Flexo Label Advantage Group (FLAG) recently held its Annual Members Meeting in Buffalo, NY. This event brought together industry leaders, Members, and Vendor Partners for insightful presentations, workshops, and panel discussions focused on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in flexographic printing and label production.

This year’s meeting, which included over 115 attendees from 64 companies and was marked by robust participation and engaging content, continues to solidify FLAG’s role as a pivotal organization in the flexographic printing industry.

JC McKay, president of FLAG, expressed his enthusiasm about the event, “Each year, our meeting offers something special, and this year in Buffalo was no exception. The energy and engagement from our Members and Vendor Partners were amazing. We love providing a platform where our Members and Vendors can come together to share knowledge, explore new technologies, build meaningful relationships, and grow their businesses,” McKay says.

Key highlights from the meeting included a keynote speech on making it ridiculously easy to do business with you by customer experience expert and best-selling author David Avrin, a state of the industry presentation by Label & Narrow Web magazine editor Greg Hrinya, a digital marketing workshop given by JC McKay and marketing and industry expert Jackie Kuehlmann with LPC, and a panel discussion with FLAG Members addressing the challenges they face as independent converters and solutions that have been successful for them.

The FLAG annual awards dinner and celebration are always held during the Annual Meeting. On Wednesday evening, FLAG Members and Vendor Partners were recognized.

FLAG Vendor Partner of the Year Award: Hybrid Software: This award is based on a participating vendor’s exceptional support, communication, and commitment to FLAG and its Members. This year’s recipient was Hybrid Software.

Brad Brown Strategic Partner Award: Jackie Kuehlmann – LPC: Brad Brown was a colleague and friend of John McKay, who passed away much too young. Brad was instrumental in helping FLAG in the early years, first by believing in the FLAG vision, then becoming one of the first FLAG Vendor Partners, and introducing John to Dan Bendele, CEO of IPW. Dan and John struck up a friendship, which led to a strong Strategic Partnership between FLAG & IPW.

The Brad Brown Strategic Partner Award is presented annually to one person who exemplifies Commitment, Creativity, and Excellence – three character traits of Brad’s – in their support of FLAG. This year’s award went to Jackie Kuehlmann of LPC, FLAG’s agency of record.

FLAG Gold Member Awards: The long-term success of FLAG is based on engagement, involvement, and purchasing at high levels from all Members. The Gold Member award is presented to FLAG Members who have achieved Gold Member Ranking in their purchasing levels multiple times over the last four quarters and attended the Annual Members Meeting. Seven companies received the 2022 Gold Member Awards:

• Accu-Label – Fort Wayne, IN
• Apogee Industries – West Chester, PA
• Grace Label – Des Moines, IA
• Graphics Universal – Greencastle, PA
• Jones Healthcare Group – London, ON
• Luminer Converting Group – Lakewood, NJ
• M&R Label – University Park, IL

Member Tour Host Award: Niagara Label: A Member company opens its doors at each FLAG Annual Meeting and invites all attendees to tour it. Members value seeing how a company of similar size and scope implements processes and sets up its businesses for growth and efficiency. This year, FLAG visited Niagara Label in Akron, NY.

Millon Dollar Saver Award: Niagara Label: This award recognizes Members who have saved one million dollars or more through Vendor Partner incentive programs.