Board Converting News, June 8, 2026

BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985 June 8, 2026 VOL. 42 NO. 23

Acme Corrugated Box Hosts Women In Manufacturing BY ASHLEY PRAZYCH A lot of shifts have been happening across the traditional demograph- ics of the manufacturing industry. A generation of experienced manu- facturing talent is retiring at such a pace that the movement earned its own nickname: the Silver Tsunami. At the same time, attracting young- er generations continue to challenge boxmakers nationwide. But another shift is happening as well. More women are entering manufacturing careers, advancing into leadership positions, and build- ing networks designed to support others following similar paths.

Jamestown Container Buys Syracuse Corrugated Box Falconer, New York based Jamestown Con- tainer Cos. has announced the acquisition of Syracuse Corrugated Box Corp., further ex- panding its footprint across New York State. Founded in 1956, Jamestown Contain- er Companies is a family-owned packaging manufacturer specializing in custom corru- gated packaging, retail packaging, displays, and packaging supplies. The acquisition of Syracuse Corrugated Box Corp. strengthens Jamestown Container’s ability to serve cus- tomers throughout Central New York while continuing to provide responsive service, high-quality products, and innovative packag- ing solutions. “This acquisition represents an exciting step forward for our company,” said Joseph R. Palmeri, Chief Operating Officer. “Syracuse Corrugated Box Corp. has a strong reputa- tion for quality, reliability, and customer rela- tionships over many years. We are proud to welcome their customers into the Jamestown Container family.” Syracuse Corrugated Box Corp. was known for its commitment to craftsmanship and customer service. Jamestown Container

Organizations like Women in Manufacturing (WIM) have become part of that movement. With local chapters across the country, WIM aims to build a strong and inclusive community that advances wom- en—from the shop floor to the C-suite—while strengthening the manu- facturing industry as a whole. WIM Visits Acme Corrugated Box I had an opportunity to attend a recent WIM event hosted at Acme Corrugated Box in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Roughly 30 women from a wide range of manufacturing backgrounds gathered to learn about corrugated packaging, tour the facility, and connect with one another. Some were longtime members and others were attending one of their first WIM events. Lisa Griegel, account executive for WIM and co-host of the event, was onsite helping attendees check in. Like many of the organization’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Kevin Beynon, Production Superintendent fourth from left, led a small group of WIM members on a tour of the Acme Corrugated Box plant floor.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

WHAT’S INSIDE

3 SupplyOne Acquires Compass Packaging 8 AICC Mexico Hosts 25th Anniversary Celebration 10 Partnership In Action: PPC Visits Curtis Packaging 16 Colbert Packaging Delivers PPC TICCIT Program To Students

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SupplyOne Acquires Compass Packaging

AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. REGION 42# Kraft liner 26# Semi-Chem. Medium $ 900.00-925. 00 $ 825. 00 -$850.00 U.S. Average CANADIAN LINERBOARD & MEDIUM The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout Canada. Prices may be higher or lower in various areas of the country. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. Prices are Canadian $ and per metric ton. 42# Kraft Liner 26# Semi-Chem Medium East $970.00 $960.00 West $1,015.00 $995.00 REGION plans to build upon that legacy while investing in contin- ued growth, operational efficiency, and expanded capabil- ities for customers. “Syracuse Box was started in 1969 by my dad, Rich- ard Wilde and his business partner, Wyman Caruthers. The business was the foundation of our family for many years,” said John Wilde, former part-owner of Syracuse Box. “When we decided to sell, we liked that Jamestown Container was a family business and shared the same principles of respect for employees and customers. It was a natural fit.” Visit: www.jamestowncontainer.com . Jamestown Container Buys (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania based SupplyOne, Inc., a distributor of custom corrugated and value-added packag- ing solutions in North America, has announced its acqui- sition of Compass Packaging Solutions, Inc, a packaging solutions provider based in North Billerica, Massachusetts. Founded in 2011, Compass Packaging Solutions will continue under the leadership of owner Rick Meissner post-closing. In addition to being a provider of custom pro- tective packaging, Compass also provides warehousing, distribution, fulfillment and kitting services in the life sci- ences, semiconductor, technology and defense industries. “The addition of Compass Packaging Solutions strengthens our presence in New England while adding meaningful capabilities in protective packaging, a key stra- tegic priority for SupplyOne,” said Todd Renehan, President and CEO of SupplyOne. “In servicing our growing New En- gland business, we have been impressed with Compass’s strategic customer approach. The ability to understand customers’ business needs is a key differentiating factor of SupplyOne, and Compass has also approached their busi- ness with this innovative mindset,” added Mr. Renehan. This transaction represents SupplyOne’s 48th acquisi- tion and its third in the past three years with a significant protective packaging portfolio.

