The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) 2019 Fall Executive Conference will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at the InterContinental Chicago.

This one-day conference will focus on industry-specific topics, including an update on state government affairs; an update on the polypropylene market; global trends in flexible packaging; managing incentives; and an overview of the University of Florida research on the feasibility of high temperature steam gasification of municipal solid waste. The conference agenda also features Ben Nemtin, a member of MTV’s The Buried Life, a New York Times bestselling author, and recently named one of the 2019 World’s Top 30 Organizational Culture Professionals by Global Gurus; and Josh Linkner, a world-renowned innovation expert, 5-time tech entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author.

Bill Carroll, senior consultant, Euromonitor International, will discuss global trends in flexible packaging. Carroll helps clients identify, prioritize, and develop export opportunities around the globe, including building reliable and compelling business cases to support and guide market entry and expansion. He holds a BA in urban planning from the University of Illinois and an MA in international studies from the University of Sheffield.

Andy Hackman, principle lobbyist, Serlin Haley, and FPA state lobbyist, will provide an update on state government affairs. Hackman is a registered federal lobbyist who has testified before the US Senate and lobbied in over 25 state capitols. Prior to joining Serlin Haley, he served as vice president of government affairs for the Toy Industry Association (TIA), where he oversaw TIA’s advocacy programs at both the state and federal levels. He also directed the national government affairs program of the Consumer Specialty Products Association.

Joel Morales, senior director, Polyolefins Americas, IHS Markit, will provide an update on the polypropylene market. He is currently the service leader of three market advisory subscription services: The Global Plastics and Polymers Report, the North American PE Report and the North American PP Report. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge to IHS Markit through multiple stints along the plastics’ value chain.

Steve Rice, director of business consulting, EFI, will discuss managing incentives, a look at the importance of incentives in setting direction and motivating behavior, and will review some best practices for setting incentives in sales, production, and other parts of the business. Rice is EFI’s director of business consulting practice, which provides business solutions services for clients in the printing and packaging industries. This practice focuses on developing solutions to everyday problems, including business process optimization, management and reporting strategy development, and tactical solutions to profitability and inventory analysis. Rice has more than 25 years of experience in IT and business management working as an employee, independent consultant, and as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has spent the last 13 years focused on print and packaging working with clients ranging from family-owned independents to multinational large corporations. He holds a Master’s Degree in economics from Portland State University.

Bruce Welt, professor, University of Florida, will provide an overview of the University of Florida’s one-year project researching the feasibility of high temperature steam gasification of municipal solid waste (MSW) and Florida farm biomass waste. With degrees in chemical engineering, food science, and agricultural and biological engineering, Bruce Welt completed his education at the University of Florida with prominent food-process engineer, Art Teixeira. He then spent a few years in industry before returning to UF to help start the packaging science program. Welt’s background gives him a broad view of his field, with the practicality of a working engineer and the insight of a researcher. He applies this balanced view in his research and in his teaching.

Conference attendees will also hear from the Fall Executive Conference luncheon speaker, Ben Nemtin, a member of MTV’s The Buried Life, a New York Times bestselling author, and recently named one of the 2019 World’s Top 30 Organizational Culture Professionals by Global Gurus. He is on a mission to achieve the unthinkable. From playing basketball with President Obama to streaking a soccer field, from raising over $400,000 for charity to placing a record-breaking $250,000 bet on roulette — his bucket-list quest has inspired millions to strive for greatness. Nemtin weaves the compelling story of how The Buried Life started with 100 impossible dreams scribbled on a piece of paper and grew into a global movement of millions. He connects his story to the fabric of our daily lives. Nemtin’s message of radical possibility combined with his “5 Steps to Making the Impossible Possible” will leave you not only inspired but also equipped to tackle the seemingly insurmountable. FPA thanks Flint Group, Hosokawa Alpine American, and INX International Ink Co. for sponsoring Ben’s appearance at the conference.

Josh Linkner is a world-renowned innovation expert, 5-time tech entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author. As a five-time successful tech entrepreneur and investor in dozens of startups, Linkner has seen thousands of companies loaded with creative buzz and big ideas. How is it that some harness their imagination to create drivers of growth and innovation while others miss the mark? The answer: the best companies have a systematic process to focus their team’s creativity into practical outputs – something Linkner discovered by founding and building companies that collectively sold for over $200 million. As a professional jazz guitarist, Linkner blends the improvisational qualities of a jazz ensemble with bleeding-edge business savvy to bring a completely fresh perspective on unleashing creativity in the organization. FPA would like to thank Berry Global, PAC Worldwide Corporation, Sun Chemical Corporation, and TC Transcontinental Packaging for their generous sponsorship of Linkner’s presentation.