Blink!

July 3, 2024

Fifty years sounds like a long time, but it is really the blink of an eye. As more than 800 independent converters, suppliers, and guests gathered to celebrate AICC’s Golden Anniversary, the time span of this Association was on display in so many ways. A Hollywood-style walk of fame, an 8-foot display with the timeline of AICC and industry accomplishments, photos from the founding meeting in St. Louis in 1974, a video celebrating AICC, and the presence of so many living legends in the room. These individuals made a real difference in the lives and businesses of today’s members. AICC’s wonderful and accomplished staff captured just the right mood and had it on full display throughout the recent event in Palm Desert, California, easily AICC members’ favorite destination. I am always impressed by and grateful for the tremendous work the staff does. Blink! And then we were home, hopefully a little smarter and filled with memories and the joy that being together brings us. Now we’ll sift through and share the photos and continue to enjoy the social media posts that are everywhere in the wake of the big party. What a remarkable journey for an Association of underdogs. When the founders got together in 1974, they were filled with uncertainty. Their businesses and livelihoods were under threat—family businesses with obligations, many heavily leveraged and guaranteed by personal assets. Everything they had, tied up in the businesses they created. They got together, formed AICC, and built their future. If you’re not familiar with these stories, listen to any Breaking Down Boxes podcast. You’ll be moved. Today, their legacy is alive, well, and thriving. Still some startups, along with second-, third-, and fourth-generation box plant families. Even some second- and third-generation family supplier members. The member milestones presented at the Palm Desert event tell the story, from 40-year celebrants to those marking 110 years. AICC, evolving yet constant, continues to bring them all together—educating them, advocating for them, celebrating them. Blink! My takeaway from AICC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is that ours is an industry that has never been better positioned to succeed. AICC’s Emerging Leaders celebrated 10 years as an entity, and their professionalism, optimism, and camaraderie are inspiring. Your Association is also ready to continue its leadership for the next half-century. Why? Because AICC is member-driven—everything we do has you behind it. That’s how AICC got to where it is today. When Al Hoodwin was AICC chair, he captured the how behind AICC’s first 50 years and the promise in the next 50 years with an African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Blink!