Leadership takes many shapes and forms, and this year’s Packaging Hall of Fame Award Ceremony will illustrate that point vividly. The event will honor seven men who have changed the face of the packaging industry, as well as provide a nod to future packaging professionals with the announcement of the winners of the PACK EXPO Packaging Solutions Student Contest.

The event takes place in conjunction with PACK EXPO International 2012, and will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 5:15 pm in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt McCormick Place, adjacent to the convention center.

The 2012 recipients of packaging’s highest honor are:
  • Curtis Babb; MillerCoors (retired)

  • Thomas Brady; Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI)

  •  Thomas Dunn; Flexpacknology LLC

  •  Fred Hayes; Hayes & Associates Inc.

  •   Hershey and Bernie Lerner, Automated Packaging Systems

  •   Nick Wilson, Morrison Container Handling Solutions
“I think it’s telling that we’ve had so many sponsors step up at the Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver levels,” says Maria Ferrante, vice president, education & workforce development,PMMI(PMMI.org). “It indicates just how many lives and careers these men have touched.”

Sponsors to date include: ABI PR; Automated Packaging Systems; B&R Industrial Automation Corp; Dorner Manufacturing Corp./Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery;  Econocorp; FOX IV Technologies; Hartness International; Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP); Kollmorgen Corporation; MASSMAN Automation Designs, LLC; Morrison Container Handling Solutions; Packaging Technology Integrated Solutions; Packaging World; Plastic Technologies; Purdue University Calument and Pro Mach, Inc.

“We truly appreciate these companies’ participation. All proceeds from the sponsorships benefit PMMI’s Packaging Education and Training Foundation, which offers scholarships for students in two- or four-year packaging programs,” Ferrante notes. “So they are also clear demonstrations of the value the sponsors place on education.”

To purchase tickets ($75 per person) or sponsorships, visit PMMI.org/PHOF. For more information, contact Maria Ferrante, vice president, education & workforce development, PMMI: 703.243.8555 or mferrante@pmmi.org.