The PPC Next leadership class of 2024, featured below, came together for PPC’s inaugural PPC Next: Leadership Summit. The exclusive, interactive meeting at RRD’s Corporate Offices in Greater Chicago from July 17-19 united, ignited, and built the most promising leaders in the paperboard packaging industry.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.—The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) proudly celebrates the success of its inaugural PPC Next: Leadership Summit, held from July 17-19, 2024, at the RRD Corporate Offices in the Greater Chicago area. The sold-out event, with programming sponsored by sappi North America, marked a significant milestone in the paperboard packaging community, bringing together top talent to foster community, sharpen leadership skills, and address the pressing issues facing many professionals today.

The PPC Next: Leadership Summit was not just a gathering of industry professionals, but a platform designed to equip PPC member companies with practical tools to engage and retain their most promising leaders. The summit, held over three days, featured dynamic discussions, collaborative sessions, and deep-rooted networking opportunities. The content emphasized practical tools that left attendees equipped and ready to tackle the challenges faced in their respective roles.

The 'Leaders at Every Level' session was a standout at the summit, offering a unique opportunity for personal development. Led by Teri Kinsella, Talent Optimization Advisor for PI MidAtlantic, Kinsella delivered insights into The Predictive Index (PI) Behavioral Assessment and gave attendees a comprehensive understanding of their natural working styles and how they influence diverse teams. The 'Self-Aware Leader Exercise' that followed was a practical tool for identifying strengths and areas for improvement, fostering deeper self-awareness and hands-on techniques for effective teamwork and collaboration.

Keynote speaker, Bakul Wadgaonkar, Director of Sustainability for sappi North America, educated and inspired leaders with insights on sustainability in emissions reduction, forestry, water stewardship, stakeholder engagement, supply chain, and product footprint. Her keynote delivered actionable strategies for converters of folding cartons, emphasizing the importance of incorporating climate-smart elements into everyday decisions. Wadgaonkar reiterated the importance of industry collaboration in her closing message, inspiring attendees with her message of unity: "The more we do to support biodiversity, the more it will enhance circularity. We’re stronger as an industry when we work together.”

The event also featured an engaging PPC Industry Panel, where industry leaders shared their enthusiasm for the industry and highlighted the successes and challenges they have faced over the years. The panel featured renowned industry veterans, including Bill Codo, Executive Vice President of Accord Carton Company, and Ken Petty, President of Indiana Carton Company. Codo and Petty shared their real-life leadership lessons, reflections from their worst and best decisions, mistakes they’ve learned from, and how mentorship has transformed their careers – noting that the lifelong connections they’ve cultivated through PPC have been paramount to their success.

During the discussion, Codo highlighted the importance of making industry connections and the power of friendship, urging attendees to “Get involved early. You’ll grow faster by surrounding yourself with sharp people.” Petty reaffirmed this sentiment and added, “When you need to solve a problem, be patient and invite the right people in the room – the only way to create ownership is to communicate context and provide the ‘why.’”

Another noteworthy session was "Preparing for and Executing Difficult Conversations," where participants learned strategies for addressing challenging conversations with confidence and poise using the DESC (Describe, Express, Specify, and Consequences) framework. The summit addressed the need for effective time management in today's fast-paced industry with a session on "Mastering Time Management." This session covered various tools and techniques essential for productivity.

Public speaking, a crucial skill for leaders, was also addressed during the summit. Attendees received tips on establishing credibility, harnessing the power of persuasion, and preparing impactful presentations. This session aimed to help participants overcome nerves and deliver their messages with confidence.

Emily Leonczyk, VP and Executive Director of PPC, delivered an inspiring introduction where she reflected on her five years with the organization – highlighting the resilience and growth of the industry, especially through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Covid was hard, but it strengthened our industry; it increased demand and created further momentum towards the demand for paper-based solutions. I’m excited to be part of an industry undergoing a revolution, and I hope you walk away from this event with more excitement, enthusiasm, and commitment to shaping our future together," said Leonczyk. Leonczyk also emphasized the importance of community, friendship, and shared growth within PPC, inviting attendees to leverage this network for mutual support and industry advancement.

Laura Brodie, CEO of Pusterla 1880 North America and PPC’s Board Chair, expressed her delight with the summit's success and the promise of our industry's most promising leaders, saying, "The PPC Next: Leadership Summit was an outstanding success. Seeing so many talented individuals come together, eager to learn and grow, was inspiring. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by this leadership cohort gives me great confidence in the future of our industry. I’m assured our leaders are ready to tackle the challenges ahead and are equipped to drive innovation and sustainability in paperboard packaging," said Brodie.

The PPC Next: Leadership Summit provided companies an exclusive opportunity to identify and invest in their current and future leaders. Attendees left the summit with tangible skills to better equip their organizations to compete in the marketplace and a strong network of peers for camaraderie, best practice sharing, and friendship.

PPC will host its next major event this fall from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at its Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA, where members are poised to celebrate PPC’s 95th Anniversary along with the winners of the 81st Annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition and 2024 Student Design Challenge. For more information regarding PPC Next, please email Irene Costello, PPC’s Director of Operations, at [email protected].