Strategic Alignment Brought to Members at the 2023 AICC Spring Meeting

May 18, 2023

The AICC Spring Meeting, April 24–26, in Miami welcomed nearly 800 attendees for three days of general sessions, plant tours, workshops, and networking.

During the meeting, speakers addressed the state of the industry, what’s next, and strategies to increase profitability. Additionally, 240 members enjoyed the 9th Annual Independents’ Cup Golf Tournament.

AICC President Mike D’Angelo says of the meeting, “We thank AICC members for the tremendous turnout at the Spring Meeting. Dynamic members, a strong program of speakers, tours, education, networking, and fun—keep moving Independents, AICC events, and this great industry forward.”

The meeting began with tours of SupplyOne and Schwarz Partners Packaging, followed by the Focus Session, which offered an industry and economic outlook from Anna Wong, chief U.S. economist at Bloomberg LP; an EPR and Federal Trade Commission update with Terry Webber, vice president industry affairs at the American Forest & Paper Association; and a new look at recycling from Suzanne Fisher, CPP, of Fisher Packaging.

A panel of box and packaging manufacturers, moderated by Mike Schaefer, CEO of Tavens Packaging, included Howard Bertram, president of Complete Design & Packaging; Brett Kirkpatrick, director of trade business at The BoxMaker; Joseph M. Palmeri, president, corrugated packaging, at Jamestown Container Cos.; and Ben Urquhart, sales manager at NEWW Packaging & Display. Panelists discussed current conditions, the economy, training employees, what keeps them up at night, and more. If you missed this key session, check out our upcoming Midyear Converters Roundtable in the July/August issue of BoxScore.

Throughout the meeting, attendees heard keynote presentations about marketing sustainability from Susannah Enkema, vice president, research and insights at The Shelton Group, and how to Build for Tomorrow, from Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. The closing keynote speaker, Sheryl Connelly, leading futurist and global consumer trends expert at Ford Motor Co., gave a fresh view of today’s world and how to prepare for and incorporate change into your company.

Packed workshops gave attendees insight into attracting employees and the impact of social media on the industry, with Jake Hall, “The Manufacturing Millennial,” and succession planning with Daniel Prisciotta, CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, CBEC®, managing partner at Equity Strategies Group. There was also a panel discussion with Greg Tucker, chairman and CEO of Bay Cities; Kim Nelson, president and CEO of Royal Containers; Larry Grossbard, vice president of President Container; and Jerry Frisch, president of Wasatch Container, on discussing the future of their companies. Over two days, supplier innovations were shared with a standing-room-only audience. Presenting companies included:

Baldwin Technology
Young Shin USA
EFI
Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems
Sun Chemical
Fosber
SRC America
HiFlow Solutions
Motionalysis
HP
Kao Collins
Kento Digital Printing
A.G. Stacker
Valco Melton
Amtech
SUN Automation
Bobst
OMP
JB Machinery
Flint Group
Goepfert Machinery USA
Koenig & Bauer
MHI
Durst Image Technology

During the meeting, John Bird, chairman and CEO of JB Machinery, was inducted into the AICC Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the industry.

AICC recognized AICC member milestones, with Deline Box & Display and Viking Packaging each celebrating 50 years of continuous independent operation.

The following locations were also awarded the Independent Safe Shop Award for their safety record this past year:

Air Conveying Corporation (ACC Filter)
Akers Packaging Group, including:
- Hoosier in Richmond, Indiana
- Michiana in Sturgis, Michigan
- Middletown in Middletown, Ohio
- Packaging Logic in La Porte, Indiana
- Webster West in North Vernon, Indiana
- Webster West Evansville in Evansville, Indiana
Lawrence Paper Co., American Packaging Division
Royal Containers Ltd.
United Engravers
Welch Packaging Group, including:
Bridgeview, Illinois location
Columbus, Ohio location
Romulus, Michigan location
Toledo, Ohio location
Heritage in Lincoln, Illinois
IndyCorr in Indianapolis, Indiana
Welch Packaging Brown Box in Elkhart, Indiana

Before the meeting, sales professionals participated in a two-day Sales Management Forum in which best-selling author Ed Wallace and millennial sales strategist Omar Abdullah helpedattendees develop targeted conversations that lead to revenue, deliver sales results aligned with a buyer-centric approach, and learn to use application exercises to create fluency within sales teams.

More photos from the meeting can be found on AICC’s Facebook page, and videos of the general sessions will be available to meeting attendees here on AICC NOW. AICC is grateful for the support of our many Meeting sponsors, which include: