Winter 2004                    return to newsletter contents page

Great Training Opportunities in 2004

Jack Fulton

FPPA President

I’m sorry all of you weren’t able to attend our Fall Management Workshop in Charleston, SC last November. Based on feedback received from those in attendance it was the most beneficial meeting of its kind we have had. The Management Development Committee should be commended for an outstanding program as they hit home runs with the speakers they lined up. I think everyone came away with some valuable information on how to conduct their business in the coming year.

As a result of the sales presentation put on by Jim Pancero, the FPPA will be offering a comprehensive

one day workshop for sales personnel and managers. It will be held in Baltimore on May 5. Watch for information coming your way in the near future.

I have the honor of welcoming Jan Noller of Graphic Design Services to the FPPA Board of Directors. Jan will fill the vacancy left by the departure of Dave Newberry of United Engravers. We welcome Jan and at the same time thank Dave for his service to the board.

The Excellence in Flexo Prepress competition took place during the fall workshop. Entries showed some outstanding work and winners will be recognized at the annual meeting in Puerto Vallarta.

The Technical Innovator of the Year Award Competition is still open and judging will take place at the annual meeting. Please consider your innovative ideas for this competition. The free press and media coverage is terrific. Entries must be in by January 31.

If you haven’t read the recent press release about Affiliated Power Purchasers, Inc. (APPI) – Power Purchasing Affinity Program, click here to log onto the FPPA web site and take a look. More information will be coming out and hopefully a report will be provided at the annual meeting. It looks like an exciting way for many of us to reduce our costs in many of the things we purchase everyday. Feedback from other organizations currently using this program has been very encouraging and hopefully we will have several member companies using it and providing direct feedback very soon. Watch for more information.

Our annual meeting date is coming up fast! It is March 14-16 and will be held at the Westin Regina Resort in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Westin Regina will be a great venue for our meeting as it is located right on the beach. I can feel the warm tropical winds right now! It’s still winter in Wisconsin.

The program committee has put a terrific schedule together for our group and I think everyone will benefit greatly from what will be presented. Our supplier members will be presenting information on their latest products which has become a mainstay of our annual meeting. Speaking of suppliers, I would like to thank in advance the suppliers who have signed up to sponsor events at the annual meeting. Without them, there would be no meeting!

Robert Fry of DuPont and Luis Novaro of Mexico’s Grafica Novaro will discuss issues regarding the U.S. and global economies giving us an idea of what to expect in the future.

The Customer Panel will once again tell us what they expect from us as trade shops and how we can help them be successful in the future. These four speakers cover the gamut of flexible packaging and corrugated.

In addition to all the hard work that usually goes on at our annual meetings, bring your adventuresome side along and go deep sea fishing or whale watching and snorkeling. Golf is not formally planned but I know a few people that will be looking for a game. There is a great complex called Vista Vallarta that I can personally vouch for. It’s not to be missed!

Make your plans as soon as possible to get the best rates on travel. Watch for a list of registrants on the FPPA web site.

Since this will be my last letter to you as President of the FPPA, I would like to thank all of our membership who participated in activities during the past year. From board members to committee members to those companies who regularly participate in the surveys and other association functions. This is your association and it needs all of your support to continue to grow and prosper.

Thanks also to Fred Stringfellow, Marci Felton Hickey and other members of the King Stringfellow Group for operating this organization in an extremely professional manner.

It has been an honor to serve as your President over the past year. I am very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to serving with Lee Grantham our incoming President for 2005!

See you in Puerto Vallarta!