Looking for innovative ways to help your company stand out and succeed in a dynamic marketplace? Join us in Louisville, Kentucky—a city known for its rich heritage and forward-thinking spirit—March 25–27, 2026, for PPC’s Spring Outlook & Strategies Conference.
Whether you’re focused on developing your leadership team or optimizing carton production, this conference will spark new ideas and challenge you to grow. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
Attendee List | Sessions & Speakers | Register Now | Book your Room
Venue/Map
Registration
Principal Member Registration Pricing
Registration Fees:
- 1st–3rd registrations: $1,295 each
- 4th Principal Member registration is complimentary
- 5th -∞ registrations: $1,295
Principal Member Early Registration Discount
- Early Bird Pricing (Ends March 2, 2026): $1,295
- General Registration (Begins March 3, 2026): $1,495
Associate Member Registration Pricing
Registration Fees:
- First attendee: $1,495
- Each additional team member: $1,895
Up to four team members from your company
Registration Sponsor:
Hotel Accommodations
Location
400 S 2nd St, Louisville, KY 40202Rooms will be allocated on a first–come, first–served basis. Reservations will be accepted at the discounted group rate until the room block is full or the cutoff date (whichever comes first). After that, reservations will be honored based on availability at regular hotel rates.If you have any trouble reserving your hotel room, please call Kayla Brown-Frye at (413) 686-9191 or email info@paperbox.org.Rate: $279 / nightBook Your Room Now
Air Travel
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
SDF is located just a few miles from downtown Louisville and offers nonstop service to many major U.S. hubs, making travel to and from the city convenient.
Weather
March temperatures in Louisville typically range from the high 50s°F during the day to the low 40s°F in the evening. A light jacket or layers are recommended for comfort.
Day 1: Wednesday, March 25
7:30 AM
Registration Opens
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Registration Required)
Women in Packaging Session
Speaker: Ann Bowers-Evangelista
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Women in Packaging Lunch & Networking
Lunch & Mimosas courtesy of INX International Ink Co.
11:00 – 12:30 PM
Executive Committee Meeting (Invite Only)
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
AF&PA Sector Meeting (Invite Only)
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Board of Directors Lunch & Meeting
12:30 – 2:30 PM
Leadership Workshop: Individualize the Approach: Leading People, Not Positions (Lunch is Not Provided: Open Invitation to All)
Dan Irvin
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Industry Promotional Campaign Roundtable (Open Invitation to All)
Join us for a dynamic, working roundtable as we shape PPC’s new industry-wide promotional campaign, designed to elevate paperboard packaging as sustainable, innovative, and commercially powerful.
PPC is stepping forward to help fill the visibility gap and ensure our industry’s story is told clearly, credibly, and consistently. This session moves beyond overview; we’ll collaborate on key decisions that will define the public launch.
We’ll Discuss:
- The campaign framework and creative platform
- The primary public-facing call to action
- What success looks like in Year 1
- How we measure impact and industry visibility
- How members can help fuel the campaign with compelling stories
This is your opportunity to influence how paperboard packaging is positioned in the marketplace and ensure our collective voice is strong, unified, and forward-looking.
Come ready to share ideas and help shape what comes next.
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Industry Connections Forum
Build new relationships and expand your professional circle within the paperboard packaging industry during this facilitated connection session. Designed to bring PPC members together in small, rotating conversations, this experience creates space to meet people you may not normally encounter during a busy meeting schedule.
Participants will engage in a series of short discussions that move from personal introductions to broader conversations about the future of the industry. The format encourages thoughtful dialogue, shared perspectives, and the kind of introductions that can grow into long-term professional relationships.
Whether you’re reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting colleagues for the first time, this session offers a structured way to strengthen your network across the PPC community and the broader industry.
Who Should Attend
- All members and attendees looking to expand their connections across the industry and meet new people
- Those interested in hearing diverse perspectives on the future of packaging
- First-time PPC meeting attendees and professionals new to the paperboard packaging industry who are building their network
5:45 – 6:45 PM
Welcome Reception
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Dinner & Awards Ceremony
Celebrating excellence with the Gair and Safety Awards
Robert T. Gair Award Ceremony: Honoring Ben Markens
The Robert T. Gair Award is PPC’s highest honor, recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the paperboard packaging industry. Named for the inventor of the modern folding carton, the award celebrates leadership that has shaped the industry’s strength and future.
