Keynote Presentation
Laurent Sellier, CEO of Smurfit Westrock North America, brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience in the paper-based packaging sector and a powerful perspective on what it takes to lead through change. At PPC’s Fall Meeting, he will share insights on progress, innovation, and leadership in the folding carton industry, drawing from his international career and deep commitment to sustainable growth.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Laurent Sellier
President & CEO
Smurfit Westrock North America (U.S.A., Canada, Mexico)
LinkedIn
Laurent Sellier was named president & CEO of Smurfit Westrock North America in 2024, following the successful combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock that created the world’s largest packaging company. In this role he leads operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His tenure spans over 30 years and includes leadership roles across Europe and the Americas, including COO of the company’s Europe Paper and Board Division and most recently as CEO of Smurfit Kappa in The Americas.
Laurent earned a Master of Business Administration, Finance and Audit, from the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris.
Keynote Presenter Sponsor
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Canada: What Packaging Converters Need to Know
Rachel will unpack what Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) means and how it marks a shift from shared to producer-led responsibility for packaging recycling. She’ll outline the key players in the recycling value chain and where converters fit in, drawing insights from Canada’s evolving EPR landscape. The session will also explore the growing momentum of U.S. EPR legislation and its potential impact on North American packaging supply chains. Finally, Rachel will share PPEC’s vision for EPR—driving better outcomes, less contamination, and greater efficiency in the use of recovered fibre.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rachel Kagan
Executive Director
Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council
LinkedIn
Before joining the Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC), Rachel was Vice President of Environmental Sustainability Policy at Food and Consumer Products of Canada. In that role, she developed policy submissions and reports on recycling, food waste, and climate change, and represented Canada’s food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturers on several stewardship Boards of Directors.
Rachel began her career as a policy analyst with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, before moving to Retail Council of Canada, where she supported and advocated for retailers on federal and provincial product and packaging recycling regulations.
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 (ECMA)
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.
Sustainability in Packaging
As consumer demand for sustainable packaging accelerates, understanding what drives those preferences is critical to staying competitive. In this data-rich and thought-provoking session, David Feber, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company will present findings from the firm’s global survey of more than 11,000 consumers across 11 countries.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
David Feber
Senior Partner
McKinsey & Company
LinkedIn
David Feber is a Senior Partner in the McKinsey & Company Detroit office. He leads McKinsey’s Global Packaging Service Line and has deep expertise in the Packaging Space across all packaging substrates (metal, Glass, Plastic and paper). He serves multiple players in the packaging areas. David also co-leads McKinsey’s research in packaging sustainability and other mega trends. David has had two stints at McKinsey. He was at McKinsey from 2000-2004 as an Associate Partner, then rejoined the Firm as a direct-elect Partner in January 2017. During the time in between, David spent almost a decade in Senior Executive roles in the packaging industry.
What’s Inside the Box: The Story, The Strength, The Soul
In this inspiring session, explore the evolution of Great Little Box—how it began, how product diversity fueled its growth, and how a strong, people-first culture became its greatest asset. Too often, leaders get caught working in the business rather than on it. This presentation will challenge you to pause, reflect, and re-center your company around what matters most: your people, your purpose, and the culture that ties it all together. True strength lies not only in what you produce, but in the people behind it and the culture you cultivate every day.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Doree Quayle
Division President, Retail Packaging
Great Little Box Company
LinkedIn
Doree Quayle brings over 25 years of packaging industry expertise and people-first leadership to every role she steps into. Her career began in 1997, not just with a passion for packaging, but with a genuine curiosity about the people and businesses behind every box. Whether working with basement-run startups or global enterprises, Doree has always seen packaging as more than a product—it’s a bridge to connection, growth, and shared success.
Since joining Great Little Box Company in 2009, Doree has risen through a series of senior leadership positions, including Director and Vice President of Sales, before being appointed Division President of the Retail Packaging Division. Today, she leads the Labels and Folding Cartons teams with energy, empathy, and strategic vision.
Known for her integrity, mentorship, and relentless focus on customer-driven solutions, Doree is a firm believer in leading by example. She’s deeply committed to developing others and building strong, values-based teams. Her leadership is shaped not only by hands-on experience but also by a strong foundation of continuous learning—from TEC Canada’s KEY Executive Group to advanced programs in negotiation, coaching, investment strategy, and leadership development.
Based in Richmond, BC, Doree continues to inspire those around her by staying curious, acting with purpose, and championing the belief that culture and relationships are the true engines behind every great business. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Working on the Business: Gap Analysis and Strategic Planning to Protect While Your Grow – and Sleep Better at Night
Packaging executives are like many others who get stuck working in the business, not on the business, and miss critical opportunities to protect what they’ve built from the many risks they face. Have you ever said, “man, if only I had done _____, I’d have avoided _____.” Make risk management part of company’s fabric with common-sense ways to identify, evaluate, rank, and fix/upgrade/protect your assets. Join Chris Santomassimo, the Outside General Counsel™ of packaging manufacturers for this interactive workshop which discuss the top risks you face (even if you don’t know it), and reviews common-sense and cost-effective ways to prevent and manage them. These strategies apply to all packaging companies, whether yours is growing organically or through acquisitions, or preparing for an exit transaction.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Christopher M. Santomassimo
Attorney-at-Law
OGC Solutions
LinkedIn
Christopher M. Santomassimo, a senior business-oriented General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, who assists companies with a wide range of legal and business issues to manage the risk of their operations.
