The Flexible Packaging Association’s 2019 Annual Meeting was recently held March 6-8, 2019, at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Curt Begle, President, Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Business for Berry Global, and Chairman of the FPA Board of Directors, opened the Annual Meeting educational sessions with a preliminary overview of the state of the flexible packaging industry, and Jan Homan, FPE Honorary Chairman and Senior Advisor of Constantia Flexibles provided an update on the European flexible packaging market. Nick Vafiadis, Vice President, Plastics, IHS Markit, shared an update on the polyethylene market; and Tom Blaige, Chairman and CEO, Blaige and Company, provided a consolidation analysis for plastics, packaging, and chemicals.
The meeting also included a panel on marine debris and current and future solutions. The panel was moderated by John Kalkowski, Conference Program/Editorial Projects Director, BNP Media Packaging Group, and panelists included: William Jackson, VP & CTO, Bemis Company, Inc.; Adrianne Tipton, VP of New Product Development, Novolex; and Bob Lilienfeld, Vice President, Marketing & Sustainability, BioLogiQ, Inc.
In addition to industry content, the meeting provided insight into the U.S. economy. Alex Chausovsky, Senior Consulting Advisor for ITR Economics provided meeting attendees with ITR's views of what to expect from the economy in 2019 and beyond, and covered industry trends, business to business activity, tax reform, trade, inflation, and interest rates. Meeting attendees learned how their companies can take advantage of their own data to make better informed decisions based on the economic environment. Using leading indicators, attendees learned how to identify where they are in the business cycle and which inputs should guide their business strategy to help them make the right decisions at the right time. Alex’s appearance was generously sponsored by Berry Global; BioLogiQ, Inc.; Bobst North America Inc.; Comexi North America, Inc.; and Sun Chemical Corporation.
Tammie Jo Shults, a Southwest Airlines pilot and former F/A-18 Hornet pilot addressed FPA members during the second General Session of the meeting. Tammie Jo is an acclaimed airline captain and former United States Navy aviator. Her early interest in flying led her to become one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots in the Navy, after overcoming several obstacles due to her gender. After concluding her Navy career, she became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Tammie Jo's incredible history and talent received wide acclaim on April 17, 2018, after she successfully landed a Southwest Boeing 737 after an engine exploded at high altitude, causing multiple system failures and rapid depressurization. The successful landing in Philadelphia saved 148 lives including passengers and crew. She shared her experiences during that day, and discussed the importance of leadership, perseverance, and crisis management. Tammie Jo’s presentation was generously sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company.
Copies of the Annual Meeting presentations are available in the Members Only section of FPA’s website, www.flexpack.org.
FPA gives special thanks to FPA members ACTEGA; Bostik, Inc.; Charter NEX Films, Inc.; Cloeren Incorporated; Energy Sciences, Inc.; Flint Group; INX International Ink Co.; Nordmeccanica, NA; PAC Worldwide Corporation; PPC Flexible Packaging; Siegwerk USA Co.; TC Transcontinental Packaging; Transplace; and Wikoff Color Corporation for their generous support of the FPA 2019 Annual Meeting Networking Events.
FPA would also like to thank the following FPA members for sponsoring the Annual Golf Tournament held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting: Ashland; Davis-Standard, LLC; NOVA Chemicals, Inc.; Packaging World; Paper Converting Machine Company; and Vonco Products, LLC.
Special thanks is also given to Catty Corporation; The Dow Chemical Company; INX International Ink Co.; Liqui-Box Corporation; and NOVA Chemicals, Inc. for helping FPA partner with Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across the U.S. who might otherwise go hungry.
Mark your calendar for the FPA 2020 Annual Meeting, March 4-6, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. The meeting will celebrate the 70th anniversary of FPA and should not be missed! For more information on the Annual Meeting, and other FPA conferences and events visit www.flexpack.org or contact FPA at [email protected] or 410-694-0800.