In 2026, PPC will honor Immediate Past President, Ben Markens, with the Robert T. Gair Award for Lifetime Achievement. Since leading PPC beginning in 2008, Markens has reinforced PPC’s role as the trusted voice of the folding carton industry. His leadership leaves a lasting legacy, not only in the growth of the association, but in the collaborative culture that continues to define PPC today.
2026 PPC Chair’s Safety Awards Ceremony
The PPC Chair’s Safety Awards recognize member facilities that demonstrate exceptional commitment to workplace safety. For more than a decade, the Chair’s Award has honored the plant achieving the highest number of hours worked without an OSHA-recordable incident.
In 2026, PPC has expanded the program to include multiple plant-size and operational categories, ensuring companies of all sizes can be recognized for outstanding safety performance. The awards reflect a shared industry commitment to one goal: safer workplaces and zero incidents.
Day 2: Thursday, March 26
General Session & Offsite Networking
7:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 – 8:30 AM
Opening Remarks
8:30 – 9:45 AM
Leadership Keynote: From Production to Presence: 3 Habits of Consciously Intentional Leaders
Dan Irvin
9:45 – 10:30 AM
The Touch Advantage
Vicki Strull
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Break & Film Fest
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Brand Owner Panel
Featuring leaders from Nothing Bundt Cakes, The Fold Design, and the U.S. Mint
Facilitator: Paul Schutes
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
AF&PA Policy Update & PPC Industry Affairs
Abigial Sztein & Tom Hendrickson
12:00 – 2:00 PM
Leadership Luncheon: Authentic Leadership in Action: Balancing Support and Ownership
Facilitator: Dan Irvin
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Member Spotlight: Bob Neff, Owner, Neff Packaging Solutions
At Spring Meeting, Bob Neff will take the stage to share how Neff Packaging Solutions has built more than a century of success by combining innovation, technology, and customer-driven thinking.
Founded in 1918 and now a third-generation family-owned business, Neff operates a 122,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility recognized as one of the most technologically advanced folding carton plants in North America. With dedicated digital printing capabilities, an in-house Innovation Center, and a strong focus on lean, sustainable solutions, Neff partners with leading consumer brands to solve complex packaging challenges efficiently and creatively.
Bob’s spotlight will offer insight into how long-term relationships, operational excellence, and continuous innovation fuel growth in today’s evolving packaging marketplace.
2:15 – 3:15 PM
Economic Outlook
Chris Kuehl
3:15 – 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 – 4:45 PM
Chat GPT, AI, Agents, Automations, and Beyond
Gene Marks
4:45 PM
Closing Remarks
6:30 – 9:30 PM
Offsite Reception & Dinner at Loft @ The Biscuit Lounge
Join us for a night out at Loft @ The Biscuit Lounge, one of Louisville’s coolest hidden gems. Tucked inside a historic biscuit factory, the space has been transformed into an industrial loft and art gallery that keeps its character while making for a great place to gather.
We’ll take over the loft for dinner, drinks, live music, and a bourbon tasting that gives a proper nod to Kentucky tradition. It’s the perfect chance to unwind after the day’s sessions, catch up with friends, and enjoy a fun night out together.
*Times and sessions are subject to change
Day 3: Friday, March 27
7:30 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Depart from hotel to Plant Tour at Neff Packaging Solutions
11:00 AM Lunch
12:00 PM Arrive at Louisville Airport SDF
Transportation provided
Align Your Brand with PPC
Film Fest
Associate members are invited to submit a 1-2 minute video highlighting their company’s unique attributes and special distinctions. Don’t worry about making it professional—the best videos are made in just a few hours with an iPhone! The only requirement is to have fun and be creative.
Submit the form here to show your video at future PPC Annual Conferences. Videos will be displayed at upcoming meetings in the order they are submitted, as time allows.
Sponsorship
Other sponsorship opportunities are available for PPC Associate Members. Visit paperbox.org/sponsorship, or submit your request below!
DIAMOND SPONSOR
SAPPHIRE SPONSOR
SAPPHIRE SPONSOR
SAPPHIRE SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Event Sponsors
