Springfield, Mass. – The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) today revealed the panel of industry experts and knowledge leaders that will judge the associations’ 75th annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition. The panel includes brand owners, like Hasbro Toys, as well as representatives from some of the top package design universities in the United States.

The judges include:

Richard DePaul, Owner, DePaul Associates
Dick has worked in both the converting and consumer product sides of the paperboard packaging industry and as a consultant. During his 50-year career, he has designed packaging in virtually every end-use category and holds over 20 U.S. patents associated with packaging and packaging systems. He has also authored and illustrated both editions of PPC’s Ideas and Innovation Handbook and is a regular judge of the Paperboard Packaging Alliance’s Student Design Challenge.

Lynsie Gibson, Senior Packaging Engineer, Performance Health
In 2009, while studying packaging design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Lynsie won the Paperboard Packaging Alliance's Student Design Challenge. A harbinger of a successful career ahead, Lynsie today is a senior designer at one of the largest global manufacturers and distributors of products to the rehabilitation and sports medicine markets.

Tony Hitchin, General Manager, Pro Carton
With over two decades of experience in the packaging industry, Tony leads Pro Carton and also serves as an industry consultant. Pro Carton is a European association of carton and paperboard manufacturers that promotes the use of cartons. Pro Carton hosts its own annual design contest, so Tony’s input should offer a new perspective to PPC’s competition.

Sandra Krasovec, Packaging Design Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology
The recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the FIT Faculty Excellence, Sandra teaches packaging design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She organizes FIT’s Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference, is a managing partner of design management consultancy Design Practicum, and is co-author of Packaging Design: Successful Product Branding from Concept to Shelf.

John Lyons III, Former Associate Publisher, Package Design Magazine
John brings the consumer/brand identity perspective to the ever-evolving packaging industry, especially as it relates to eco-friendly packaging.

Robin Matusik, Senior Package Engineer, Hasbro Toys
Twelve years have flown by for Robin during her tenure at Hasbro Toys. She has worked on brands such as My Little Pony, Baby Alice, Fur Real Friends, Furby, Play-Doh, and many more. She enjoys the creativity involved in package design, which was the driving force behind her decision to study Packaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology and then pursue a career at Hasbro.

Nona Woolbright, Assoc. Professor, Clemson University Department of Graphic Communications
Dr. Nona Woolbright has been a faculty member at Clemson University since 2002. She has a strong interest in management and personnel practices for the printing industry as well as research in consumer package design. She also maintains collaborative educational efforts with industry partners such as Hewlett Packard, Proctor & Gamble, and the Flexographic Technical Association.

Bill Wynkoop, Adjunct Professor of Packaging, Rochester Institute of Technology
Bill has more than 25 years of experience in developing retail packaging for both established brands as well as emerging start-ups. He has a particularly deep experience with Private Label development, having produced packaging for most of the major domestic and Canadian retailers. Bill is currently an adjunct professor in packaging at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

“I’m looking forward to hearing the judges’ insightful and spirited discussions,” said Ben Markens, PPC president. “This year’s panel is chock-full of experienced brand owners, package designers, and professors. The competition is certainly in good hands.”

PPC’s 2018 competition, which recognizes masterful design and manufacturing of folding cartons and rigid boxes, will be adjudicated over three days at PPC’s headquarters in Springfield, Massachusetts. The winners will be revealed at PPC’s Fall Meeting and Leadership Conference, October 24-26, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia.

To learn more, visit paperbox.org/cc.