Enhancing Packaging with Embellishments: Understanding Standard 7
Dive into the elements of impactful packaging design—the kind that drives consumer engagement and brand loyalty. Learn how the shift toward renewable resources enhances both brand perception and environmental responsibility. From the power of textures and touch to shareable packaging, discover how packaging captivates on the shelf and creates a memorable experience to maximize ROI.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Vicki Strull
Professor
Tulane University
LinkedIn
Vicki Strull brings over 25 years of experience as a brand strategist, creative director, and packaging designer. She’s worked with brands like Sappi, HP, Bayer, Coppertone, Pizza Hut, and Wildfare to harness the power of design and packaging to boost sales, create new revenue streams, and build brand loyalty. Vicki has delivered keynotes, webinars, and master classes to CMOs, marketers, and agencies at national and international conferences. She writes a branding and design column for Labels & Labeling Magazine and is an adjunct professor at Tulane University.
The Global and US Economic Outlook
Jeff has been with PPC for 25 years and is almost always the highest rated speaker. Jeff understands the economics of folding cartons and he will give his specific analysis on our industry. He will look at both macro and micro trends from supply chain, employment, which industries survive and thrive, the shape of the curve, currency, and global trends – especially the US and Canadian economies.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jeff Rosensweig
Professor
Emory University
LinkedIn
Jeffrey Rosensweig is the Director of the John Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government at Goizueta Business School of Emory University. Previously, he served for six years as the Associate Dean for Corporate Relations. An international business and finance professor, he is a frequent keynote speaker on topics related to global and U.S. economic and financial trends and forecasts.
Jeff has written three books, including the critically-acclaimed Winning the Global Game: A Strategy for Linking People and Profits.
Dr. Rosensweig received his M.A. and B.A. in economics (summa cum laude) from Yale University and a Ph.D. in economics from MIT. Further, he received a master’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics as a result of two years of study at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar.
Elected by the faculty in 1996, Professor Rosensweig served for 12 years as Chairman of Emory University’s Center for Ethics. Dr. Rosensweig was recently celebrated as the recipient of the University’s 2022 Thomas Jefferson Award, an annual award that is given to one Emory University faculty, staff, or medical professional each year.
State of Our Industry Panel and Discussion
Join industry leaders for an engaging panel discussion on today’s most pressing issues facing the paperboard packaging industry. Topics will cover workforce challenges, including new expectations surrounding company culture and retaining top talent, navigating the complexities of sustainability, and the impact of new technological advancements. Following the panel discussion, we’ll open the floor to attendees for an interactive session. Don’t miss this opportunity to influence industry conversations and gain insights from leaders on where we grow from here!
PANELISTS
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Graphic Packaging International
Moderator
Executive Vice President & Owner
TPC Printing & Packaging
Principal
Sonderen Packaging
Vice President of Operations
Astro Box Corporation
General Manager
Great Northern Corporation
European Industry & Legislative Update
Mike’s presentation will offer a fresh update on the legislative landscape in Europe and its influence on the European folding carton sector. He will cover the latest regulatory changes, industry trends, and key legislative developments that are driving change. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how these laws and policies are sparking innovation and pushing for more sustainable practices within the sector. As we look ahead to future legislative trends, Mike will provide crucial insights to adapt and thrive in our ever changing industry.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Mike Turner
Managing Director
European Carton Makers Association
LinkedIn
Mike Turner is the Managing Director of the European Carton Makers Association (ECMA) who are the ‘voice’ of the European carton sector, representing 650+ companies with 80,000 staff, he is also Chair of the ‘Fibre Packaging Europe’ coalition and represents the Packaging Converters on the Steering Committee of fibre packaging’s ‘4evergreen Alliance’. Mike is a 30 year veteran of the European fibre packaging industry having previously worked at Graphic Packaging International, International Paper and Metsa Group.
Update on U.S. Packaging Regulations and Legislation
Join us for an insightful session that offers a comprehensive overview of the latest legislation and regulations affecting packaging in the United States at both state and federal levels. This session will cover critical developments shaping the future of the packaging industry. Key topics include ongoing advocacy and implications of state Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for the paper industry, the current implementation phase of state EPR laws, and additional policies impacting fair market access for packaging in the U.S.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Abigail Sztein
Executive Director, Recovered Fiber
American Forest & Paper Association
Abigail Sztein serves as Executive Director, Recovered Fiber for the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). Sztein manages issues and programs that promote increased paper recycling and maintain member company access to mill-quality recovered fiber for use in manufacturing new pulp, paper and paperboard. Until March 2024, she led the state advocacy team and directly managed advocacy in the Northeast on behalf of AF&PA.
Sztein’s experience with AF&PA spans various roles in government affairs and public policy, including state and local government affairs, sustainability, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B), recycling policy, and energy and water issues since 2010. Sztein is also co-president of her neighborhood citizens association and coach of her son’s preschool soccer team.
The Impact of AI on the Future of Packaging Design
In a lively discussion, our moderators (Pat Shields and Dan Ahern) will guide us as we explore the transformative potential of AI in packaging design. Topics will include generative AI and its unique applications for design, the benefits and the challenges (including the moral and ethical considerations) of implementing AI in your design workflow, and how AI can remove bias from idea generation.
You will gain practical insights on effectively implementing AI technologies while recognizing areas where human creativity should prevail. Join us as we look ahead to the future impact of AI on our industry.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Dan Ahern
Vice President, Global Innovation and Design
Graphic Packaging International
As the Vice President, Global Innovation and Design at Graphic Packaging International, Dan is responsible for the overall creative direction and the implementation of the innovation process across the globe for GPI. His perspective is that of the client, having gained tremendous experience as a design leader in the design agency space.
