then attended Butler University in the pre-law program.

Stephen and Nora attend Post Road Christian Church in Indianapolis with several of their family members. In addition, Stephen is founder president of the Kiwanis Club of Warren Township and active in civic projects involving youth.

Stephen L. Capper, CSP, CRM, RRGM, started in the awards business at the age of 12 on April 25, 1958. He borrowed $186 from his mother to buy his samples. He will celebrate 50 years in the recognition industry on April 25, 2008.

Stephen and Nora's company A-1 Awards, Inc. is a 25,000 square foot facility located in Indianapolis, Indiana, just east of downtown. Their company manufactures the vast majority of their own products and ships to all 50 states and several foreign countries each year. Nora brought her experience in national marketing and a business degree that helped guide the young business to the next level. Several members of the family are now involved in the business, including two daughters, Toni and Jami.

During the last 17 years Stephen and Nora, have traveled the world talking with awards and recognition dealers, having logged over 1,000,000 miles in 49 states and 37 foreign countries.

Since 1994 Stephen has written a monthly column "People Buy From People" for National Business Media (NBM). The term "People Buy From People" has been assigned to Stephen with a United States trademark. He also writes sales and marketing articles for other publications. Stephen writes for six different publications. In addition, his partner in business and wife, Nora writes for Creative Gift Retailer.

In 1979, Stephen gave the very first seminar for the recognition industry at the NATMA Chicago show. Stephen has been a professional public speaker and member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) ever since. For 28 years he has presented over 250 educational seminars to the recognition industry in an effort to professionalize and improve the industry.

Stephen's association with the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) dates back to 1979 when he was asked by Oren Spangenburg to be the Indiana State Director. He served in that capacity for 5 years having held the nations largest state meeting. He was also a regional and national director of the Trophy Dealers and Manufacturers Association (TDMA). Stephen has served on every committee of Trophy Dealers of America (TDA), TDMA and ARA during the last 28 years.

Stephen's company A-1 Awards, Inc. researched and designed the "ARA Obelisk", which is the awards industry's "Oscar".

Stephen and Nora have received awards for the "Dealer of the Year" (1985), which is now known as the "Volunteer of the Year", the "Founders Award" (1996) with Nora, and the "Speaker of the Year" (2000). In 2004, their company was inducted into the "ARA Hall of Fame" being only the 10th Retailer so honored. A-1 Awards, Inc. has received over 30 local, national and international awards for achievements in their business.

In 1999, Stephen and Nora organized and founded the Recognition Roundtable, a group of elite recognition dealers across the country with firms averaging 30 years in business. He has served as president of the Recognition Roundtable for 6 years.

Stephen has always said that "there is nothing to make unless you sell it first!"