TLMI enjoyed a successful Annual Meeting from October 12-14, 2025, as more than 500 attendees arrived in beautiful Marco Island, FL, USA, for education, networking, and a tabletop exhibition. Attendees learned about the newest trends impacting the label and package printing industry, including automation, legislation, sustainability, and workforce. Plus, a dedicated converter panel highlighted the most impactful topics taking place in label printing today.

“The attendance really speaks volumes to the strength of TLMI and our community,” said Mark Glendenning, owner, Inland Packaging, and TLMI chairman. “The face of TLMI is changing, and it’s evident here at this meeting because we have more than 50 first-timers joining us.”

Change at the top

During the event, Linnea Keen announced her resignation as president and CEO of TLMI. Keen had spent more than five years at the helm of the association.

Based on Keen’s recommendation and strong support from the Board of Directors, Dale Coates was announced to fill the role.

During the Awards Reception on October 14, Glendenning lauded Keen for her leadership and leaving TLMI in a better place than when she arrived in 2020.

Keen took on the role in July 2020, where she spearheaded numerous initiatives that fostered growth. Meanwhile, Coates, who joined TLMI in a leadership capacity in November 2020, had been serving as COO. In that role, Coates was overseeing the day-to-day operations of the association, ensuring seamless execution of strategic initiatives and promoting a culture of excellence.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as a steward of TLMI over the past 5.5 years,” said Keen. “TLMI is an incredible organization.”

Keynote presentations

TLMI welcomed a wide range of experts to discuss the topics that are most impactful to label converters. For the first time, The Bundy Group’s Alex Chausovsky joined the group to deliver his economic outlook.

A highlight of the Annual Meeting, Chausovsky provided an objective view of the economy to help converters and suppliers succeed now and in the future. Topics covered include the impact of tariffs and the OBBBA, the latest economic data, and actionable takeaways.

“The US economy will tread water through much of 2026,” explained Chausovsky. “We have to follow leading economic indicators for that ability to see around the corner.

Things won’t be terrible, but we won’t see great growth heading into 2026 and beyond.

“You have to make decisions based on quality data opposed to fear and opinions,” he added. “Because tariffs aren’t going away, supply chain mapping will remain critical. Simulate and prepare action plans for a variety of scenarios.”

Meanwhile, the Converter Leadership Panel featured Steinhauser’s Tara Halpin, Label King’s Robert Parker, and Charlie MacLean Jr. of ASL Print FX, an AWT Company. The trio touted the benefits of communication and company culture when running a business.

“We’ve grown organically, about 10% every year,” stated Parker. “Our whole leadership team had no leadership experience in the past, so it’s interesting how everything has evolved – and I think for the better. We have a great company culture. Only 25% of our team has been with us for three years or less.”

Halpin, whose company recently celebrated 120 years in business, utilizes an executive coach for each one of her executive team members. “I realized we needed more structure and accountability to our strategic plan, and that’s not just for the executive team but for the entire company,” noted Halpin. “I always want to make sure I’m doing everything in my power to provide the right environment for our team, where they’re being challenged, valued, and respected. That’s a huge responsibility, on the people side, making sure I provide them the best place that I can.”

Finally, MacLean provided the vantage point of a successful converter that has gone through an acquisition. ASL Print FX, which received the Best in Show Award during the Awards Ceremony on October 14, touted the growth that AWT has driven at his company.

“I’ve seen the transition from a small family-owned business being part of a larger business that’s PE backed,” commented MacLean. “And everyone has their own experience and opinion (on M&A). Over the last few years, we’ve grown our revenue and gotten more equipment on the floor, and our employees are better compensated than they’ve ever been. It’s been a positive experience the last couple years. We’re the same company we’ve always been, we’re just able to serve our customers in a bigger and better way.”

TLMI Update

In addition to the leadership transition from Linnea Keen to Dale Coates, TLMI saw numerous milestones in 2025. The association hosted 28 webinars on a diverse range from topics, from evolving regulations to sustainability. As part of that endeavor, TLMI launched the new Converter Exchange Webinar Series.

The new webinar series features 30-minute supplier product presentation, peer-to-peer breakout sessions, and a wrap-up with a final Q&A.

TLMI has also sought to create new growth opportunities for members. They are advised to participate in committees and studies, become a TLMI guru, or attend a webinar.

“We have tremendous knowledge, and this is a way to leverage the assets we have,” said Keen, discussing TLMI Gurus. “You can then become a point of contact when members need help.”

Advocacy has remained a core tenet of TLMI’s mission, as well. “We’ve championed every TLMI member in various ways – providing expert advice and targeted programs to help your business and the entire industry. We see that as our main purpose.”

For example, the Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) delves into the latest with evolving legislating affecting topics like tariffs, EPR, and PFAS. Plus, the Sustainability Committees have focused on a Liner Recycling Initiative. And the Workforce Committee has highlighted employee retention and industry scholarships.

“Years of time has been spent with our Sustainability Committee to see how we can move this initiative forward,” remarked Keen. “We have maps with the resources you need as you’re diverting from landfill or helping your customers achieve their objectives.

“The Workforce Committee has worked really worked hard on scholarships, which are available for members and their employees, who want to continue their education and their training,” added Keen. “Additionally, they’ve focused on how to work on training and retention. They’re looking at trends and legislation. We created Job Profiles with Claudia St. John’s help to assist label converters, and it’s a template to get you started. It’s an additional resource for our members.”

Coming up next, TLMI will host the Committee Summit in Dallas, TX, from December 3-5.