Ivan P. Phelan Award

The DSA's highest recognition, the award is named in honour of the late Ivan P. Phelan, a longtime executive at Avon Canada who was instrumental in establishing and guiding the Association for more than three decades. The award recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the direct selling industry in Canada.

2020 Recipient

Susan Timmermeister, Director, Strategy and Business Services, Mary Kay. Sue has had a tremendous impact on the DSA and the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF). A former recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal and the DSEF Circle of Distinction award, she brings her unwavering integrity, solid business acumen, strong work ethic and robust knowledge of the industry to the table every day. Her contributions to the DSEF through the Academic Scholarship Program, Junior Achievement, high school and college events, business school programs, case studies, silent auction, Celebrating Excellence Awards and more, have been unparalleled by any other board member. “Sue has been actively supporting the DSA for many years and is someone who has always contributed greatly by volunteering her time repeatedly and most specifically for the benefit of all members through her work in leading and developing the Socio-Economic Impact study, said Helena Alexandre, DSA Board Chair and Vice President & General Manager, Arbonne Canada. "Sue dedicated countless hours over several months to this initiative which has been essential to the DSA and has ultimately provided our member companies with vital industry Information that we reference both within our organizations and with all levels of government."