By Emily Leonczyk, MBA, CAE, President, PPC
It’s been a bumpy start to the year for many in our industry. Demand uncertainty, pricing pressure, labor concerns, and the broader economic environment are weighing heavily. There’s a lot to navigate, and at the same time, we’re also seeing positive signs. Companies are continuing to invest in equipment, people, and the long-term health of their businesses.
Earlier this month, I traveled to Washington state and had the opportunity to visit Sonderen Packaging in Spokane and Mill Rock Packaging in Renton. Time in a plant always brings perspective. What stood out was steady leadership. Our industry’s strength is built every day by leaders making thoughtful, real-time decisions.
That’s why PPC exists. No company succeeds alone. We move forward when we learn from one another, share what’s working, and develop the next generation of leaders.
PPC Pathways was created to make participation clearer and more intentional for you and your team. Whether through benchmarking, safety insights, industry affairs discussions, or training programs, our goal is simple: create space for peers to learn from one another and make informed decisions for their businesses. I invite you to send the PPC Pathways sign-up link to those in your organization you’d like to see more engaged in PPC.
Our Spring Outlook & Strategies Conference in Louisville (March 25–27) is just a few weeks away! We’re trying a few new things this year. There will be fresh content, new networking opportunities, and lots to celebrate. We’ll dig into the economic environment, talk about how AI is showing up in manufacturing operations, hear directly from brand leaders about performance and sustainability expectations, and a lot more. Not theory. Practical insight you can bring back to your business.
If you have not yet made plans to join us, I hope you will. There’s real value in stepping away from the day-to-day and being in the room with others who understand the pressures and opportunities ahead.
Thank you for investing in our industry and your PPC. I look forward to continuing to visit plants, listen, and move forward together. Reach out anytime.
Emily