Fienning Inducted (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)
to expand the company’s footprint to meet the growing demands of their client base. Four years later, however the business landscape shifted unexpectedly when their largest customer decided to move its business elsewhere, to a “single source” supplier. Upon Ed’s retirement in 1984, Chuck was elected pres- ident and CEO of Sumter Packaging and charged by his father to either “save it or sell it.” Naturally, Chuck chose to “save it” and under his strong leadership, unwavering re- solve, and dedication to Sumter's employees and custom- ers, the company again secured its position as a leader in the corrugated industry. “If a leader knows four things, he or she is likely to be a success,” Fienning boomed from the podium. “Recruit, train, motivate, and retain good people. That’s what I did at Sumter Packaging. I built a strong team, and in fact, one of the leaders of that team is here with us today. He’s Jimmy Ezell, Sumter’s Customer Service Manager, and was with the company 43 out of its 45 years.” Chuck and Sue’s son, Ben DeSollar, became the third-generation owner of Sumter Packaging in 2009 — it should be noted that Sue had been Vice President of the company for 40 years, from 1984-2024 — and in January 2004, DeSollar passed his ownership of the company to the Hood Container Corporation, another AICC member. (Ezell is still “in collaboration” with Hood.) Fienning made it a point to “call out” former AICC CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
ry, Sue, the sweetheart of his life he’d met in high school and with whom he reconnected at their 15th high school reunion when they were both 33. The voice told Chuck she was “the one.”
Chuck Fienning
Chuck and Sue married later the same year and raised four sons, Ben, Ted, Sam, and Henry. In 1981, following the advice of their largest customer, Chuck’s father, Ed, opened Sumter Packaging Corpora- tion in Sumter, South Carolina. The new venture aimed
Do you need printed sheets? We have your answer.. Introducing Heartland’s ColorCorr. This is “flexo-printing in the round”. On our corrugator we can print up to 109” wide. The advantage is that we can print the equivalent of ½ roll at a time and not be required to keep several rolls of very expensive preprinted paper on the floor. Much less waste and risk. In continual print mode, we use either laser-engraved rubber rolls or solid rubber rolls to print a “flood coat” or a repeating pattern. If we are printing a repeating pattern, we can run a two-color design on the paper. Customers have found that running sheets we print can allow them to run a lighter-grade due to reduced caliper loss, and in some cases eliminate one or more machine passes.
For more information contact: Charlie Freeman | 816-500-8889 | cfreeman@heartlandsheets.com Tim Kramer | 816-841-8317 | color@heartlandsheets.com
14
www.boardconvertingnews.com
May 12, 2025
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker