I recently had the opportunity to serve as a judge for the Glass Packaging Institute’s 2005 Clear Choice Awards. The competition recognizes consumer product goods manufacturers who expand the frontiers of glass packaging design. At the judging, I had the privilege to view and evaluate truly innovative and creative glass packages that push the envelope in their material type. Naturally I’m sworn to secrecy (under penalty of death as I understand it) as to who the winners will be. But I can say that they will be announced on May 3 at the Clear Choice Awards Presentation at the Food Marketing Institute show in Chicago.

The experience of meticulously handling, examining, discussing and ultimately evaluating the packages was a rewarding one for me. We will offer attendees of our third annual Packaging that Sells conference a similar opportunity to serve as “judge for a day”.

As part of our hands-on BRANDPACKAGING’s Design Gallery session, conference participants will be invited to choose their favorites from more than 50 packages representing a broad range of product categories, including food, beverage, cosmetics, personal care and consumer electronics; and packaging material types, including flexible film, rigid plastic, glass, paperboard, metal and composites. Winners will be announced the morning of the second day of the program.

In addition to the Design Gallery session, we have assembled an impressive and exciting faculty of presenters for this year’s event. A full agenda appears on page 30 of this issue. Speakers and topics include:

• Jean-Christophe (JC) Terazaghi, senior brand manager, Grand Marnier/Navan Moët Hennessy USA, and Christina Falzano, senior brand consultant, Lipson Alport Glass & Associates (LAGA), will share their insights on Creating Compelling Packaging for a Multi-Ethnic Audience.

• Nevin Nolder, design manager, General Mills, and Nancy Brown, managing partner, Colemanbrandworx will discuss Clients and Agencies–Becoming Brand Champions...Together.

• Amanda Bach, packaging communications design manager, Nestle Prepared Foods, and Rob Wallace, managing partner, WallaceChurch, will share their valuble perspective on Visualizing Your Brand’s Essence.

To register or to request more details on Packaging that Sells III: Capturing Consumers’ Hearts and Minds Through Packaging, please call 866.852.0999. Program and registration information is also available online at www.stagnito.com/conferences. We look forward to seeing you there.