FLEXcon has announced that Lavon Winkler has taken over as the new president, effective January 30. The company will remain a family operated business with Neil McDonough at the helm as CEO and chairman of FLEXcon Holdings, which includes FLEXcon North America, FLEXcon Europe, FLEXcon Industrial, Arlon Graphics and Blueshift Materials. 

Winkler has been hired to fuel the company’s growth, further develop career and succession planning to secure the future workforce and to prepare the McDonough family’s third generation for leadership. As the PSA labels, graphics and tapes industry matures, the company will look to Winkler for guidance to organically grow revenue in FLEXcon’s core business, as well as emerging technologies.

“We are thrilled to have Lavon join the FLEXcon team,” says McDonough. “He brings the necessary skills and experience to bring FLEXcon to the next phase of its growth. For more than a decade, we have applied Lean manufacturing processes to optimize our manufacturing operations. As we look to bring Lean tools into our offices, we will leverage Lavon’s expertise in Lean and the Toyota Production System to take our customer experience to the next level.”

One of the major goals of the new president will be to continue making career development a strength at FLEXcon. The company looked for a leader who excelled at talent and career development; and Winkler will work with HR to advance the training of employees as they continue to move through the ranks of the organization. This will enable the company to continue its strong culture of promoting from within.

Winkler has more than 30 years of executive-level experience in various industries, including senior leadership in a $1B Fortune 500 company, and led both service entities and durable goods manufacturing. Winkler was CEO of Milbank for 11 years. Prior to that, he spent a year as president and CEO of Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center and two years as president and COO at Western Forms in Kansas City, MO, USA.

“I am excited to join the FLEXcon team and aid in the continued company growth,” says Winkler. “I was immediately drawn to the company’s view on workforce development and keeping employees motivated through advanced training processes. Joining an innovative manufacturer allows me to implement Lean practices and aid in employee development that will enable the company to continue offering exceptional customer service. I also look forward to working with Neil to bring this family owned company into the next generation and building on our business philosophy and culture that ‘Relationships Matter’ to customers, partners, employees and the community.”