From March 3-6, 2024, TLMI converter members gathered at The Cloister, an historic hotel and resort in Sea Island, GA, USA, for the annual TLMI Converter Meeting. The event provided an optimal setting for networking, discussions of best practices, and detailing the latest trends effecting the label converting industry. In addition, the agenda featured a welcome reception, golf tournament, pickleball mixer, Sea Island Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Nest Charity Ecology Walk, and concluded with the annual Awards Dinner, where winners of the Eugene Singer Award for Best Managed Company were revealed.

TLMI president Linnea Keen kicked things off with a discussion on the association’s core values of community, insight and advocacy, themes on display throughout the two-and-half-day event. Several benefits of TLMI membership were touted, including the Member Referral Program – TLMI has strong partnerhsips with PRX Market, Procure Analytics, Workplace Advisors, SPL Consulting and more.

Corey Reardon, president of market research firm AWA Alexander Watson Associates, during his “Materials Outlook” presentation, stated that most converters today are benefitting from being involved in more than one labeling format. He also emphasized that while for the most part supply chain disruptions are behind us, current global events do indeed have an impact on label businesses in North America. When issues do arise, however, Reardon said that having experienced the supply chain hardships of the last few years that were brought on by the pandemic and a paper mill strike, the label industry has proven resilient and is better equipped to handle supply chain challenges.

Adam Peek, also known as the “Packaging Pastor,” is senior vice president of Meyers, a Minnesota-based printer and label converter. He gave a presentation titled “Don’t Turn Your Back to the Future: How Sustainability, Social Media, and Innovation are Impacting the Industry.” Peek emphasized the value of using LinkedIn as a sales tool. “Go to where the buyers are,” he said, in discussing leveraging the business-driven social media platform.

With regard to sustainability, Peek called it “the new normal,” and drew upon this quote from Tony Perotta of PA Consulting: “The lack of a climate action plan at any business is the lack of a business continuity plan.”

A session on succession planning, led by Andrea Crane of Crane Talent Group, featured three converter member panelists – Craig Curran, president of Nosco, an ESOP company; Bill Muir, executive chairman of Grand Rapids Label, a family-owned company transitioning to professional management; and Liz Pecha-Poelker, owner of family-owned and operated PrintFlex Graphics.  The panelists, who were representing companies of differing sizes and management situations, shared their unique perspectives on succession planning and alternatives to selling to private equity.

The 2024 TLMI Converter Meeting also featured an update from the Regulatory Affairs Committee.  Bryan Vickers of PACE, LLP informed attendees on the latest from the PFAS and DT Task force.

Father and son due David and Jonah Stillman of Gen Guru led a session called “Generations in the Workplace,” and detailed their thoughts on best practices in managing the differing work styles, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z.

L&NW’s Steve Katz gave a presentation titled “A Green New World: Cannabis Labels & Packaging.” He discussed the latest trends in cannabis labels, illustrating the lucrative opportunities presented to label converters on what is forecasted to be a $100 billion market by 2030. 

Brian Van de Water of SPL Consulting, LLC, presented, “Now is the Time: Lean & Strategic Planning.” He shared the benefits of embracing Lean Manufaturing, and how doing so can transform a label business.

The educational portion of the TLMI Converter Meeting concluded with “Open Space Conversation,” a TLMI member requested session led by Claudia St. John from The Workplace Advisors. Separated into small groups, topics of discussion included AI, sustainability, hiring and retention, and increasing profits.

The event concluded with a reception and Awards Dinner, where the latest winners of the Eugene Singer Awards for Best Managed Company were revealed. The winners are KDV Label, ATL Corp., Systems Graphics, and Belmark.