FORT WAYNE, Indiana — 10/9/2026 — JH Specialty Inc. has promoted Chris Polhamus to Vice President of Growth and Strategy and Allison Nicklin to Vice President of Project Operations. Polhamus will guide sales strategy, business development and client growth across JH, while Nicklin will lead project operations across the company’s professional services and promotional divisions.
Polhamus and Nicklin have each spent more than a decade at JH, building their careers through project management and client service. Both bring an understanding of client needs and the work required to meet them, along with an emphasis on open communication and supporting their teams.
“Things are moving extremely fast for us and our clients right now. It brings me great pride and confidence to be able to promote these impact players on our team. Each of them is energized to play a larger role in living out our core purpose: to make a positive impact and improve the quality of life through creative solutions and empathetic service to others.” - John Henry III, CEO
Polhamus joined JH as an intern in 2011 and progressed through project management and account management. He served as Senior Account Manager before becoming Strategic Account Director in February 2025. Those experiences shaped his approach to strategy, which considers a client’s broader business goals alongside the team responsible for delivering the work. His responsibilities now extend beyond the clients he directly manages to help guide growth across JH’s client base.
In his new role, Polhamus continues to work with the Account Management team to strengthen account planning and identify opportunities within existing client relationships. He connects clients’ business goals with JH’s capabilities and uses feedback from clients and the market to inform future services and growth priorities. The position also gives him greater responsibility for developing the sales and account management systems that support growth across JH.
“Continued growth isn’t simply about finding the next new client. It is also about becoming increasingly valuable to the clients who already trust us,” said Polhamus.
Nicklin joined JH in 2014 as a Project Manager supporting both promotional and digital work. As the company grew, she shifted her focus to digital projects, advancing to Senior Project Manager in 2020 and Director of Project Management in 2022.
Nicklin’s promotion expands her existing leadership of project management across both the professional services and promotional divisions. She will continue guiding teams and improving processes, with an emphasis on efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction. Her approach combines clear standards with open communication and the independence for employees to determine how they work most effectively.
“I’m looking forward to seeing each division’s project management team learn and grow, taking on challenges they’ve not faced before and thriving in the projects they manage,” said Nicklin.
Both credit JH’s people and the working environment for their continued careers with the company. Polhamus points to colleagues who invested in his development, while Nicklin values the freedom to introduce ideas and question established practices. Each plan to continue creating opportunities for their teams to learn and grow.