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AICC Mexico Hosts 25th Anniversary Celebration In Cancún AICC Mexico hosted its 25th Anniversary celebration from May 17–20 at the exclusive AVA Resort Cancún, bringing together more than 120 participants from across the corru-

ries, experiences, and insights about the evolution and growth of the association since its creation. The day concluded with the 25th anniversary Cele- bration Dinner and Hall of Fame ceremony, sponsored by Kolbus and Amtech, in which the contribution of distin- guished leader David Yañez of BCM Inks to the industry was recognized.

David Yañez of BCM Inks, center, receives the AICC Mexico Hall of Fame award.

gated packaging and paperboard industry in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. On Sunday, May 17 was an exclusive Board Meeting and a Welcome Cocktail sponsored by BCM Inks. On Mon- day, May 18, the official opening featured welcome remarks from AICC USA & Mexico presidents, followed by a key- note presentation by Rodrigo Pacheco. One of the most memorable moments of the event was the Founders Panel, where founding members shared sto-

Tuesday, May 19, continued with high-level education- al sessions including a presentation by Jorge Rosas and an industry speaker, Gary Brewer from Package Crafters, North Carolina. The agenda also featured networking ac- tivities, a Golf Tournament and awards ceremony, and a Grill & Networking Cocktail sponsored by EAM Mosca. The program concluded with presentations from AICC USA and Canada, and an inspiring keynote by internation- ally recognized Fernando Parrado.

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Partnership In Action: PPC Visits Curtis Packaging BY EMILY LEONCZYK

There are some company visits that stay with you long af- ter you leave the building. My recent time with Don Drop- po, Kerry Brown, and the team at Curtis Packaging was one of those experiences. When Kerry casually mentioned, “We’re going to have a quick moment to meet with the team before the tour,” I expected a few introductions and a handshake or two before heading onto the floor. Instead, nearly a dozen managers walked into the room. What struck me immediately was not just the size of the welcome, but the sincerity behind it. One by one, we went around the room meeting leaders from across the

organization. The conversation felt genuine, personal, and intentional. Before I had even stepped onto the production floor, I already understood something important about Curtis PPC President Emily Leonczyk visits Curtis Packaging.

Packaging: This is a company built around people. The care and collaboration they extend internally is the same energy they bring to customers, suppliers, and industry partners. You can feel it in the way teams communicate, how departments work to- gether, and the pride people take in sup- porting one another. Legacy Built On Craftsmanship Founded in 1845, Curtis Packaging has been a trailblazer in the luxury packaging industry for nearly two centuries. As one of the oldest independent packaging com- panies in the U.S., they have built a legacy defined by craftsmanship, innovation, and a steady commitment to quality. But what stood out most during my visit was how grounded the company remains in its family values and culture. Curtis Packaging has clearly made a long-term investment in its people. There is a deep sense of pride across the organi- zation, and it is easy to see why. From the production floor to leadership, employees are empowered to contribute ideas, col- laborate openly, and continue pushing the company forward. Their philosophy says it best: Driving loyalty through our passion for your suc- cess. After spending time with the team, it became clear that this is not just a tagline. It is embedded into how they operate ev- ery day. Leadership That Shapes Culture You can see this philosophy reflected in the leadership of Don Droppo, President and CEO of Curtis Packaging, whose care for people shapes the organization’s tone. There is a clear focus on long-term rela-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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PPC Visits Curtis (CONT’D FROM PAGE 10)

