AICC 2024 Annual Report

AICC’s strong fiscal year punctuated by its golden anniversary

Earlier this year, AICC completed its fiscal year (FY) 2024. It began unlike any other year because the membership was ready to celebrate AICC’s Golden Anniversary: 50 years of advocating for the independent, of educating the independent, of celebrating the independent; and 50 years of ensuring the success of our members—first and always.

AICC closed FY 2024 in a strong financial position, due primarily to the above-mentioned 50th anniversary celebration. But the year’s events at AICC were certainly more than just the big party at the Spring Meeting.

National Meetings and Events 

National and regional meetings, golf events, and a ski event mark the AICC calendar throughout the year. These events keep AICC close to its members and the members close to one another.

The fall 2023 Annual Meeting occurred in September. “Box Plants, Bourbon, & Business” was the theme for a meeting that took members from general and breakout sessions in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, to box plant tours at local plants Independent II, Premier Packaging, and Greif/CorrChoice, to historic Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

AICC’s 50th anniversary celebration took place in April at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California. What a party it was with more than 850 members and guests reveling in formal wear with the “Rat Pack” and a big band. An AICC timeline and a past presidents and past chairs “walk of fame” made nostalgia the theme of the day. The joy and celebration at the gathering were a far cry from the first AICC meeting in 1974 in St. Louis, when the inaugural members came together because their survival was at stake.

At that meeting, and again at this year’s meeting, a symbolic single twig was broken in contrast to an unbreakable bundle of sticks. Independents are strong together.

AICC is thankful for all of the members who participate at in-person events throughout the year and for those who joined the party in Palm Desert. We also have special gratitude for the many Associate member companies whose generous sponsorship makes all of these events possible.

Education and Training 

AICC NOW was launched in FY 2023 to better organize and present AICC’s complete archive of webinars, white papers, and member reference materials. AICC NOW also hosts AICC’s Packaging University at NOW.AICCbox.org.

A great deal of time and effort was spent in FY 2024 to make Packaging University a true university with the introduction of multiple colleges, focusing on specific areas of study with core courses, all relevant to paper-based packaging. With the new “semester” starting in September 2024, this new-look site will improve the member experience.

Online education is a member benefit available to every individual who works for an AICC member company. Packaging University has seen over 19,000 completed courses since spring 2017. AICC continues to create approximately 10 new online courses annually and to translate existing and new courses into Spanish on a regular basis.

AICC Education Investors deserve special recognition: Fosber, BCM, SUN Automation, JB Machinery, Pamarco, Absolute, Printron, EFI, Krueger, Bobst, HP, and Stafford Corrugated Products. These Associates have committed financial and intellectual resources to ensure the continuing education of AICC members.

AICC’s Breaking Down Boxes podcast continued to educate and entertain members. As the fiscal year closed, hosts Gene Marino of Akers Packaging and Joe Morrelli of Huston Patterson/Lewisburg Printing Company announced they were hanging up their microphones. AICC has much gratitude for Marino and Morrelli, conceiving of the idea, birthing it, and making it a must-listen event each month. AICC will continue Breaking Down Boxes with new hosts because so many member stories remain to be heard.

AICC continues to host education opportunities for other Associations through microsites as we maintain our relationship with the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) and Asociación de corrugadores del Caribe, Centro y Sur
América (ACCCSA).

In May in Chicago, AICC hosted the AI Xperience. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to revolutionize manufacturing processes—and the world we all live in. AICC gathered early adopter members and suppliers to share their knowledge and vision with boxmakers and Associates at a two-day event that had 120 attendees. To reinforce AICC’s commitment to educating members on AI, the new Innovation & Technology subcommittee was formed. The members of this subcommittee are collaborating on an ongoing, multichapter white paper that is keeping members abreast of the challenges and opportunities in the fast-evolving AI environment.

Foundation for Packaging Education 

Launched in fall 2020, the Foundation for Packaging Education is a 501(c)(3) education foundation whose mission is to ensure funding to sustain AICC’s and other entities’ education programming. This programming is directed toward existing workers in the paper-based packaging industries, essentially AICC’s members. The donor count has risen to 50 pledging companies and individuals. Total funds on hand are $1.94 million, with pledges made but due in the future totaling $860,000. The goal is to have $3 million on hand to fund programming. Visit www.packaginged.org to make a pledge. Your pledge will help the foundation meet its goal, and you will be investing in your company’s future.

The foundation administers AICC’s long-standing Dick Troll Memorial Scholarship and the Steve Narva Memorial Scholarship, funded by several pledge companies in the foundation.

The Foundation for Packaging Education thanks and values all of the companies and individuals that support the future of independent education through their generous pledges.

