The TLMI Committee Summit welcomed members to Dallas, TX, USA, where the association established its goals for the upcoming year. From Workforce and Regulatory Affairs to Membership and several Sustainability-focused committees, dedicated members analyzed 2025 and looked for areas for improvement in the year ahead. The two-day event took place December 3-4, 2025.

“The Committee Summit is where all the hard work gets done,” said Inland Packaging’s Mark Glendenning. At the Summit, attendees explored ways to improve both TLMI and the greater label and package printing industry, all while adhering to the TLMI philosophy of “The Power of Connection.”

“The committees are so critical to what we do,” stated Dale Coates, president, TLMI. “We established our strategy in 2022, and our mission and purpose have been to make the industry stronger by making your company stronger. This event is where the ideas take shape and where the collaboration happens. This is the foundation for everything that happens at TLMI and everything it stands for – community, insight, and advocacy.”

Focusing on leadership

The Committee Summit also highlights the association’s emphasis on leadership. Members have the opportunity to contribute to the direction of TLMI, and many of these initiatives – especially those that deal with regulations and policies – will impact the industry at large.

“We believe label leadership is the root of all we do as part of the committees,” noted Coates. “Make your voice heard and share your ideas to help us grow from the roots up. We’re always looking to innovate and focus, and that’s at the heart of everything we do.”

One of the newest initiatives focuses on TLMI Community. The event allowed members to evaluate areas for TLMI Community to improve while also highlighting accomplishments. TLMI is striving to gain better exposure for this resource.

During the Committee Summit, TLMI also welcomed two new Board members: KDV Label’s Keith Walz and AWT Labels & Packaging’s Michelle Zeller. In the future, TLMI will merge the Board Retreat and the Committee Summit, too.

“Please approach the Board members because your work is critically important,” remarked Coates. “We want your feedback and we want to hear from members. No idea is a bad idea. We are here to help support you.”

Committee offerings

Committee chairs announced the benefits of each of their respective groups. The groups have the ability to impact their own segment of the market, but there is also considerable opportunity for work between the committees.

“There’s a lot that’s moving fast,” said Glendenning. “We have the potential biggest impact, and us focusing cross-committee on EPR over the next couple years is one of the most important things we can do as label leaders. It will certainly require RAC and Sustainability to work together to educate customers and ourselves and team members.”

Meanwhile, the Technical Committee boasts more than 30 GURUS. In addition, the committee delivers technical content and resources for membership in several ways, including webinars and printTHINK Summit. In the future, the Technical Committee will expand its presence on TLMI Community.

Plus, sustainability was on display in three Committees (Liner Recycling, Matrix, Sustainability Resources). They all accomplish unique goals. “We’re talking to a lot of converter members who have made powerful strides to become more sustainable,” stated PAC’s Marco Acevedo. “We want to learn about the issues and concerns, identifying where the matrix waste is currently going. We want to move in a positive direction.”

Finally, the Membership and Workforce Development Committees targeted member benefits and industry growth, respectively.

“We have three real initiatives going on, and the first is broken into the younger generation and giving access for engaging them so they can see what manufacturing is like,” commented Robert Crane of Crane Consumables. “The second initiative is with the colleges and getting students resources to graduate and get involved with the print industry.”

“We also want to help member companies get finances for training to help with retention,” added Graymills’ Kristen Shields.

For Membership, the focus is as much on current members as new ones. “Membership is also about engaging our current members,” said Columbine Labels’ Rachel Jackson. “We want to capitalize on that for all of our members so they have a great experience.”

Planning ahead

TLMI will represent the industry at numerous upcoming events – both within the association and the industry.  The TLMI Converter Meeting will take place April 12-14, 2026, in Clearwater Beach, FL.

Meanwhile, applications are still open for hosting the popular LLT Excursion. The event, now entering its fourth year, will once again occur in July. Previous hosts include Avery Dennison, Domino, and Appvion/Green Bay Packaging. TLMI’s Annual Meeting will happen later next year, moving to October 25-27, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Coates also announced the 2026 Committee Summit – December 9-10 – will arrive in Downtown Chicago.

On the global stage, TLMI will boast a strong presence at LOUPE Americas 2026 (formerly Labelexpo Americas) in Rosemont, IL.