ideas, solving challenges together, and approaching inno- vation as a collective effort rather than an isolated function. One of the most fascinating parts of the visit was learn- ing how Curtis Packaging is integrating AI. It was one of the most advanced and practical implementations of AI I have seen in a manufacturing environment. What made it

tionships, continuous improvement, and creating an envi- ronment where employees feel supported and valued. What impressed me most was how connected the lead- ership team is to the broader organization. There was no separation between “management” and “operations.” In- stead, there was a strong sense of shared ownership and collaboration. That kind of culture is difficult to create, and even harder to sustain over nearly 180 years. Innovation That Feels Human Seeing Curtis Packaging’s work firsthand gave me a real appreciation for the level of detail that goes into the luxury packaging they’re known for. Their folding carton capabilities are exceptional, blend- ing structural engineering, premium embellishments, and craftsmanship to transform packaging into an experience. The precision and creativity behind their work make it easy to understand why so many leading brands continue to trust them, and why they continue to be recognized in PPC’s Annual Paperboard Packaging Competition. Their work consistently pushes the boundaries of what paper- board packaging can achieve. Throughout the visit, I had the opportunity to meet with leaders across operations, technology, manufactur- ing, and business strategy, and what became clear very quickly was how intentionally connected the organization is. Teams collaborate openly across departments, sharing

especially compelling was that technology never felt dis- connected from the people. Instead, AI was being used thoughtfully to strengthen efficiency, decision-making, communication, and overall performance while still main- taining the company’s people-first culture. What Partnership Really Means As impressive as the technology, craftsmanship, and innovation were, what stayed with me most after leaving Curtis Packaging was the people. In an industry that is constantly evolving, Curtis Packag- ing has found a way to embrace change without losing the values that made the company successful in the first place. Emily Leonczyk, left, and Kerry Brown, Chief Operating Officer at Curtis Packaging.

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Nerenberg Of Royal Continental, Former FBA Chairman, Passes Away J. Jordan Nerenberg, formerly of Royal Continental Box (now The Royal Group), died peacefully at home in Tucson, Arizona. He was 91 years old.

With one customer he might discuss parish life and family traditions; with another he traded jokes and stories over drinks. He believed deeply that time spent caring about people was never wasted. Jordan led Royal into the future. He embraced emerg- ing manufacturing technologies, and making careful in- vestments. Royal purchased cutting-edge machinery, in- cluding Illinois’ first automatic corrugator. He was revered as an industry leader, serving as Chairman of the Indepen- dent Executive Corrugator Committee of the FBA. Concerned that employees were spending too much time at a nearby tavern, he bought the bar himself, trans- forming it into JJ’s Tap, part customer entertainment space, part gathering place for Royal employees, and loved spending Friday evenings there with workers and customers alike. Jordan appointed Bob McIlvaine as Royal CEO in 1990, paving the way for another leader to take over the company he built. When it came time to sell Royal in 2007, Jordan wait- ed patiently until he found another family-owned company committed to preserving what Royal had built. Protecting the people who had built their lives alongside him re- mained among his proudest accomplishments. Above all else, Jordan Nerenberg was a mensch: a man who showed up for people fully and treated others with dignity. He is survived by his beloved wife Jean, loving daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, and countless others whose lives were brighter because of Jordan.

