A host of high-profile speakers are set to join Labelexpo’s first Virtual Label Summit, taking place online between September 28 and October 2, 2020, and designed around five key themes. The opening day of the five-day event focuses on the global landscape, starting with a look inside pressrooms around the world. Providing vital insight into how the industry is adapting in these changing times, speakers include: Anuj Bhargava, founder, Kumar Labels in India; Christie Wong Barrett, CEO, and Thomas Barrett, president, both of MacArthur Corporation in the US. 

Day two, themed around converter business markets and opportunities, will open with a session led by Chris Ellison, managing director, OPM (Labels and Packaging), covering the lucrative flexible packaging market from the converter perspective. This will lead into a global converter CEO panel discussion on tips for post COVID-19 recovery. Moderated by TLMI president Linnea Keen, panelists include: Charlie MacLean, president and CEO, ASL Print FX (Canada); Mark Glendenning, CEO, Inland (USA); Isidore Leiser, CEO, Stratus Packaging (France); Sachen Gudka, CEO, Skanem Interlabels (Kenya); and David Richards, managing director, Amberley Labels (UK).

Day three explores futureproofing your business, beginning with a technology update led by Labelexpo’s strategic director, Andy Thomas-Emans. Sponsored by the Label Academy, this session also features an advance preview of what’s in store at Labelexpo Americas 2021. Claudia St. John, president, Affinity HR, is speaker for the following session which will cover leading a team through a season of crisis. Ending the day is a converter panel that will discuss alternatives to landfill and how converters have successfully navigated this. Sponsored and produced by TLMI, and moderated by its vice president of sustainability, Rosalyn  Bandy, panelists are: John Dultz, process improvement manager, CCL; Mark Howard, vice president, graphic services, Syracuse Label and Surround Printing; Brian Hurst, vice president, operations, Yerecic Label; John Crosby, vice president, operations, Grand Rapids Label; and Jesse Hood, director of quality and continuous improvement, Hub Labels.  

Day four moves onto sales and marketing opportunities, with the opening session led by Vicki Strull, principal, Vicki Strull Design. She will provide an exclusive insight into ways of designing innovative and impactful products. This will lead neatly into a presentation on successful omnichannel marketing. Moderated by Ken Theriot, executive director, TheRiot Agency, this session is led by Jesse Freitas, marketing director, StickerGiant, and Adam Peek, business development and channel partner manager, Fortis Solutions Group.

The final day of the conference is themed around branding and design from the customer perspective, and kicks off with a session taking delegates through an innovative package design for Procter & Gamble – from research and development to commercialization to launch. Moderated by David Lukshus, president, Cog LLC, featured speakers are: Ken McGuire, research fellow, Procter & Gamble; Cedric D'Souza, chief technology officer, AeroFlexx; and Ben Greengrass, creative director, ThoughtMatter. Wrapping up the conference is a session led by Hernán Braberman, partner and executive design director, Tridimage, who will delve into how different generations choose one product over another.

Running alongside the main conference will be opportunities for attendees to interact with industry suppliers in the ‘Expo Hall’ in between the sessions and discover the label and package printing industry’s latest innovations. Sponsors on hand include: Avery Dennison, Baldwin Vision Systems/AMS Spectral UV, BOBST, Brotech, Domino, Flint, GEW, Hybrid Software, Label Academy, MacTac, MPS, Pantec, OMET, UPM Raflatac, and Xeikon.

Lisa Milburn, managing director for Labelexpo Global Series, says, “We are delighted to present such a high caliber, international speaker line-up, eager to share their expertise and knowledge with the industry at the very first Virtual Label Summit. Their combined insight into the most important topics will be vital in helping keep the global industry connected outside Labelexpo shows and aid its recovery post COVID-19. Therefore, I urge everyone to take part in this event.”

Claudia St. John comments, “I always love the opportunity to hear how (converters and suppliers) are doing and what their priorities are.  It helps us plan ways and programs to help support the industry.  And understanding how they are managing through this pandemic is especially important. I’ll be talking about effective communication, emotional intelligence, how to build resiliency, and tips for team management.”

Ken McGuire adds, “E-commerce is the most rapidly growing segment in the CPG industry, and having packaging that is designed to be shipped in this market will be key to success. We think the Virtual Label Summit can help elevate these designs even further. My portion of the talk will address the ‘spark’ of the new idea.” 

The conference will be broadcasted early in US Central Time (CT) to enable participation from a global audience. The full program and speaker details are available on the Virtual Label Summit website.