AICC 2019 Northeast & Southeast Summit

August saw AICC host two regional summit events, the Northeast Summit in Atlantic City, NJ on the 7^th and 8^th and the Southeast Summit in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL on the 20^st – 22^rd.

For the Northeast Summit, more than 85 attendees gathered at the Water Club Hotel at the Borgata.  Northeast Director Stuart Fenkel of McLean Packaging welcomed the group and day one’s program exploring plant, safety and business security issues was underway.  Dan Pascale, Managing Director of Margolis Healy, presented a wide range of scenarios for box makers and associates to consider, ranging from the mundane to the scary.  He shared the organizational security landscape; how to identify threats; the challenges to implementing effective security programs; how to conduct self-assessments; recommended programs and how to put it all together.  Afterward, Joe Vanderslice, Head of Security at the Borgata, shared real life experience from his life in security that gave context to some of Dan’s scenarios.  Next, cybersecurity was the topic, presented in a unique way, when Ernie Koschineg and Carolyn Purwin Ryan, partners at Cipriani & Werner, P.C. and Shawn Melito, Senior Director of Kivu Consulting took the audience through how to react to an actual ransomware attack.  The session was followed by an AICC networking reception.

Day two began with a presentation by Andrew Clayton, President of Pareto Services on the employee benefits landscape as it relates to insurance.  He gave the audience many ideas to consider.  Next up was Paul Chambers, CEO of Gentleman’s Box, a subscription box service.  Paul is also one of the founders of the Subscription Box Technical Association (SUBTA).  Paul shared the growth of this market, what box makers can do to thrive in it and what the future may hold.  After this, David Burgess, Sales Director of JB Machinery moderated a panel of machine suppliers who offer printing presses with inside/outside print capabilities, a must in the e-commerce and subscription box space.  Jim Schiffman of Global Machine, Steve Biller of BW Papersystems, Eric Aulton of SUN Automation and Dave Williamson of Hycorr all shared the latest technology that can make box makers effective in these growing markets.

The event was capped with a golf outing at the Galloway National Golf Club followed by an awards dinner.  AICC would like to thank all attendees, presenters and especially the event sponsors, Gold Level Bobst and Poteet Printing Systems; Networking Reception sponsor Kruger; Silver Sponsor McLean Packaging Corporation; Breakfast sponsor SUN Automation; Lunch sponsor Cascades; Golf lunch sponsor EFI; Golf dinner sponsor Fosber; Golf contest sponsors American Corrugated Machinery, BW Papersystems, EAM Mosca, JB Machinery and NEWW Packaging & Display; Golf hole sponsors Alliance Machine Systems, EAM Mosca, Haire Group, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and People’s Capital & Leasing. A special thank you to John Jordan of JM Fry who organized the golf tournament.

For the Southeast Summit, more than 75 attendees gathered at the Marriott at TPC Sawgrass, gathering for a networking reception on the opening night.  The next morning the group got an early start, busing to WestRock’s Graphic Solutions Pre-Print facility in nearby Jacksonville.  Many thanks to WestRock for opening their doors and to Pete Patti and his team at the facility who were great hosts and showed their operation proudly and effectively.  Back to the hotel in time for lunch, Southeast Director Ben DeSollar of Sumter Packaging opened the afternoon program which focused on family business and HR issues.  Leon and Terrance Resnick, partners in Resnick Associates spoke on succession planning, estate planning and retirement planning.  Christine Walters, President of FiveL Company next spoke about the ever-changing and challenging environment surrounding Marijuana legalization, de-criminalization and prescriptions and the workplace.  After a short break, Keith Thomas, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Business Development at Michigan City Paper Box presented on developing the most profitable portfolio of sales activities.  Keith’s years of experience with some of the largest brand names in the gaming space was invaluable in his treatment of the subject.  An AICC networking reception capped a full day of activities.

Thursday morning, after a sit-down breakfast, the group headed to TPC Sawgrass for a scramble on the Valley course.  After the golfers finished, an awards luncheon closed the event.  AICC would like to thank all attendees, presenters and again, especially the event sponsors.  Gold level Poteet Printing Systems; Networking reception sponsor Equipment Finance Corporation; Bronze level KiwiPlan and CorrChoice; Breakfast sponsor SUN Automation; Lunch sponsor AG Stacker; Golf contest sponsors American Corrugated Machine and WestRock.  Golf hole sponsors Alliance Machine Systems, Container Graphics, CorrChoice, Haire Group, JB Machinery, JM Fry, Package Crafters, Pamarco, Pinnacle Corrugated and Stafford Cutting Dies.  Special thanks to Pat Szany of American Corrugated Machinery for organizing the golf tournament and to Chip Schiffenhaus of WestRock for assisting with the tour arrangements.

Northeast Summit Golf Tournament Winners

FIRST PLACE

• Stu Fenkel, McLean Packaging
• Doug Friel, Johnson Kendall & Johnson
• Tom Phillips, Bobst
• Pat Szany, ACM

SECOND PLACE

• Bob Ball, Johnson Kendall & Johnson
• John Burgess, Pamarco
• Kevin McDermott, Kathmere Capital Mgmt
• Lee Tirey, Huston Patterson

THIRD PLACE

• Francois Asselin, Kruger Packaging
• Jim Brennan, Royal Group/Mid-Atlantic
• Jim Farmer, BW Papersystems
• Dan Santhouse, PhilCorr

CONTEST WINNERS

• Closest to the Pin #2 - Jeff Morrison, People's Capital & Leasing
• Closest to the Pin #5 - Doug Friel, Johnson Kendall & Johnson
• Closest to the Pin #8 - Tom Davies, People's Capital & Leasing
• Closest to the Pin #17 - Stu Fenkel, McLean Packaging
• Longest Putt - Paul Hrubesky, Fosber

Southeast Summit Golf Tournament Winners

FIRST PLACE

• Brant Dixon, AG Stacker
• Jimmy Ezell, Sumter Packaging
• Sean Peickert, Haire Group
• Lee Tirey, Huston Patterson

SECOND PLACE

• Mickey Fordham, Sumter Packaging
• Mike Gentry, Poteet Printing Systems
• Tom Phillips, Bobst
• Keith Thomas, Michigan City Paper Box

THIRD PLACE

• Tim Guelker, EFI
• Brian Lawrence, Henkel Corp.
• Rick Turner, Sonoco Products

CONTEST WINNERS

• Closest to the Pin #2 – Ed Gargiulo, Equipment Finance
• Closest to the Pin #5 – Tim Connell, AG Stacker
• Closest to the Pin #11 – Tom Phillips, Bobst
• Closest to the Pin #14 – Keith Jones, Schwarz Partners