John Abbott has long been a pillar of the label and package printing industry. Abbott Label, a major trade-only supplier with multiple locations throughout the United States, has experienced significant growth in recent years. Company growth has been match by workplace atmosphere and office culture.

John Abbott has been rewarded for these endeavors. The Printing & Imaging Association (PIA MidAmerica) has honored John Abbott with the Executive of the Year Award. In a world impacted by M&A and private equity, Abbott has stayed true to his family values and building an independent label converting business.

The honor recognizes leaders who have made a significant impact on their company and the industry as a whole. PIA accounts for business performance, leadership, innovation, and contributions to advancing the industry.

“Receiving this award is humbling in the truest sense of the word,” remarks John. “When I reflect on this, I think about the values that have guided us — putting God and family first, treating people with integrity, and building something that lasts beyond any one person. That’s what Abbott Label is about, and I’m grateful the industry has taken notice of what our team has built together.”

According to John, this recognition serves as a reflection of the people behind the business. The award is a culmination of decades of hard work, faith, and commitment from the entire team.

“From our roots going back to Metro Label to what we’ve built today at Abbott Label, it’s a testament to doing things the right way over a long period of time,” says John. “As a team, we see it as encouragement to keep pushing forward, stay grounded in our values, and continue serving our customers and partners at a high level.”

“From our perspective, what makes this especially meaningful is that it reflects not just business success, but also leadership character and long-term influence,” adds Clayton Stormer, national sales manager, Abbott Label. “These are areas where John has remained consistently focused throughout his career.”

Giving back

John’s philosophy as a steward of the industry has given him and his family a livelihood for nearly five decades. Hence, he has felt a deep sense of responsibility to give back – to his people, community, and industry.

“John believes strongly in protecting and strengthening the industry – not just for today but for the next generation,” explains Stormer. “That shows up in how we operate: building strong partnerships, supporting suppliers, and helping our customers grow their own businesses.

“Abbott Label benefits because that mindset builds trust. People know we’re not just here for transactions. We’re here for the long term, and that creates stronger, more resilient relationships across the entire supply chain,” adds Stormer.

John has built a culture rooted in priorities: God, family, health, and then work – in that order. He lives this mantra daily. John also constantly reminds his team of the importance in maintaining a positive mindset and attitude. He can often be heard quoting The Great Charles Swindall, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”

“This thought process and mindset creates an environment where people feel valued beyond their role,” explains Stormer. “He’s also deeply committed to mentorship and developing others, which has helped create strong leadership throughout the organization. Across all of our locations, there’s a shared mindset of accountability, humility, and doing what we say we’re going to do. That consistency is what ties our culture together.”

Maintaining independence

In accepting this PIA Award, John has continued to foster success while remaining independent. The freedom associated with independence has allowed Abbott Label to best serve its customers and vendor partners.

“Maintaining independence while growing successfully is something John takes a lot of pride in,” comments Stormer. “It means we’ve been able to scale the business without compromising who we are.  We can make decisions based on long-term relationships instead of short-term pressures. For our team, it creates stability and clarity. For our customers and vendor partners, it means they’re working with a company that is consistent, dependable, and aligned with their best interests over time. 

“Throughout the years, John has adopted the mindset of striving to always provide our customers with an unparalleled level of service, which has led to some incredible results,” continues Stormer. “It also allows us to stay true to our trade-only model, which is built on trust and alignment. At the end of the day, independence gives us the ability to think long-term and operate with a high level of integrity in every decision we make.