PPC Spring Meeting 2026: Where Focus Meets Action

In a moment defined by rapid change, shifting expectations, and increasing complexity, PPC’s Spring Meeting in Louisville brought the folding carton industry together to do what matters most: focus, align, and act.

Over three days, one idea surfaced again and again: the most successful companies are those that are intentional about how they lead, invest, and respond to what’s changing around them.

Setting the Tone: Leadership, Community, and Direction

The meeting opened with a clear call to action from PPC leadership: this is a moment for the industry to be more intentional, more aligned, and more engaged.

PPC President Emily Leonczyk positioned PPC not just as a convening point, but as a working platform where members exchange insight, challenge assumptions, and turn ideas into action that drives real industry impact.

PPC Board Chair Hilda Murray reinforced that message, urging members to actively engage by contributing, connecting, and helping shape the industry’s direction rather than simply reacting to it.

Eric Frank, SVP of Marketing at Koenig & Bauer, our Diamond Sponsor, grounded the conversation in the customer. Packaging is not just functional; it is a direct signal of quality and trust. How a product arrives, opens, and feels plays a critical role in its perception.

Together, these perspectives set the tone for the meeting: focus on what matters, take ownership, and execute with clarity.

Leadership Starts with Intentionality

Professional Speaker & Author, Dan Irvin, challenged leaders to step out of reactive mode and rethink how they manage their time, prioritize, and make an impact.

At the center of his message were the habits of intentional leaders—starting with a simple yet often-overlooked principle: slow down to speed up.

“Our days are filled with things that are on fire that make us look busy… and then we try to fit what actually matters into what’s left.”

Key themes included:

Intentionality is the foundation: If you don’t define what matters, your time will be consumed by what doesn’t
Lead with fulfilled focus: Align your time and energy with what drives meaningful outcomes, not just output
Put the “big rocks” in first: The most important priorities must be scheduled, not squeezed in
Protect your time and attention: Focus is a leadership discipline, not a default
Slow down to speed up: Taking time to think, communicate, and prioritize leads to better execution and stronger results

The takeaway was realistic: define what matters, protect your time, and lead with intention.

Packaging as a Moment of Decision

Vicki Strull, Principal of Vicki Strull Creative Collective, focused on a critical yet often overlooked driver of purchase behavior: what happens when a consumer physically engages with packaging.

Her research quantified the impact of touch:

The number of touches and time spent handling a package directly increases the likelihood of purchase
- Premium packaging reaches decision thresholds faster. For example:
- ~17 seconds of touch can increase purchase likelihood by 50%
- Spot gloss achieves that lift in ~11 seconds, foil in ~17 seconds, embossing in ~26 seconds
- Plain packaging requires ~41 seconds to reach the same effect
At four touches, premium packaging can drive up to a 90% higher likelihood to buy

Even when shoppers spent more time looking at non-premium packaging, they still purchased premium options more frequently. Attention alone did not explain sales; interaction did.

The takeaway: packaging performance is not just visual. Material choice, finishes, and physical interaction are measurable drivers of consumer decision-making.

Sustainability: From Ambition to Execution

The brand panel, led by Paul Schutes, President of the Recycled Paperboard Alliance, brought a real-world lens to sustainability, grounded in operational and commercial constraints.

Panelists Courtney Chance (Nothing Bundt Cakes), Benjamin Dunlap (U.S. Mint), and Kate Stites (The Fold Design) emphasized that broad commitments no longer define sustainability; it is being measured by what can actually be implemented.

Key shifts discussed:

From long-term targets to near-term actions: Brands are prioritizing incremental improvements, such as material reduction or recyclability enhancements, rather than relying solely on ambitious future goals.
From standalone initiatives to integrated decision-making: Sustainability now sits alongside cost, scalability, and product experience as a “top priority among top priorities.”
From concept to execution: Solutions must work across global supply chains, meet varying regional regulations, and maintain consistency in brand presentation.

The panel also highlighted the importance of early and ongoing collaboration with suppliers. Brands are looking for partners who can provide transparency into materials, waste, and environmental impact, not just propose alternatives.

Consumer expectations remain a factor, but they vary by category. In areas like spirits and gifting, packaging serves as both a sustainability signal and a storytelling vehicle, while in collectibles, the product itself often outweighs packaging in perceived value.