Publications and Advertising

Since all AICC publications are available in digital format, AICC’s publications and media past and present are now found at the previously mentioned AICC NOW site. Included are surveys, white papers, Ask the Expert content, past and current issues of BoxScore, all webinars, and so much more.

BoxScore remains AICC’s flagship publication. Produced six times a year, the content is always relevant and generated primarily by members. The January/February issue is The Big Associate Issue, dedicated to AICC’s Associate member companies in good standing. Each interested company receives one page of editorial copy for them to speak about themselves. The issue also serves as a de facto AICC buyer’s guide.

You can access the AICC Media Guide at www.AICCbox.org to see all of the ways to get your message in front of fellow members.

Governance, Cooperation, and Advocacy

AICC continues to follow its destination model driven activity in which the board of directors sets high-level strategic goals for the year.

AICC’s standing committees—Convention Content, Membership, Education, Government Affairs, Paperboard Regulations & Sheet Supply, Nominating, and Associate Member—translate the strategic goals into effective deliverables and programming. Each committee is chaired by a member of the AICC board of directors, ensuring a connectivity and accountability both ways. AICC staff members execute the deliverables and programming as identified by the committees. Operating in this manner ensures transparency and accountability. This model also keeps AICC programming relevant to members’ needs and provides the Association the ability to evolve as members evolve. Committee membership and board of directors participation are open to any AICC member. Please consider signing on to the future of your Association by serving.

AICC continues its close ties with fellow industry associations such as the Fibre Box Association, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry with which AICC shares co-ownership in SuperCorrExpo® and Corrugated Week, and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). These entities together with AICC also comprise the Corrugated Packaging Alliance.

Internationally, AICC is a member of the International Corrugated Case Association (ICCA) with AICC’s Overseas Director Kim Nelson of Royal Containers on the ICCA Board of Directors. AICC maintains relationships with the Sheet Plant Association in the United Kingdom, the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers, ACCCSA, and NWPCA. AICC management and staff endeavor to represent member interests at various events throughout the year.

AICC’s footprint is also international through its constituent organizations, AICC México and AICC Canada. Members in both countries have access to all AICC-generated programming and also receive unique member benefits, events, and information closer to home. Both organizations are represented on the AICC board of directors. AICC management and staff participate in many member events south and north of the border.

AICC also represents member interests through its membership in and partnership with several organizations that inform and engage with various governmental entities at the state and federal levels.

Among these are the Small Business Legislative Council in which AICC holds a seat on the board of directors and the Council of Manufacturing Associations, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers. Issues relating to paper and paper-based packaging are borne by the AF&PA, which is active in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the United States.

Extended producer responsibility in which the brand owner and producers may be liable for the life cycle of packaging is a growing legislative trend on which AICC is keeping members informed.

AICC is active in campaigns on behalf of members at the federal level regarding regulatory environment. Actions here seem to move slowly, but our partners allow AICC to keep members informed on several matters: the introduction of the Corporate Transparency Act, the expansion of 529 education savings plans to cover trade school participation, new overtime rules, evolving Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, and the continuity of the 199A deduction for S corporations.

Membership

AICC’s member retention rate continues to be one of the highest among manufacturing associations at 94%. AICC’s tagline “When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success” proves time and again to be accurate for the member experience. At the close of the fiscal year, AICC had 518 members in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with General (boxmaker) members totaling 285 and Associate (supplier) members totaling 233.

Financial Results

AICC finished FY 2024 in a very strong position, beginning with the balance sheet. 

Total revenue was better than budgeted by just over $700,000 due to strong dues collection, Spring Meeting attendance, and sponsorships. On the expense side, most categories ran according to budget. Administrative costs were elevated as the AICC board approved a move of $100,000 to the Foundation for Packaging Education. Meeting expenses were higher due once again to strong attendance at the AICC Spring Meeting. The higher meeting expense was covered by higher meeting revenue.

Operating income was better than budget by $84,000, with an actual operating income of $26,000 against a budgeted loss of $58,000. Below the line, other income and expenses netted $223,000 against a budgeted loss of $16,000. This resulted in total net income of $249,000 compared with a budgeted loss of $74,000, a favorable variance of $324,000.

AICC has an independent auditor, Mullins PC of Bethesda, Maryland, review its results each year. The above financial information is not audited. The information is derived from AICC’s June 2024 financial statement, compiled by an outside accountant.

As of press time, AICC’s audit has not been completed. Once audited numbers are received, they are presented to the AICC Budget Committee and board of directors for review and approval. All AICC activities are fully transparent to the board and members. Members that wish to receive AICC’s audited financial statements should contact Mike D’Angelo at mdangelo@AICCbox.org.

Thank you for 50 years of membership, participation, and support. AICC looks forward to being your Association for the next 50 years.