Born in Chicago in 1934 to Sam and Helen Nerenberg, Jordan grew up alongside his brother Jerry in a household shaped by contradiction, devotion, and humor. In 1956, Jordan graduated with honors and a degree in Business Ad- ministration from Northwestern Uni-

Jordan Nerenberg

versity, an institution that remained deeply meaningful to him throughout his life. He served in the military reserves, and attended Columbia Business School earning his MBA, a year he remembered with enormous affection. Royal Continental Box Company was founded in 1922 by Jordan's father Sam and aunt Molly, who peddled wooden boxes and pallets from a horse-drawn cart on the streets of Chicago. By the time Jordan joined the business in the late 1950s, manufacturing was modernizing and younger generations were taking over family companies. A gifted salesma, he transformed Royal into a regional powerhouse with six facilities in four states. Jordan under- stood instinctively that business was built on relationships.

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Colbert Packaging Delivers PPC TICCIT Program To Local Students Kenosha, Wisconsin based Colbert Packaging, a leading manufacturer of custom paperboard folding cartons, la- bels, and inserts has affirmed its ongoing commitment to sustainable packaging and community relations through the 2026 Trees Into Cartons/Cartons Into Trees (TICCIT) Program. They facilitated TICCIT programs for students in three elementary schools this spring. The award-winning TICCIT program was developed by the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC), an organization of companies that manufacture and sell paperboard pack- aging, of which Colbert Packaging is a member. The TIC- CIT program teaches students that trees are a sustainable crop, like corn and soybeans, highlights the many uses for trees and paperboard packaging, and emphasizes the importance of recycling. TICCIT supports industry growth, promotes sustainability, increases employee engagement, and builds community.

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“Programs like TICCIT are so important because they help students see sustainability in a tangible, memorable way,” said Paperboard Packaging Council President, Emi- ly Leonczyk. “By connecting trees, recycling, and paper- board packaging through hands-on learning, companies like Colbert Packaging Corporation are helping inspire the next generation to think differently about renewable mate- rials, environmental responsibility, and the important role our industry plays in building a more sustainable future. We’re incredibly proud of the impact Colbert Packaging continues to make in their communities through TICCIT.” In its ninth year of participation, Colbert’s manufac- turing facilities in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Elkhart, Indi- ana, conducted TICCIT programs with 200 second- and third-grade students at schools in three states: Riverview Elementary School in Silver Lake, Wisconsin; Grass Lake School in Antioch, Illinois; and Bittersweet Elementary in Mishawaka, Indiana. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Todd Douthit presents the TICCIT program to Bittersweet Ele- mentary students.

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Local Students (CONT’D FROM PAGE 3)

The TICCIT program proves a valuable addition to school curriculums, as stated by Riverview Elementary School Principal, Andrea Zackery, “Colbert Packaging’s visit turned learning into a living experience for our 2nd and 3rd grade students—sparking curiosity about trees, recycling, and the importance of replenishing our forests. Their thoughtful questions showed just how engaged they

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were, but the moment that truly stayed with them was planting their very own tree to take home—a lasting re- minder that even small hands can make a big difference for our planet.” Bittersweet Elementary second grade teacher, Karyn Delio, added, “The students loved having their own tree to take home and plant. Many of them shared when and where they planted their tree when they got back to school.” The Colbert Kenosha team with students and their awards.

This year, in addition to providing the TICCIT program to schools, Colbert Packaging added a new twist for Col- bert employees. During the year, employees attend lunch and learn events hosted by marketing manager, Wanda Speer, where they learn about various timely and relevant topics. “This Spring, we decided to share TICCIT internal- ly with our employees,” says Speer. “The event provided insights around TICCIT itself and educated our staff about the industry association we’ve been a part of for many years – the PPC. They, too, gained knowledge and planted trees to take home. Who knows … next year, we may have dozens of employee volunteers and many more students to teach!” Students made thank-you cards for Colbert Packaging.

