The Flexible Packaging Association’s 2017 Annual Meeting was recently held March 1-3, 2017, at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Attendees included over 300 FPA members and guests who participated in content-rich general sessions that focused on flexible packaging industry-specific challenges and opportunities. The meeting also provided great networking opportunities for industry leaders.

Rob Tiede, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Sonoco Products Company, and Chairman of the FPA Board of Directors, opened the Annual Meeting educational sessions with an overview of the State of the Flexible Packaging Industry, and Jan Homan, Chairman, Flexible Packaging Europe & Member, Supervisory Board Constantia Flexibles provided an Update on the European Flexible Packaging Market. Nick Vafiadis, Global Business Director, Polyolefins and Plastics, IHS Chemical, shared his bi-annual Polyolefin Market Update. A Strategy for End-of-Packaging-Life Management for Flexible Packaging was examined by Jeff Wooster, Global Sustainability Director, The Dow Chemical Company, and new FPA President and CEO, Alison Keane, Esq. provided a Roadmap for FPA’s Advocacy Program.

In addition to industry content, the meeting provided insight into the U.S. economy and what to expect for 2017. Dr. Marci Rossell, Former Chief Economist, CNBC & Leading Financial Expert, provided an Economic Forecast for 2017: A Roadmap for Businesses. During her address, Dr. Rossell broke down the factors that contributed to the ongoing economic expansion and outlined her forecast for what business leaders should expect from the Trump Administration in 2017 and beyond. Dr. Rossell touched on a range of topics, including government regulation, global currency shifts, interest rates outlook, the impact of a possible shift in trade policy and the prospects for genuine tax reform.

Captain Scott Kelly, History-Making U.S. Astronaut & Retired U.S. Navy Captain, addressed FPA members and guests during General Session II, in which he discussed his reflections on leadership, teamwork, and testing limits he learned while on his record-breaking voyage 229 miles above Earth, and provided unique and valuable advice on pushing one’s own limits. Captain Kelly’s appearance was generously sponsored by Charter NEX Films, Inc., COVERIS™, Flint Group, and Sun Chemical Corporation.

Rob Tiede also recognized retired FPA President and CEO, Marla Donahue, and thanked her for 17 years of dedication and leadership for the association.

Copies of the FPA 2017 Annual Meeting presentations are available in the Members Only section of www.flexpack.org. FPA gives special thanks to FPA members Berry Plastics, Bobst North America Inc., Comexi North America, Inc., EFI, Energy Sciences, Inc., ISOFlex Packaging, Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Nordmeccanica, NA, Reifenhauser Inc., Siegwerk USA Co., Transplace, and Wikoff Color Corporation for their generous support of the FPA 2017 Annual Meeting Networking Events.

For more information on the 2017 FPA Annual Meeting, and other FPA conferences and events visit www.flexpack.org or contact FPA at 410-694-0800.