Chris’s Outside General Counsel™ practice covers a broad spectrum of concerns facing business clients on a daily basis, such as employment counseling and defending companies against employment claims; ethics and compliance counseling; corporate investigations; advising company executives on business and legal issues; and all types of corporate transactions, to name a few.
Chris’s focus is delivering strategic and cost-effective counseling to business clients, including several U.S. subsidiaries of global companies headquartered outside the United States.
In his spare time, Chris likes to play golf, and root for the New York Yankees and the Syracuse Orange basketball team along with his wife, son and daughter.
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
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.
Women’s Leadership Council Luncheon
Communicating with Conviction: Elevating your Impact in High-Stakes Environments
Have you ever had the right words but felt you couldn’t deliver them? Or give in too quickly to someone’s demands in a meeting? In moments that matter most, even seasoned leaders can find their conviction wavering. This interactive session will help you strengthen your executive presence and bring clarity, composure, and impact to your communication—whether you are making the case for a new idea, navigating conflict, or influencing a high-stakes decision.
Drawing from research and practical experiences, Dr. Ann B-E will introduce the PACE framework to help leaders remain confident and credible under pressure. Through dynamic exercises, guided reflection, and real-world practice, participants will enhance their ability to communicate with conviction, increase their gravitas, and make a powerful impact.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ann Bowers-Evangelista
President
Llumos, LLC
LinkedIn
Ann ignites passion, purpose, and clarity in executives and teams to build long-term success. She has leveraged her experience as a psychologist, business and leadership expert, and endurance athlete for over two decades to maximize human potential and business results. Organizations seek Ann’s hiring proficiency to select and develop high-caliber talent and build great teams. As a coach, Ann’s reflective abilities and goal orientation help clients achieve outsized results. She is an expert on building sustainable, high-performing teams, change transformation, resilience, talent selection, development and engagement, conflict and negotiation, feedback, developing future talent, and The Endurance Leader™ model for leading for the long term. Her book, The Endurance Leader, was released in 2024. An Ironman triathlete and marathon runner, Ann brings her high-performance focus and results orientation to her work, family, and community. She is the proud spouse of a US Air Force officer and volunteers with several nonprofits that support DC’s underserved and marginalized communities.
Emerging Leaders Session
Managing Up: Navigating Change and Resistance in Traditional Organizations
Even the best ideas can stall when they run up against entrenched habits, hierarchy, or fear of change. In many organizations, introducing new approaches means not only managing your team but also influencing those above you—leaders who may be skeptical, cautious, or deeply tied to “the way we’ve always done it.”
This session will give you practical strategies to manage up with confidence, clarity, and credibility. Through case examples, reflection, and interactive discussion, you’ll explore how to build trust, frame change in ways that resonate, and anticipate resistance before it derails your efforts. Whether you’re advocating for innovation, pushing a project forward, or navigating cultural shifts, you’ll leave with tools to better align with leadership, reduce friction, and move your organization toward progress.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tiffany Koettel President & CEO
Growth Mindset Sales
LinkedIn
Tiffany Koettel is a seasoned sales trainer, coach, and consultant with over 16 years of experience in the paperboard packaging industry. Leveraging her deep industry knowledge alongside expertise in the Sandler Sales System, Tiffany partners with sales leaders and teams to break through revenue plateaus and build high-performing sales cultures rooted in proven processes, behavioral insights like DISC, and practical tools. Her engaging style combines storytelling and real-world application, equipping sales professionals to win consistently, build lasting client relationships, and navigate the unique challenges of the packaging marketplace.
With a passion for leadership development and accountability, Tiffany works closely with executives and managers to transform how teams prospect, qualify, and close. She fosters collaboration and a coaching mindset that drives sustained performance in a competitive industry. Whether facilitating workshops, consulting, or one-on-one coaching, Tiffany’s approach is relentlessly focused on actionable results, equal business stature, and making sales training practical, memorable and enjoyable.
Industry Affairs Update: Industry Trends, EPR Laws, and Sustainability
From market shifts to new sustainability mandates, packaging is evolving rapidly. In this important session, PPC’s Industry Affairs Manager, Tom Hendrickson, will break down key policy and environmental trends and provide an overview of EPR laws. Drawing on his expertise in government affairs, Tom will equip attendees with the knowledge and perspective to anticipate change and understand how emerging regulations may shape the future of packaging.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tom Hendrickson
Industry Affairs Manager
Paperboard Packaging Council
LinkedIn
As PPC’s Industry Affairs Manager, Tom Hendrickson helps members navigate the legislative and regulatory developments shaping the paperboard packaging industry. With a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a background in governance, grassroots organizing, and legislative analysis, Tom excels at translating complex policy into clear, actionable insights. His expertise strengthens PPC’s ability to advance member priorities, anticipate change, and safeguard the industry’s future, while promoting sustainability and fostering community engagement to create new opportunities across the packaging sector.