Flexo Label Advantage Group LLC (FLAG) will bring together three industry leaders for a candid panel discussion at its 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, focused on strengthening collaboration across the label value chain.

Titled “Inside the Label Value Chain: How Brands, Designers, and Converters Work Best Together,” the session will examine a familiar industry challenge: label converters are often brought in after key decisions have already been made – designs are finalized, timelines are compressed, and expectations are locked in.

This panel will take an honest look at how decisions are actually made, where breakdowns tend to occur, and how independent converters can engage earlier in the process to help shape stronger outcomes for brands and agencies alike.

The discussion will feature perspectives from across the value chain:

• Michael Milam, Chief Operating Officer of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, who has helped scale the company’s manufacturing and operational infrastructure through significant long-term growth. Milam brings a brand-side perspective grounded in operational discipline, margin protection, and executional excellence.
  
• Jeremy Dahl, Co-Founder and Co-Creative Director of BexBrands, brings deep experience in strategy, design, and visual storytelling. Dahl understands how brand vision is translated into packaging and how early collaboration can prevent costly disconnects later in the process.
  
• Adam Peek, Co-Owner of The Label King, widely known in the industry as the “Packaging Pastor.” With more than 15 years in packaging and as co-host of the People of Packaging Podcast, Peek brings the converter’s voice to the table, advocating for proactive partnership and transparent communication.

Guiding the conversation will be Jackie Kuehlmann, senior principal at LPC. With more than two decades in the packaging industry, Kuehlmann has worked extensively at the intersection of brand, sales, and production strategy. Today, through LPC, she partners with converters and suppliers across the industry to develop marketing strategies that drive measurable growth.

“This is a conversation our industry needs to have,” says JC McKay, president of FLAG. ““The converter should never just be the last stop in the process. When brands, designers, and converters collaborate early, everyone wins. Margins improve, timelines stabilize, and products perform better. This session will challenge everyone in the room to think differently about collaboration.”

The 2026 FLAG Annual Meeting will take place March 23–26 in San Diego, California, and is exclusive to FLAG Members and Vendor Partners. For information on membership, visit www.flagadvantage.com/join