Fiercely Independent: A Visit to Sonderen Packaging
By Emily Leonczyk, MBA, CAE, President, PPC
Walking into Sonderen Packaging, you quickly sense that legacy runs deeper than the walls. It shows up in the way the plant and its people operate.
My recent visit to PPC Member Sonderen Packaging in Spokane, Washington was exactly that.
Founded in 1963, Sonderen began with eight employees working out of a 2,000-square-foot basement shop. Today, the company has grown to more than 125 employees operating in a 130,000-square-foot facility. That kind of growth is intentional and happens through grit, vision, reinvestment, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to people.
In 1998, a massive fire nearly destroyed the entire operation. It could have been the end. Instead, it became a defining chapter. With the help of a dedicated workforce, loyal customers, trusted suppliers, and even a few friendly competitors, Sonderen rebuilt quickly. Remarkably, they retained 100% of their customers and did not lay off a single employee. That tells you everything you need to know about this company’s character and the strength of the relationships it has built over decades.
At the helm today are third-generation siblings Matt and Keva Sonderen.
They walked me through every phase of their operation. From production to finishing, from design to shipping, the operation was in motion. Sonderen serves a diverse mix of markets. “If it is made out of paperboard, we can design and manufacture it,” they say. The confidence behind that statement comes from decades of investment, craftsmanship and strategic growth.
Matt joined the company in 1998, starting on the production floor and learning the business from the ground up. Today, as a third-generation co-owner, he focuses on operations and long-term investment. He showed me the location where their next major capability, hot foil stamping, will soon be installed. As he put it, “We’re here to stay competitive and solve our customers’ needs.” That mindset is evident throughout the facility. Equipment investments are strategic. Layout decisions are intentional. The future is always in view.
Our conversation about industry trends was candid and thoughtful. We discussed pre- and post-COVID shifts, evolving consumer expectations, supply chain recalibrations, and the ongoing demand for speed, customization, and sustainability. The paperboard packaging industry has evolved rapidly in recent years, and Sonderen has evolved with it, not by chasing every trend, but by staying close to customers and grounded in operational excellence.
Keva brings that same intentionality to culture and brand. In addition to serving as a third-generation co-owner, she leads marketing and champions a deeply family-oriented culture. She shared a 2025 achievements poster that highlights the power of putting people first. Their culture initiatives are practical and visible and are reflected in how team members interact, the pride they take in their work, and the way leadership speaks about their workforce.
In a rare and meaningful moment, Mark Sonderen, a retired second-generation past owner and Chairman of the Board, walked the floor with us. Hearing him reflect on the growth, the rebuild, and the resolve it required added depth to everything I was seeing. He was asking thoughtful questions, offering perspective, and doing what great leaders do at that stage of their careers: providing steady guidance while empowering the next generation to lead.
A banner hanging proudly in the facility honors their 60-year legacy. It serves as a powerful reminder that success is built over time and across generations through steady growth and unexpected adversity.
Their focus is clear: invest in technology, invest in people, stay competitive, exceed customer expectations, and advance sustainability, all while loving what they do. That is how they remain fiercely independent.
Sonderen Packaging embodies what is possible when family leadership, operational excellence, and people-first values come together. Thank you to the Sonderen family for welcoming me so warmly. Our industry is stronger because of leaders like you who are committed to reinvestment, resilience, and ready for whatever comes next. That is the power of fiercely independent leadership.