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The Churn: Creating The Right Sales Team BY MARK NEELY

sales goals and don’t inspire any confidence that they will get to where you need them to be? The second group may be good candidates for train- ing. The third group may be good candidates for replace- ment. If you agree, why are you holding on to the reps in group 3? Often, we are reluctant to fire a sales rep for any number of reasons. List the sales reps that you think fall into the third cat- egory, then describe the reasons you have not already let them go. Very importantly, trust your intuition. What does your gut tell you about each rep you manage? • _________________________________________ __________________________________________ • _________________________________________ __________________________________________ • _________________________________________ __________________________________________ • _________________________________________ __________________________________________ Are you worried that, if you fire a sales rep, he/she will take all their accounts with them? List their top five accounts: • __________________________________________ • __________________________________________ • __________________________________________ • __________________________________________ • __________________________________________

It is important to have a detailed, objective and accurate assessment of the reps you have hired. From the feed- back I have gotten over the past 30 years, buyers think that only around 10-20 percent of the sales people who call on them are top notch. Top notch, by their description, means a sales rep that is familiar with the customer’s busi- ness goals and challenges, knows his own company and company’s products deeply - including its strengths and weaknesses - is easy to communicate with and is reliable and trustworthy. I have often asked sales reps over the past 30 years if they think they perform their jobs to the level buyers have described above. 100 percent say that they do. So, buy- ers think that roughly 15 percent of the sales people they deal with are top notch while 100 percent of sales people self-assess themselves to be part of that 15 percent. How many of your sales reps would you say are top notch – both as they might be described by their custom- ers as well as relative to sales performance as measured by your company’s management? How many of your sales reps justify their cost but aren’t growing the way you’d like them to? How many of your sales reps continue to miss their

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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The Churn (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)

to the number of face-to-face meetings. Also, try to mea- sure their effectiveness in working with the others within the company. What sort of relationship have they devel- oped with Production, Customer Service, Design, Sched- uling and Shipping? Go over the data with each rep on a regular basis. Be Fair But Be Firm One of the biggest reasons we choose to keep a rep on even when we don’t have any confidence that they will improve is that it is hard to find new talent. What is your process for finding, hiring and on-boarding new sales reps. Do you need to refine that process? Until you have a team that is working well on all cylinders, you have to keep churning the talent. Lastly, it can be expensive to invest in a new sales per- son so it is natural to be reluctant to let them go once you have taken them on. It is likely, though, that after only a short period of time after you have hired them – as little as a month – you have already developeddoubts that they will succeed. If you choose to keep them on for another six months before you finally let them go, how much did that cost? What is the cost of lost opportunity? In the end, my feeling is that it is better to follow your instincts and keep looking for the right people to represent your company, even if it means committing to a several years’ process of searching than it is to hold on to people who don’t meet your needs.

How familiar are you with these accounts? Make sure you know them. Create a Customer Profile for each. Travel with the rep to their most important accounts and try to connect with the key players at those facilities. Let them know that you are there to help support them and that the entire team at your company stands ready to help them. They need to understand that they are buying from your company, not the rep who sells for your company. Are you deeply familiar with the performance patterns of your sales reps? What does their record of new ac- count captures look like over the past year? 6 months? 3 months? What reasons does the rep give for not closing accounts that they have claimed for the past 6 months to have been hot and ready to close? If they have been with the company for more than 2 years, look at their relative growth year-to-year. If less than 2 years, compare their quarter-to-quarter record. Have goals been clearly set? How do you measure the reps record relative to the goals? If all reps are measured by the same principled goal system, it is easier to justify letting one individual go. What system of performance analysis do you use? If you don’t have one, develop one. Try to measure sales dollars, profitability, number of face-to-face meetings the rep has made each week, quote/sample requests per week, and quarterly or even monthly ratio of closed sales

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Acme Hosts (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)

ganization,” Bob said. “We have many women in adminis- trative positions, and I would say women make up about 15 percent of our hourly staff in the plant.” Susan and Bob agreed that a plant tour and education- al event could be a valuable and insightful opportunity for both organizations.

