It’s almost that time of year. The Emerging Leadership Council (ELC) of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) will host its annual summer internship series.
In 2024, the program welcomed more than 30 students from member companies representing a wide range of degree programs. Offered at no cost to member companies, the internship series sets out to create a collaborative environment for students to connect. Students can begin building their network that can encourage a career choice in the flexible packaging industry upon graduation.
The summer session starts in June 2025 for eight weeks. It includes a presentation on FPA’s “State of the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry” report, a career panel discussion, and industry speakers. On alternating weeks, students can connect in small group discussions on topics they choose. ELC members host these discussions that have been instrumental in building connections for the students; the open dialogue can range from questions on transitioning from student to employee to learning about the different roles in other member companies.
Success Story
We recently checked in with Melissa Joslyn, a corporate sustainability engineer at Charter Next Generation (CNG), on the internship program’s impact on her career. Joslyn participated during the summer of 2021. In 2022, she began her full-time role as a corporate sustainability engineer at CNG after graduating from Michigan State University with a chemical engineering degree and a sustainability minor.
“When it was time to choose a full-time role, the experience and connections I made during the program played a critical role in my decision to choose the flexible packaging space to launch my career ultimately,” she says.
In the summer of 2021, she was completing a process engineering co-op at Amcor Flexibles.
“The FPA program is an exceptional platform for young individuals driven by sustainability in the packaging industry,” Joslyn adds.
“It provided a welcoming environment to connect with like-minded peers and engage in meaningful discussions on real-world packaging topics.”
Joslyn says she appreciated the balance between the large panel discussions with industry leaders and the small group sessions that fostered insightful conversations.
“The leaders’ enthusiasm and passion were infectious, inspiring me to pursue a career in this field,” she explains. “During the internship, I actively networked with speakers, peers, and program leaders—people I still interact with today. My enthusiasm and engagement throughout the program paved the way for my career in sustainable packaging.”
And Michigan State was also instrumental in launching her career in flexible packaging, she adds. She now leads multiple workstreams in sustainable film development.
“I strongly believe that companies should encourage interns to participate in this program. It is a transformative experience that excites and inspires young individuals to work on future sustainability projects,” Joslyn says.
“The value of participating in the FPA summer internship program is both immediate and ongoing. I still regularly call upon my network and experience in the program to fulfill my role in the transition to more sustainable packaging today.”
Joslyn’s story exemplifies what the ELC hopes to achieve with the internship program. A key focus of the ELC is to recruit and develop talent, and similar success stories are essential to maintaining the health and stability of the flexible packaging industry. The ELC looks forward to continuing to ignite a passion in students and inspiring more young talent to join the industry.
Registration Required
FPA has been coordinating registration, and seats are limited, so be sure to register soon. Follow the ELC at linkedin.com/company/emerging-leadership-council/ for status updates and programming highlights.