American packaging executive held hostage in Iraq

American packaging machinery business owner, Jeffrey Ake, CEO and President of Equipment Express (LaPorte, IN), was taken hostage by insurgents in Iraq this week.

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Packaging World vp/publisher Joe Angel says, "I've known Jeff for a long time and his company has been involved in the Iraq rebuilding effort since 2003. He is a great person and resourceful businessman. Our thoughts are with Jeff and his family and we pray for his safe return."

According to a report in the LaPorte Herald-Argus newspaper, "Ake was in Iraq to construct integrated systems that will provide water bottles to be sold in Baghdad as part of the rebuilding effort in that country."

For more information on this situation, you can connect to the following media sources:

www.heraldargus.com

www.cnn.com.

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