The takeaway: Sustainability is not a separate initiative. It is a set of trade-offs that must be managed in real time, with practical, scalable solutions aligned with business performance.

Policy Is Moving Fast

Abigail Sztein, Executive Director of Recovered Fiber at AF&PA, outlined a regulatory environment that is becoming more active, more fragmented, and more consequential for packaging decisions.

Key developments discussed:

Ongoing legal and legislative activity around EPR programs and truth-in-labeling laws, including state-by-state variation
Increased involvement from industry groups through advocacy efforts and legal challenges
A growing gap between policy intent and operational feasibility

The takeaway: Regulatory change is no longer a future consideration; it is actively shaping material choices, labeling, and compliance requirements. Companies need to monitor developments closely and engage early. Waiting for clarity is no longer a viable strategy.

An Economy That Requires Precision

Chris Kuehl, Managing Director at Armada Corporate Intelligence, provided a data-driven view of an economy that is stabilizing but uneven.

Key dynamics:

Manufacturing is returning to growth, but at a slow pace and with significant variation by sector
Stronger activity is concentrated in areas like data centers, healthcare, energy, and education
Reshoring and supply chain shifts continue to influence where capital is being deployed
Workforce constraints, particularly in skilled trades, remain a limiting factor

At the same time, customer behavior is shifting:

Spending is more selective
ROI and total cost are under greater scrutiny
Demand is less predictable across segments

The takeaway: Broad, one-size strategies will underperform. Growth will come from targeting the right sectors, aligning capabilities to demand, and making decisions based on data rather than assumptions.

AI: Opportunity with Discipline

Gene Marks, CEO of The Marks Group, focused on how businesses should approach AI in practical terms, not as a trend, but as an operational tool.

Key realities:

AI is already embedded in everyday platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, CRM, and ERP systems
Current use cases are delivering value in customer service, sales support, reporting, content creation, and operations
Risks are real and immediate, including data quality issues, misinformation, bias, and security concerns

His guidance was specific:

- - - - Start with 1–2 focused use cases, not broad adoption
        
        Clean and standardize data before layering AI tools
        
        Train teams on tools already in place before investing in new platforms
        
        Establish clear policies around data usage and governance

The takeaway: AI is a productivity multiplier, but only when applied with discipline. Companies that approach it strategically will gain efficiency and insight; those that don’t risk wasted investment or exposure.

Member Spotlight & Plant Tour: Neff Packaging Solutions

This year’s Member Spotlight featured Neff Packaging Solutions, a company that reflects what long-term investment, innovation, and disciplined execution look like in practice.

Led by Bob Neff, President/CEO, the company, founded in 1918 and now in its third generation, has built its position through a combination of advanced technology, operational discipline, and customer-driven thinking. From dedicated digital printing capabilities to an in-house Innovation Center, Neff continues to evolve while maintaining a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability.

That story extended beyond the stage on Friday morning, when Neff opened its doors to PPC members for a Plant Tour of its 122,000 sq. ft. facility just outside of Louisville. Attendees saw firsthand how those principles translate into real operations, from equipment and workflow to execution on the production floor.

The takeaway: sustained success comes from aligning innovation with execution and building systems that support both customer needs and long-term growth.

Women in Packaging Council: Playing the Long Game

The Women in Packaging Council session, led by Dr. Ann Bowers-Evangelista, focused on building long-term influence rather than short-term success.

Through structured exercises, participants mapped their careers, networks, and strengths in real time, turning reflection into action.

Key Takeaways

Your reputation is your foundation: Career growth is not just about what you do, but how you are known.
Networks must be intentional: Advancement depends on building the right mix of relationships, including mentors, sponsors, and underdeveloped connections.
Strengths are your leverage: Your value comes from how you solve others’ problems. Influence is built through contribution, not just connection.
Influence depends on context: Effective leaders understand where they have influence and where they need to build it.

The takeaway: Long-term career growth is not accidental. It requires clarity, intentional relationships, and consistent action. Playing the long game starts with how you show up today.

Industry Campaign Roundtable: Aligning the Industry Voice

The Industry Campaign Roundtable brought members together to shape PPC’s new industry promotional campaign. It highlighted a key opportunity: while the industry has strong stories around sustainability, innovation, and performance, those stories are not being told consistently or collectively.

