VIP Networking Reception

Continental Breakfast

Certain to be both controversial and keep attendees talking for days afterwards, Burns will highlight the strategies of best-in-class converters who have met the growth challenge – and call out those that need to move forward or risk losing market share and leadership positions.

Tim Burns, President Cranial Capital

Networking Break

M&A Strategies, Outsourcing, and the Converging Packaging Marketplace
The increased use of outsourcing and logistics tools, including contract packaging and beefing up supply-chain operations, is becoming a valuable tactic for packaging companies needing to work efficiently and to drive maximum value from their operations. Ben Gordon, a leading outsourcing specialist and the head of a well-established packaging M&A firm, will explain how expansion opportunities can be enhanced by integrating better operations management.

Ben Gordon, President BG Strategic Advisors

Shepherding Packaging to New Markets and Regions:
Enhancing Profits While Building A Global Business
Ireland-born Peter Agnew has long navigated the global trade borders as a recognized specialist in exporting packaging and products from developing economies and in helping companies set up shop successfully overseas. He will share specific strategies on how to expand a packaging business overseas, how to target specific regions, and how to manage expectations and avoid pitfalls when seeking to pursue and build new offshore business opportunities.

Peter Agnew, CEO Advanced Global Sourcing

Using Intellectual Property to Drive Business Value and Deliver New Markets
A foremost expert on intellectual property rights as a business tool to accelerate growth, David McFeeters-Krone consults with top business leaders at Fortune 500 companies on the use of innovation assets as a wedge to open new markets and explore opportunities. His talk will provide keen business perspectives on how to create, protect, exploit, and use IP as a profitable driver of growth.

David McFeeters-Krone, President Intellectual Assets, Corp.

Networking Lunch

Mapping New Business & Product Development Initiatives
This high-energy presenter will challenge, motivate, and chart a course packaging converters and brand owners alike can follow for mapping new business and product innovation development. Jeff Lindsay will provide tactical solutions to develop and maintain a strategically powerful project initiative. Discover why concrete and well-thought-out mapping techniques can mean the difference between incremental and exponential growth for a new or updated package and product.

Jeff Lindsay, Director of Solution Development Innovation Edge

Using Human Capital to Enhance Business Opportunities
& Drive Bottom-line Results
A packaging company’s management team’s recruitment and retention skills are often overlooked as key elements in a business strategy that involves development and expansion. George Corrigan, a top executive with one of the packaging industry’s largest and most globally recognized recruiting firms, will discuss how to locate and retain good management personnel and how to tap the extraordinary but potentially hidden abilities of current top performers in the pursuit of successful growth opportunities.

George Corrigan, Senior Client Partner Korn/Ferry International

Using Effective Marketing Communications To Expand Your Business & Brand
As the founder and leader of the world’s largest marketing/pr agency for the packaging industry, Alan Isacson is uniquely qualified to make the case for why marketing and public relations are the key to unlocking huge new market potential in the packaging industry. Isacson will share his insights on how marketing and public relations can make or break packaging development strategies – and why a campaign must “discover, qualify, and close” to spell the best chance for new business opportunities.

Alan Isacson, President ABI

Networking Break

Growing a Business Beyond Expectations Amid
Record-High Commodity, Energy & Transport Costs
The well-respected and highly successful former chairman and ceo of Graham Packaging, Phil Yates has a phenomenal story of packaging business growth to share. From his new role with Bear Stearns, Yates is now in a position to use his experience to serve packaging companies in need of expansion. In an illuminating discussion, Yates will offer his insights into how the universe of packaging mergers and acquisitions is shifting due to changes in the market economy and how companies can best position themselves to respond to growth imperatives by the use of outside capital.

Phil Yates, Senior Advisor Bear Stearns Merchant Banking

The New Financing Imperative: How to Drive Business
Expansion When the Credit Markets Crash
Before the current mortgage and banking crisis descended, obtaining credit and funding for expansion was not a difficult proposition for packaging companies. But today, new and unfamiliar financing options must be considered as part of a company’s strategic direction. GE Commercial Finance’s Jeff Kolke will take attendees down that path and outline how they can grow and add business value while still obtaining the financing necessary to fulfill development goals.

Jeff Kolke, Senior Vice President Corporate Lending GE Commercial Finance

Creating Successful Deals
In the Increasingly Global M&A World
A longtime M&A consultant for packaging-based companies, Tom Blaige has hopscotched the globe scouting buying opportunities for clients. Blaige, the leader of one of the packaging industry’s fastest growth boutique investment banks, will outline observations on why most M&A deals are becoming global in nature and what is spearheading the large influx of foreign investment in U.S. companies. He will also share critical knowledge on how U.S. packaging companies can expand overseas and leapfrog some of the unexpected business development hurdles along the way.

Tom Blaige, CEO Thomas Blaige & Co.