Dan has over 30-years experience in the packaging industry with extensive experience in Package Design, Brand Design, and Design Management. During the course of his career, Dan has had the privilege of working with many of today’s leading brands including: Kellogg’s, KraftHeinz, PepsiCo, P&G, MolsonCoors, ABInBev, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Burger King and many others. The design teams that Dan has managed have won numerous design awards, including numerous PMMI Package of the Year awards, Paperboard Package of the Year Awards, IOPP Ameristar Awards, and IOPP Worldstar Awards.
Dan is a graduate of St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois, and is a frequent speaker on the topics of design as competitive advantage, design trends, consumer trends and insights and the future of packaging.
Pat Shields
Design Director Americas, Consumer Packaging
Smurfit Westrock
Pat Shields is a leader, mentor, and industry advocate serving as Design Director Americas – Consumer Packaging, at Smurfit Westrock. In this role, he leads a talented and diverse design team that excels in realizing a customer’s brand and packaging vision. With over 30 years in the industry, and a solutions mindset, he truly lives the company’s purpose – to innovate boldly and package sustainably.
Through his professional journey he has cultivated and enjoyed a network that values robust design thinking, collaboration, innovation, and growth. As we dive headfirst into this rapidly developing technology era, these focus areas and a clear strategy will help us navigate the noise and land on the tools that will propel the industry forward.
It’s not just upcoming technology – Pat is a staunch supporter of next generation design leaders and is often involved with university outreach and student programs. He is an enthusiastic contributor to PPC’s Design & Innovation Community, a peer-to-peer network where designers at every stage of their careers are encouraged to connect, learn, and explore design and innovation within the industry.
Structural Design Trends in Retail and Panel Discussion with Top Carton Comp Award Winners
Join us for an engaging session exploring the latest trends in structural design within the retail sector, followed by a dynamic panel discussion with top Carton Competition award winners. Key topics will include evolving trends in structural design, such as new paperboard usage and improved geometry, as well as advancements in materials and equipment that enable higher-speed automation and better-constructed structures using the same amount of fiber. We’ll also showcase standout examples from this year’s Carton Competition that exemplify these trends in action. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed about cutting-edge developments and learn from industry leaders.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ron Sasine
Founder
Hudson Windsor
Ron Sasine is the Founder of Hudson Windsor, a consultancy specializing in packaging strategy, innovation, and sustainability. With a background in retail merchandising and consumer packaged goods, Ron advises packaging manufacturers, private-equity investors, and independent companies. He is also the project development lead for Crossroads Paper, the recently announced recycled containerboard mill to be located in the western United States.
Prior to founding Hudson Windsor, Ron served as Senior Director of Packaging for Walmart, where he was responsible for packaging design, execution and sourcing for the company’s largest global brands. He created a new visual look for over 7,000 individual retail items, bringing a national brand design standard to the Great Value, Spring Valley, Equate, Ol’ Roy, and Parents’ Choice brands. He created first-of-its-kind supply chain visibility for the company’s global packaging network, working with over 5,000 packaging providers that supply Walmart worldwide. He led Walmart’s sustainable packaging initiative and implementation of the sustainable packaging scorecard, building supplier accountability into purchasing decisions and achieving a 9.4% global reduction in the greenhouse gas impact of the company’s packaging.
Ron is a graduate of the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and Brigham Young University. In addition, he served as an adjunct professor at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He is a frequent commentator on the packaging industry and has been published and quoted in The New York Times, CNBC, Forbes.com, USAToday, and the Associated Press, as well as in many industry publications. His packaging industry research and consulting engagements have taken him to manufacturers, distribution centers and retailers in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and throughout the United States.
Women’s Leadership Council Meeting: We’ve Got This! Building a confident, productive, and mentally healthy workforce
Have you ever seen these behaviors in your workplace? Or have they described your own behavior at some point in your work experience?
• Procrastination • Perfectionism • Fear of failure • Imposter syndrome • Over-reliance on approval • Avoidance of leadership roles
These are all signs of worker self-doubt, which can have a serious impact on mental and emotional health as well as productivity and organizational longevity. And it isn’t always a “personal problem” – it may be rooted in systemic biases that keep workers from performing at their best. In this session, we will learn how to spot self-doubt in the workplace and address it to build a confident, productive, and mentally healthy workforce.
Session Pre-work: • Helping an Employee Overcome Their Self-Doubt, by Tara Sophia Mohr • Ending Imposter Syndrome in Your Workplace, Ruchika T. Malhotra and Jodi-Ann Burey
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ann Bowers-Evangelista, Psy.D., MBA
President
Llumos, LLC
LinkedIn
Ann Bowers-Evangelista, Psy.D., MBA, is a seasoned executive coach with 22 years of experience blending psychology, business, and athletic endurance. Specializing in talent selection, team building, and sustainable leadership, Ann has worked with several notable clients such as Verizon and Johnson & Johnson. Her reflective coaching style and goal-oriented approach have consistently delivered outstanding results.
With credentials including a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and an MBA, Ann holds leadership roles in prestigious organizations like the American Psychological Association. Ann is also an Ironman triathlete, marathon runner, and prolific volunteer and fundraiser for the Air Force, the American Red Cross, Back on My Feet, and Vital Voices. Ann’s first book, The Endurance Leader, comes out this Fall.