By Lauren Zuber
There’s a little magic in seeing an idea become something you can hold. In paperboard packaging, that transformation comes from people: their creativity, technical skill, and determination to work through a challenge together.
That spirit brought more than 280 attendees to PPC’s 2026 Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida September 30–October 2 – the largest gathering to date.
Members Bring Experience To The Table
Wednesday’s programming began with members helping shape the work ahead.
At the Women in Packaging Council session, Dr. Ann Bowers-Evangelista, President of Llumos, LLC, asked participants to consider what sustains them as leaders. Through her Endurance Leader Model, she connected personal purpose with professional growth and explored the different roles of mentors and sponsors.
At the Industry Affairs Roundtable, members examined a draft extended producer responsibility position, recycling data, packaging design guidance, and opportunities to invite lawmakers into manufacturing facilities.
The participants of the Student Design Challenge.
At the Benchmarking Committee meeting, members were given “money” to spend with $100,000 in “Benchmarking Bucks.” Groups decided where to invest across existing reports, technology, and new intelligence. The exercise made priorities tangible: choosing one investment meant explaining why it mattered more than another. Technology, industry and market intelligence, and Market Flash-Lite received the largest allocations, informing future planning.
Paperboard Packaging Competition
Opening the 83rd Annual Paperboard Packaging Competition celebration, PPC Board Chair Hilda Murray acknowledged a familiar reality: production moves quickly, and the next deadline rarely leaves time to admire the last accomplishment. Luckily, our awards celebration created that time. As she emphasized, a company’s name may appear on the recognition, but everyone who helped make the package possible shares the achievement.
Package of the Year: TPC Printing & Packaging’s Dressed in White Rigid Carton, created for a Bath & Body Works bridal fragrance.
Folding Carton of the Year: Spectrum Packaging Corporation’s The Difference Bourbon, delivering a premium rigid-box appearance through folding carton construction.
Rigid Box of the Year: Elegant Packaging’s Queen Cola Influencer Display Box, with magnetic doors, lighting, and a hidden drawer.
Innovation of the Year: Great Little Box Company’s Tacofina Burrito x Jarritos Carrier, holding two burritos and two glass bottles in one paperboard structure.
Richard DePaul Award for Creative Design & Converting: Smurfit Westrock’s Corona Cero 7-Pack, accommodating an additional bottle while meeting production and distribution requirements.
Judges’ Award: Graphic Packaging International’s Keurig Coffee Collective, using a two-piece folding carton, gold foil, and a carefully arranged presentation to give everyday coffee pods a gift-like experience.
Judges’ Award: JohnsByrne’s Goose Island Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond, combining soft-touch coatings, gold foil, and precision die-cut windows to turn a cylindrical package into a layered storytelling experience.
Judges’ Award: Smurfit Westrock’s Berkley Medical Laundry Detergent Sheets, bringing moisture protection, a secure book-style opening, and premium finishes together in a one-piece recyclable carton.
Student Design Challenge
The 2026 Paperboard Packaging Alliance Student Design Challenge showed what can happen when emerging talent gets a chance to explore those possibilities. Students created influencer PR boxes for original luxury confectionery brands, making the opening experience part of each brand’s story. California Polytechnic State University earned first place with Dāt, a chocolate-covered date cake concept housed in a paper-based interpretation of a luxury travel duffle.
Recognizing Eric Frank
The time someone takes to share their knowledge, make an introduction, or encourage a new voice can shape how another person finds their place in an industry. Eric Frank’s Volunteer Leader Award recognition celebrated the lasting value of that generosity.
Murray and PPC President Emily Leonczyk presented Frank with the award, honoring his longstanding service to PPC. Murray highlighted his leadership, his dedication to telling the industry’s story, and his ability to bring people together. Those contributions have helped make PPC a community where relationships grow into opportunities to learn, participate, and lead.
PPC Looks Ahead
Murray recognized the 2026–2027 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, thanking the volunteer leaders for the time, experience, and judgment they contribute to PPC. The Executive Committee includes Chair Hilda Murray of TPC Printing & Packaging, Treasurer Lisa Pruett of RRD Packaging Solutions, Secretary Brian Janki of PaperWorks, and Members at Large Eric Malnove of Malnove Packaging Solutions, Marcela Liscano of Smurfit Westrock, Kerry Brown of Curtis Packaging, Bob Feeser of Mill Rock Packaging, and Louis Hengen of Graphic Packaging International.
PPC Board Chair, Hilda Murray, left, addresses the audience as PPC President, Emily Leonczyk looks on.
Together with the Board, these leaders help guide a three-year strategic direction focused on workforce development, business intelligence, convening leaders, market promotion, and industry advocacy.
Folding Carton Essentials is now available through PPC University and complements Folding Carton Boot Camp and the Technical and Production Exchange. Benchmarking programs and the newly released member-exclusive Fastmarkets RISI industry report provide information to support business decisions.
Committee participation has nearly doubled, bringing more member experience into that work. At the conference, live polling and digital Q&A gave attendees additional ways to contribute, with help from PPC’s Planning Committee, chaired by Zach Codo of Accord Carton.
Leonczyk encouraged everyone to identify an idea to use, a relationship to nurture, and another way to involve their teams. These are small, achievable steps that help a meeting continue to deliver value.
PPC’s 2027 Spring Meeting will be held April 28–30 in Boston, Massachusetts.
