TLMI converter and supplier members gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL, October 21-14, for the TLMI 2012 Annual Meeting. The meeting’s theme of “Shaping our Future: Strategic Leadership, Social Media and Industry Consolidation” attracted a record number of attendees for four days of networking, education and recreation.

The event kicked off on Sunday night with a tabletop reception. Here, through the APPRiSE Passport system, converters were encouraged and incentivized to visit and network with numerous suppliers. By recording the number of tabletops visited, they improved their chances of winning an iPod Touch, iPod Classic and an iPad.

Following TLMI committee meetings – Environmental, Marketing, Learning, Membership and Technical – TLMI Chairman Art Yerecic officially called the meeting to order and introduced Environmental Committee chairman Calvin Frost, who presented the 2012 Environmental Leadership Awards. The Label Printers took home the converter award while the supplier honor went to Mitsubishi Polyester Films.

Andrew Boynton, dean of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, and one of the creators of DeepDive, a methodology for helping executives harness the power of teams, was Monday’s featured speaker. He focused on the power of ideas. “Ideas drive economic progress,” he said, urging leaders to be more interested than interesting, to diversify, exercise idea muscles and also be agile.

Boynton presented several thought-provoking case studies that illustrated how ideas and innovations from history can affect businesses and industry today. For an example, he showed how the iPod “clickwheel” was a repurposed idea that was originally seen in a 1983 HP 9000 computer.  He also showed how Warren Buffett found ideas by studying a book Ted Williams wrote on hitting a baseball. “In this book, Buffett found ideas about probability and statistics, and about not taking risks,” Boynton explained.

Following the session, attendees either participated in a golf tournament, a fishing charter, a sunset cruise, or simply relaxed by the beach or pool.

Highlighting Tuesday’s session was Scott Klososky, a former CEO of three successful startup companies. He specializes in examining how technology is changing the world, and discussed trends in emerging technologies. Klososky’s rolicking presentation, titled “Social Media, Social Networking and Social Relevance,” addressed how to integrate social networking into organization’s strategies.

Klososky emphasized the value of having what he called “high-beam” leadership, where you are looking ahead 5-10 years in regard to the effect technology will have on your business. This is opposed to “low-beam” leadership, characterized by a short-sighted, 12-month view.

Koslosky often used humor along with humorous marketing videos from successful companies to further illustrate his points. He emphasized the power customers wield in today’s e-marketplace, and the importance of properly managing your online reputation. “Today, customers have an amplified ability to connect,” he said, referring to online communicating via message boards, review sites and social media. He added, “A consumer can reach over 2 billion people at will, and can either damage or build your repuation.”

Tuesday’s recreational highlights included a tennis tournament, and culminated with the gala Awards Banquet, where a number of prestigious awards were announced. The Converter of the Year award went to Scott Pillsbury of Rose City Label, and John Bennett of FLEXcon took home Supplier of the Year.

The winners of the 35th Annual Label Awards Competition were also announced. Twenty two different members won for printing excellence in various categories. Collotype Labels USA – a division of Multi-Color Corporation, won the coveted Best of Show award for its Le Pich label. (For more on the awards, and a complete listing of all winners, go to page 68.)

Outgoing Chairman Art Yerecic of Yerecic Label closed his time at the helm of the TLMI by presiding over a highly successful Annual Meeting. Attended by more than 400 members, the meeting featured 100 supplier tabletop exhibits and the highest representation of converter companies in years. The meeting, which was chaired by Ritrama’s Daryl Hanzal, was supported by 40 supplier sponsors.

Dave McDowell of McDowell Label and Screen Printing has assumed the Chairmanship of the association. Jeff Dunphy is now the Chairman Elect (Design Label Manufacturing Inc.), while Spear’s Dan Muenzer was named the new  Vice Chairman. The Board of Directors welcomed three new members: Christopher Che (Hooven-Dayton Corporation), Gary Cooper (Staples Print Solutions) and Alex Elezaj (Whitlam Label Company). Daryl Hanzal will continue to serve as a supplier board member.

Outgoing board members Michael Dowling (CL & D Graphics, Inc.), Dwane Wall (Creative Labels of Vermont), and Geri Wise (Century Label) were recognized for their dedicated service.
–Steve Katz