In tracing his path from post-Holocaust refugee to father of commercial digital printing, keynoter Benny Landa, President & CEO of Landa Corp., stressed the importance of being first to identify and solve problems, especially when it comes to technological innovation. He also cautioned against making incremental changes to existing processes and technologies; rather, he said that true innovators tread new water and are not afraid to be alone in doing so.
 
During the second keynote speech of the conference, WestRock CEO Steve Voorhees lauded the paperboard packaging industry’s great sustainability story, stable global demand, and terrific career opportunities. The folding carton industry is an attractive one, he said, and he encouraged converters and suppliers to share this with local government representatives. This sentiment was further emphasized by Donna Harman, President & CEO of the American Forest & Paper Association. She expressed that when government leaders hear the same message from business leaders, they are much more likely to support the industry.
 
Next, Jeff Rosensweig, business professor at Emory University and frequent CNN commentator, underscored the importance of tailoring business strategies to economic trends and market shifts. According to Rosensweig, converters should plan for solid U.S. growth over the coming years. He also predicted that the Federal Reserve Board will likely raise interest rates soon, albeit he believes that the increases will be less than previously expected. He finally recommended looking abroad for investment and sales opportunities, as over the next 25 years, 97 percent of the world’s population growth will take place in emerging regions such as Brazil, Southeast Asia, the Pacific side of Latin America, and Africa.

Hiring and retaining employees is another key factor in business success, explained Ann Bower-Evangelista, Executive Coach and President of Llumos, LLC. In the future, she explained to the group, the demand for skilled manufacturing labor will far outweigh supply, and to win this “war for talent,” converters should embrace the needs and expectations of upcoming generations. In addition to actively promoting a positive image of the folding carton industry, she encouraged converters to create recruiting plans that accommodate both future talent and existing business needs.

For more information on PPC’s Fall Meeting, visit paperbox.org/fall.