staff, Griegel volunteers her time for WIM while also main- taining a full-time career in manufacturing. As we gathered around the breakfast spread and coffee, she shared a bit about the organization’s history: “Women in manufacturing is a national organization, thousands of members internationally as well as nation- ally. Alison Grealis is the president and founder, and as a woman in the industry, she thought, ‘we need an organiza- tion that supports women in business, women in manufac- turing. There’s nothing like it.’” WIM was founded 15 years ago, and the Eastern Penn- sylvania chapter was established in 2017 by Karen Norhe- im of American Crane. At the time, the closest chapter was located across the state in Erie, prompting Norheim to cre- ate a more local network for manufacturing professionals in eastern Pennsylvania. Today, WIM includes 34 chapters in the U.S. and more than 30,000 members worldwide. Creating Connections Bob Cohen, president of Acme and an active member of his community, attended an event hosted by consulting firm Compass Point. There, he met Susan Bromm, Director of Business Development at Compass Point and Women in Manufacturing member. During their conversation, Su- san shared about her involvement with WIM, which was Bob’s introduction to the group. “We are very supportive of woman throughout our or-

“I thought it would be good to expose outsiders to the way boxes are produced today,” Bob shared. “Our plant is very advanced, and I thought it would be a great way to introduce them to a modern manufacturing experience. I think the group was surprised by the automation, the vol- ume of work being produced, and the way work was pro- cessed.” A room full of WIM members and Acme team listened to an engaging presentation about the box making process.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Acme Hosts (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)

of manufacturing, Jeff was introduced to the corrugated industry with Acme roughly 15 years ago. His rich experi- ence translated into a fun, informative, and eye-opening look into everything from flute profiles and basis weights to box strength, recycled content, and sustainability. “The magic of corrugated boxes goes back far longer

And understandably so. Corrugated packaging is one of those things that’s everywhere, but the process behind it isn’t something most people think about. Attendees would get to take a tour of the plant later in the morning,

The Acme Corrugated Box team, from left: Jeff Bittner, Technical Sales; Donna Johnstone, Sales Support Specialist; Kevin Beynon, Production Superintendent; Bob Cohen, President; Kathryn Reimer, Supply Chain Coordinator; Tracy Canter, Packaging Consul- tant; Helene Nadata, Sales Support Supervisor; Brian Winning, New Product Development Engineer; and Erik Cohen, Packaging Consultant.

but first, Bob shared about the origins of Acme and how the company has evolved up to this point. Acme has come a long way from its humble beginnings as an industrial rag and scrap collection business in the early 20th century. Now a third-generation family-owned box making operation, it runs out of a 320,000-square- foot facility, employs roughly 300 people, and ships be- tween 50 and 60 truckloads of corrugated material each

than you might think,” Bittner shared. “In the 1800s, when the first corrugated box manufacturing began in the U.S., one of the first things it was used for was top hat con- struction, where they wanted to stiffen the tower of the hat. Ultimately those applications were expanded into a variety of other things, like an economical replacement for wooden crates.” Corrugated can certainly feel like magic – we’re literal- ly surrounded by cardboard, but how many people really think about where it came from? “As simple and commodity as a box may seem, there is an incredible amount of science and technology that goes into doing boxes in the modern world.” Jeff went on to ex- plain how adhesives are generated and applied, how flute profiles impact performance, and why scores and slots are critical to creating a box that folds and performs as intended. It was a reminder that even something as com- monplace as a corrugated box is the result of significant engineering and process control. The presentation also touched on sustainability, a topic Jeff said generates more customer questions than almost any other subject. Two years ago, Acme began partici- pating in EcoVadis, the globally recognized sustainability reporting platform. Since then, the company has earned Bronze recognition in consecutive years, improving its score during the most recent reporting cycle. Peeking Behind The Curtain Following the presentation, attendees split into small groups for the plant tour. Acme’s Hatboro facility is home to 11 converting lines (eight flexo folder gluers and three die cutters), a 110” high-speed corrugator, a WIP racking

day throughout the Northeast. A Crash Course In Corrugated

For many attendees, this would be their first visit to a corrugated plant. Before stepping onto the production floor, we got a crash course in the basics.

