More than 100 attendees joined TLMI in Orlando, FL, USA, for the association’s annual Committee Summit. The committees strategized plans of action for TLMI’s wide range of committees, including membership, regulatory affairs, sustainability, technical, and workforce development.

The committees’ goals include education and resources for the association’s members to succeed with their businesses. The event also allowed TLMI to welcome its more than 30 new members to the association.

“This is one of the events that we at TLMI love the most because this speaks about this organization and association,” said Linnea Keen, president, TLMI. “Other organizations don’t have anything like this where volunteers give their time and make TLMI what it is. It’s the fabric of our industry.”

“I’m excited to hear what feedback we get so we can entice new members to become part of this fantastic community,” added Dale Coates, engagement director, TLMI.

TLMI prioritized a number of goals for its committees and sub-committees during the event. The association established the dates of its 2023 committee meetings, communicated its 2023 objectives and how to achieve them, and identified resources and support needed to achieve these goals.

The association will continue to focus on Community and growing its brand through social media. The goal is for the association and its members to stay engaged and help each other in growing their businesses. TLMI will also explore an updated newsletter and new member onboarding process for 2023.

Plus, TLMI promoted the importance of CIA (community, insight and advocacy) within the association and its committees. According to Keen, TLMI is also committed to incorporating its established pillars into the association’s initiatives.

“What we’ve got are five pillars that make up our strategic priorities that we focus on in everything we do here,” commented Keen. “These include sustainability, workforce and development, a high-performing financial and operational model, and trusted label leadership.” 

The committees worked tirelessly on many of the hot-button issues impacting the industry. Sustainability, for example, was front and center.

“We believe a commitment to sustainability needs to come at the ownership level for the betterment of the planet and your company,” explained Marco Acevedo, regional sales manager, Precision Air Convey. “Some companies are doing 100% landfill diversion, and we want to showcase those companies for those who don’t think that’s possible.”

Keen also announced that the 2023 Committee Summit will take place December 3-5 in Nashville, TN.

Workforce Investment

As part of the Committee Summit, TLMI focused on workforce development and how to provide the resources necessary to help converters and suppliers continue to grow their available talent pool. Additionally, companies are striving to retain the talent already in their buildings.

Nick Spina, account manager, Luminer Converting Group, and Kristen Shields, president, Graymills, presided over the Workforce Committee meeting. The meeting provided open discuss and brainstorming for ways in which to best allocate resources to promote industry growth.

TLMI has emphasized hiring toolkits, which are designed to help employers and employees put their best foot forward in the hiring process. The committee also detailed future opportunities, such as Clemson STRIPE, and how to promote the increased availability of scholarship funds and training grants. Clemson STRIPE is a virtual online educational tool for the package printing industry developed by the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University.

“Our goal is to make ourselves attractive to the next-generation workforce,” said Spina. “We came out of the committee meeting with so many ideas last year, and we’re looking forward to doing the same this year. We want to identify resources like the Phoenix Challenge Foundation and revive the 2020 AR Sticker Project. We also have funds that are there – and an underutilized tool – to help member employees further their education and skill sets. Many people don’t know about these funds, and it’s a great thing to take advantage of, to give an employee money to further their education.”

The scholarship program continues to be a significant part of TLMI, and the funds will be increasing in the future. The Workforce Committee is tailoring scholarships to drive people to our industry – and to stay in industry. The scholarship funds are designed to advance education for students and employees of member companies. This could include the ascertainment of special certifications or added training for employees in various areas of the facility such as the pressroom.

“We’re trying to cast a wider net than we have in the past,” stated John Borrelli, COO, Luminer Converting Group. “We’re going down the right path and trying to spread the wealth our industry has to other individuals.”

“Printing is all around us, and we want to make sure the stigma of label and package printing isn’t associated with books, magazines, and newspapers,” added Mike Higgins, director of sales, Americas, Phoseon Technology.

TLMI’s hiring toolkits have been further developed to assist hirers and applicants in the process. The association, in concert with Affinity HR Group, has developed interview questions, a reference check questionnaire, onboarding documents, ideal candidate profiles and more to assist in hiring.

TLMI is nearing completion on a hiring video that will also live on the association’s website, as well. The video will delve into the opportunities the print and packaging industry has to offer those seeking employment.