December 5, 2018
AICC’s 2018 fiscal year ended on June 30, and it was during this year that participation in and access to AICC programs tripled and online content doubled, making 2018 the “Year of Member Engagement.” Following 2017, when AICC’s board of directors “doubled down” on emphasizing training and education by making all online offerings free of charge to members, AICC’s 2018 fiscal year saw the harvest of that effort in a most dramatic increase in the level of member participation. By all measures—new members joining, companies participating, and individuals attending—engagement in the Association’s programs, courses, and events is at an all-time high.
Membership
Despite continued consolidation in the industry, AICC welcomed 28 new general members into the Association and 37 new Associate members. Dues revenues totaled $1,516,087 in FY 2018, up from $1,282,467 the prior year. The Association’s membership retention rate of 94 percent is at the top of manufacturing trade association retention standards, according to the Council of Manufacturing Associations’ recent manufacturing association membership study. The total number of corporate entities, both general and Associate members, is 527, up from 490 the previous year.
Education and Training
AICC’s industry-specific education and training programs brought in $557,052 in revenue in the 2018 fiscal year. This was up from $427,153 in FY 2017, an increase of 30 percent. The increases were fueled in large part by the healthy attendance at on-site programs and the introduction of new courses such as Digital Print Fundamentals, a hands-on digital print technology course hosted in March 2018 by SUN Automation Group in Glen Arm, Md. In addition, several AICC Associate member companies signed on as our first group of “Education Investors” in fiscal 2018, and they are: Fosber America; SUN Automation Group; JB Machinery; Pamarco; Absolute Engineering; BCM Inks; Printron; EFI; Kruger; and Bobst North America. Through their financial support and in providing technical content, these companies support AICC’s growing catalog of online education and training programs.
The major driver of the surge in AICC’s education and training program was the inclusion of all online education free of charge as part of AICC’s membership value. This transition from pay-as-you-go to “all-included” was directed by AICC’s board of directors the prior fiscal year, and is made possible by a unique partnership with The Packaging School in Greenville, S.C., a leading online educational platform for the material handling, packaging, and processing industry. At the end of the 2018 fiscal year, the partnership between The Packaging School and AICC provided members with more than 50 online courses free of charge in disciplines covering production, sales, design, and general leadership and management topics. By June 30, AICC online course completions had topped 1,000 after only 18 months.
In addition, all current course offerings are scheduled to be translated into Spanish, with AICC México’s board of directors setting priorities on which courses are to be completed first.
National Meetings, Regional Summits, and Special Events
Attendance at AICC’s national meetings, summits, and other events topped 1,900 people in the fiscal year ending June 30. The 2017 Annual Meeting and Independent Packaging Design Competition in Las Vegas saw 633 attendees, while AICC’s 2018 Spring Meeting in Phoenix drew 602.
AICC summits grew in FY 2018, with 12 events held domestically and internationally. The U.S. summits were attended by 577 members and guests, while multiple events in Canada and Mexico attracted 679 members, spouses, and guests. AICC’s annual Print & Packaging Legislative Summit, co-sponsored by Fibre Box Association (FBA) and joined by Printing Industries of America (PIA), the Association for Print Technologies (APT), Idealliance, and the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), attracted 110 members from the print and packaging industries to meet with their legislators to advocate on behalf of economic and regulatory policies beneficial to the manufacturing sector.
Combined income from AICC’s U.S. national meetings, summits, and the Print & Packaging Legislative Summit was $1,495,613.* AICC’s fifth annual Independents’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament, held in conjunction with the 2018 Spring Meeting in Phoenix, raised a combined $40,000 for the J. Richard Troll Memorial Scholarship, Three Precious Miracles, and The American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
*Revenue quoted does not include AICC Canada or AICC México.
Publications and Advertising
AICC’s publications and advertising contributed positively to AICC’s steady growth in FY 2018, bringing in a combined $339,241, down 4 percent from the previous year’s $354,135. The 2018 fiscal year total was made up of $314,340 in website and print (BoxScore) advertising, and $24,861 in publication sales.
AICC Canada
AICC Canada encompasses Ontario, Québec, and the Maritime Provinces.
It is run by an independent board of directors chaired by President Stephen zMoore of Moore Packaging. AICC Canada hosts a number of events annually and provides various services to its members locally. In 2017–18, events included general member meetings, an annual Christmas party with 140 attendees, and the winter President’s Luncheon, where this year, attendees enjoyed a comical look at the world of sportscasting with Rod Black. Completing the year was the highly attended golf tournament co-hosted with CCCA, in which up to 135 golfers participated. AICC Canada publishes its own regional membership directory and biennial salary survey. Terri-Lynn Levesque of Royal Containers Ltd. serves as regional director on the AICC board of directors. Upcoming for
2019: 20/20 Vision Progress in Packaging, Conference & Trade Show, April 24–25. For more information on the activities of AICC Canada, contact Jana Marmei, administrative director, at 905-727-9405 or jm@aiccbox.ca, or visit www.aiccbox.ca.
AICC México
In 2018, AICC México hired its first full-time executive director in Mexico to manage the affairs of the Association there. Sergio Farfan, formerly executive director of the Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Empaques Corrugados (ANFEC), began working full time for AICC México in January 2018. Mexico’s membership grew substantially in the six-month period from January 1 to June 30, due largely to his efforts at recruiting and establishing dedicated programs for AICC México members. The first AICC México Emerging
Leaders meeting was held in conjunction with AICC México’s annual meeting, May 16–18, in Guadalajara. Founded in 2001, the region continues to be a vital part and growing part of AICC’s international family, now with more than 50 members. AICC México is represented on AICC’s board of directors by Pedro Aguierre of Tecnología de Cartón in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
Executive and Governance
AICC’s board of directors in September 2017 approved changes in AICC’s bylaws to consolidate the number of regions represented by regional directors. The effect of this action will reduce, in the 2019 membership year, the number of regional directors on AICC’s board from 10 to six. Notably in FY 2018, AICC’s board of directors unanimously approved a staff leadership succession whereby Michael D’Angelo will succeed AICC President Steve Young beginning July 1, 2019. Young will step down and assume a consulting “ambassador” role with the Association on that date.
AICC continued its traditional collaboration with related industry trade associations, including TAPPI, the FBA, Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), and others. Internationally, AICC maintains membership in the ICCA, where we are represented on its board of directors by AICC Overseas Director Kim Nelson, who is CEO of Royal Containers Ltd. in Brampton, Ontario. In the past year, AICC participated in and was represented at FEFCO’s biennial Congress in Stockholm, as well as the ICCA’s board of directors meeting, held concurrently. AICC also attended the annual convention of ACCCSA, the association for corrugated manufacturers in the Caribbean and Central and South America, held in Lima, Peru.
Financial Results
AICC’s operations in FY 2018 brought in $4,173,736 in revenues and realized expenses of $3,919,933. This resulted in a net operating income of $253,803. This income, plus ($90,738) in nonoperating income from changes in AICC regional activities, resulted in a total net income of $165,065. AICC’s auditors are Mullins, PC, of Bethesda, Md. AICC members who wish to receive a copy of AICC’s audited financial statement should send a request in writing to Steve Young, President, AICC, PO Box 25708, Alexandria, VA 22313, or email syoung@aiccbox.org.