Jeff Bittner, Technical Sales for Acme, delivered a Box 101 presentation to the group, which was a mix of Acme team and WIM attendees from a variety of manufactur- ing backgrounds. Following a career in various avenues 26 June 8, 2026 Jeff Bittner delivers an introductory presentation about box making. At the bottom of the screen you’ll see Ukranian subti- tles, which is to make training and safety messaging accessi- ble for the 35 Ukranian workers on the production staff.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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Longevity is a theme among much of the staff at Acme. Tracy Canter, Packaging Consultant at Acme, reflected on the changes she has witnessed during her tenure. “I’ll be going on my 24th year here and I’m happy to say I still wake up every day and thankful that I’m part of the Acme team. We are one of the best out there in the game of boxes. “When I started, we used to put out about 3 million square feet of boxes a day, which was a really good day. And now, just the other day we did 7.4 million square feet. So, our growth over the years has been exponential and it’s so much fun for me to be able to grow along with the company.” The scale of that growth is visible throughout the facil- ity, where automation plays an increasingly important role in handling the high volume efficiently and safely. Tracy later joked about the company’s approach to capital in- vestment, attributing it directly to Bob: “You know, I like to say Bob doesn’t really enjoy buying cars and houses. He likes buying converting equipment.” WIM Member Insights As Kevin led us through the plant and up to the bulk- head overlook, I connected with a fellow woman in man- ufacturing, Madeleine (Mady) Herringa. She’s a partner relationship manager with KP Interface, a managed IT ser- vices provider, and she attended her first WIM event about three years ago.

system capable of storing a staggering 10 million square feet of product, and two robotic cranes. Material moves automatically between the corrugator and converting

equipment with virtually no human intervention. There’s also a full testing lab and design lab onsite, so it can meet the unique needs of each client. Our group was led by Kevin Beynon, Production Su- perintendent, who is approaching 20 years with Acme. He started as a single facer operator and has watched the op- eration evolve dramatically over the course of his career.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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I asked her what she thought was the biggest benefit of being part of an organization like WIM: “WIM has been invaluable for my professional growth. Beyond connecting with other like-minded women and men in the manufactur- ing space, there’s tremendous opportunity in manufactur- ing right now. It’s a unique industry; manufacturers tend to keep their heads down and focus on getting the job done rather than promoting themselves. They’re not always the loudest voices in the room or on social media about how fantastic and important their work is.

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“Being part of WIM lets me see behind the scenes and connect with people and companies I might have never discovered otherwise. You see firsthand, real stories about remarkable families and individuals keeping everything running. They’re incredibly inspiring. You can learn so much just by sitting in the back of a room or getting the chance to tour a plant.” One of the more surprising things Mady said she gained from her WIM experience was her ability to better connect with her sister: “I learned about WIM through a friend from networking. We were discussing how my sister is a welder and that my company works with manufacturers. He pointed out how much my sister and I would benefit from the support and community that WIM provides. Beyond work, I can now talk to my sister about her day-to-day experience with genuine insight into what she’s navigating, and I can understand For Acme, hosting the event was an opportunity to pull back the curtain on a modern boxmaking operation. For WIM members, it was a chance to see it all in action and gain a deeper appreciation for the technology, people, and processes that drive the corrugated industry. It was also a reminder of the perspective that comes from step- ping outside your own corner of manufacturing. WIM gives its members exposure to industries they may never otherwise encounter, opportunities to learn from professionals facing similar challenges, and relationships that can support them throughout their careers. It exists to support professional development, but it succeeds be- cause it builds genuine community. On this particular day, that community happened to connect over corrugated. her perspective on a deeper level.” The Value Of Career Community Tracy Canter, a 24-year veteran of Acme, radiated enthusiasm for her work as she shared about her time with the company.

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