Key takeaways included:

A need for a unified narrative: Members aligned on sustainability, innovation, and brand impact as core strengths, but emphasized the importance of clearer, more coordinated messaging.
Commercial value is critical: The industry story must reflect not only sustainability, but also the role of paperboard packaging in driving brand differentiation and consumer engagement.
Member-driven storytelling is essential: Authentic content rooted in real designs, innovations, and experiences will be most effective.
Participation will drive success: The campaign’s impact will depend on active member involvement and contribution.

The takeaway: The session introduced the campaign platform, “Every Folding Carton Tells a Story,” and reinforced that its success will rely on coordinated industry engagement. Learn more and share your story here

Safety in Action

Safety was recognized not as a benchmark, but as a direct reflection of leadership, culture, and operational discipline.

This year, PPC expanded its Safety Excellence Awards Program to recognize performance across multiple categories and measures. These awards highlight companies that have demonstrated sustained commitment to safe operations through strong systems, accountability, and employee engagement.

The 2026 Safety Excellence Award honorees included:

The program culminated with PPC’s highest safety honor, the Chair’s Safety Award, presented to Smurfit Westrock (Joplin, MO). This recognition represents the highest total hours worked without an OSHA-recordable injury across all categories: 1,014,240 hours, a milestone that reflects not just performance but also Smurfit Westrock’s consistency, discipline, and a deeply embedded safety culture.

The takeaway: these organizations set the standard for what safety looks like in practice and have rooted it in daily operations.

Leadership Legacy: Honoring Ben Markens

The meeting also provided an opportunity to recognize one of the industry’s most influential leaders.

The Robert T. Gair Award, PPC’s highest honor, is reserved for individuals whose contributions have shaped the industry, the association, and the broader community. In 2026, that recognition was awarded to the immediate past President Ben Markens.

Ben’s impact was reflected in decades of consistent leadership within PPC, a willingness to engage beyond his own company to strengthen the industry as a whole, and a focus on building relationships, developing people, and advancing the association’s role.

As noted during the program, “industries do not evolve by accident… they evolve because of individuals who choose to contribute to something bigger than themselves.”

Ben’s leadership embodied that principle. He helped shape PPC into a platform for collaboration, opened doors for others, and influenced how the industry works together today.

The takeaway: lasting impact comes from sustained contributions that show up, engage, and invest in the industry’s long-term success.

The Thread That Connected It All

Across every session, from leadership to economics to AI, the same principle emerged:

Focus.

Focus on what drives real outcomes
Focus on what matters most to your business
Focus on building long-term value, not chasing short-term noise

Or, as reinforced throughout the meeting: not every trend deserves your attention—but the right ones demand it.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

PPC recognizes and deeply thanks our annual sponsors: Koenig & Bauer, Metsä Board, Clearwater Paper, Smurfit Westrock, BOBST, eProductivity Software (ePS), and Sappi. Along with event sponsors Charta Global, Eukalin Adhesives, Heidelberg, Komori, manroland, and Valco Melton.

PPC also thanks its experience sponsors, including Gair Award, Women in Packaging, and Off-Site sponsor, Joe Piper, Inc., Bourbon Tasting sponsor, BOBST, Breakfast sponsor Dixie Pulp & Paper, Inc., Break sponsor National Fiber Supply, Lunch sponsor, Roosevelt Paper Co., Women in Packaging Council sponsors, Tamarack Products, Inc., and INX International Ink Co., Registration sponsor Ink Systems, Welcome Package sponsor Wilmington Paper, Sweet Treat sponsor Baumer hhs Corp., Technology sponsor, W.H. Leary Co., and Neff Packaging Solutions for providing the beautiful custom welcome boxes for attendees.

The support of our sponsors plays a critical role in bringing PPC together, enabling the conversations, connections, and collaboration that make our community so special.

Moving Forward, Together

PPC’s Spring Meeting wasn’t about abstract ideas; it was about alignment.

Alignment with where the industry is going. Alignment on what matters most.
And alignment on how to move forward, together.

Because in a rapidly changing environment, the strongest advantage isn’t just insight. It’s a community willing to share it.

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