The changing of the guard took center stage on day 3 of the TAPPI/AICC SuperCorrExpo trade show in Orlando, Florida with Packaging Express President Matt Davis passing the AICC chairmanship on to Gary Brewer, President of Package Crafters and Creative Packaging.
At the post-election ceremony before thousands in attendance, Davis said that AICC is lucky to have Brewer as the next chair. “Gary is a role model with it comes to a true independent entrepreneur. He is fantastic with customers and is generous with his time and his knowledge,” Davis said.
In turn, Brewer presented Davis and his family, wife, Maggie and daughters, Catherine, and Mary Elizabeth, the AICC globe in recognition for his service, travel time and impact on the industry.
Tim Connell, director of sales at A.G. Stacker, and AICC immediate past chair, also recognized Davis’ hard work as AICC chairman.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving with him on the AICC board, getting to know him and seeing his passion for the industry and his company, his association, and it’s been great to see. I’ve always appreciated his input and certainly his sense of humor,” Connell said.
Brewer, noting how his two plant operations in High Point, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia have been supported tremendously by AICC membership, accepted the chairmanship with great honor. Both companies specialize in custom corrugated packaging, point-of-purchase displays, product testing, and fulfillment services.
Brewer has degrees in chemical engineering and paper science from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Wake Forest University. He began his career as a process engineer at a paper mill, St. Joe Forest Products in Port St. Joe, Florida. When he made the decision to buy an empty building to start his own plant with his father and four other team members, his did so with only one rotary die-cutter, one flexo-folder-gluer, and a rotary-slotter. “And then we had to get to work because we had no customers,” he said. Family members often helped late at night to make sure orders were complete and on time. This past summer, Package Crafters celebrated 20 years of success.
“I’m a believer in AICC’s mission and its many benefits of membership,” he said. “For those of you that are not yet a member, I highly recommend the CEO Group or the Leadership Advisory Group.”
Brewer, a licensed pilot since he was 21, chose “flying the plane” as his AICC chairmanship theme. Like pilots, entrepreneurs and business leaders face distractions and diversions on daily basis. There are many influences, demands, interruptions, and everyone is counting on them. Pilots rely on air traffic controllers, checklists, and manuals, but independents also have a support system, he said.
“You have AICC, your colleagues, your friends, family, suppliers, and your experiences to help you on your way. But you must fly the plane always. You must run your business. So, we will develop this theme as the year progresses. I look forward very much to the dialogue,” Brewer said.
