FLAG (Flexo Label Advantage Group LLC) has concluded its eighth annual meeting in Toledo, Ohio. For the first time, attendees numbered close to 100 at this networking and educational event.

According to John McKay, president and founder, “We were thrilled by the turnout this year both from our Members and our Vendor Partners. Every year, we’re raising the bar in terms of the quality of our speakers, the tour we take of a member’s facility and the time and attention we spend on round table discussions, networking with Vendor Partners and peer group interactions.”

Dan Wagner, VP, Operations of TLF Graphics in Rochester, NY was attending his fourth annual FLAG meeting because,“It is so valuable to talk to associates from across North America. We all face the same problems and opportunities.”

Held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting, FLAG distributed eight prestigious awards during the FLAG 2018 Awards Banquet. They were:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Andy Willie, Executive Director Emeritus, Independent Carton Group and President of ICG
Awarded to Andy Willie for his positive affect and influence on FLAG President & Founder, John McKay. McKay first met Andy Willie almost twenty years ago when he was with the Pitman Company and Andy, who had previously owned Curtis Packaging, was just starting the Independent Carton Group (ICG), a buying group for large folding carton printers. Supporting John’s vision of ensuring that Members realized savings and saw value, Andy generously provided support and guidance over the years on the ways that a buying group could help its members and vendor partners.

FLAG Vendor Partner of the Year Award – 2018: XEIKON
This award is based on exceptional support, communication and commitment to FLAG and its Members by a participating vendor. Working together with Xeikon furthers FLAG’s goal of making its Members and Vendor Partners stronger companies. John McKay notes that, “Xeikon’s efforts to support and grow FLAG in 2018 were indeed exceptional.”

Brad Brown Strategic Partner Award – 2018 Molly Moroni, RotoMetrics
This is an individual award based on exceptional commitment, creativity and excellence. It is named in honor of Brad Brown who passed away in 2014. Brad was a long-time friend and former Pittman Company colleague of FLAG founder, John McKay. He introduced John to Dan Bendele, CEO of Independent Printers Worldwide (IPW), as he believed there were great synergies between the two companies. Today, FLAG & IPW have formed an invaluable Strategic Partnership. This year, the award was presented to Molly Moroni, Director of Sales, Americas for Rotometrics for her exceptional and consistent support to FLAG and its membership throughout 2018.

FLAG Gold Member Awards
The long-term success of FLAG is based on engagement, involvement and purchasing at high levels from all members. In 2018, five member companies received Gold Awards for the highest level of purchasing from FLAG Vendor Partners. They are:

Graphics Universal Inc., Greencastle PA
TLF Graphics, Rochester, NY
Niagara Label Co., Inc., Akron, NY
Luminer Converting Group Inc., Lakewood, NJ
Apogee Industries Inc., West Chester, PA

Member Tour Host Award – Bollin Label
At each FLAG Annual Meeting, a member company opens up the doors of their print shop and invites all of the attendees to tour their facility. Members place great value in seeing how a company of their similar size and scope implements processes and sets up their businesses for growth and efficiency. This year, FLAG visited Bollin Label in Toledo, Ohio.

In addition to quarterly savings, the Annual Meeting is a key benefit of membership in FLAG. For more info, visit www.flagadvantage.com