As I near the end of my term as co-chair of the Emerging Leadership Council (ELC), I would like to say a heartfelt “thank you.”
The past five years have been the most fulfilling years of my career. One day, when I end my career, the ELC undoubtedly is going to be one of the chapters of which I will be most proud. The ELC has become an action-oriented organization delivering value for the members of the ELC, the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), member companies, and, most importantly, the industry.
I could not be prouder of what we have built, and it would not be possible without each member company that has nominated and brought forward people to be a part of the ELC. I especially thank those early adopters for believing we could build this out and deliver value.
Thank you to Todd Becker, vice president of NOVA Chemicals, Inc., for supporting me and this idea in March 2019. The ELC would not have happened had he not supported all the upfront work and allowed me to bring this forward.
Thank you to Alison Keane, FPA president and CEO, and the entire FPA staff. From the beginning, they have been the wind at our sails providing every method of support possible.
Thank you to the original crew that bought into a concept and built out the foundation of what the ELC stands on today. I will always remember the late spring and early summer of 2020, building out the structure remotely, when a significant portion of us had never met in person. That didn’t matter because of the passion and commitment to the industry each person had.
Thank you to the committee chairs for stepping up and providing the foundational leadership that continues to have the ELC pointed in a direction of long-lasting success that will outlast us all. You all have everyday jobs that are demanding—in addition to personal lives. Every one of you brings leadership to the ELC without missing a beat. You are the fuel to the engine.
Thanks to my co-chairs, Adrianne Tipton, chief technology officer at Novolex, and Kasie Fairbarn, vice president of sales for Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corporation. It has been an honor and privilege to be on this journey with you. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the ELC. I will always admire your leadership. I am proud to call you mentors but, most importantly, friends.
To all the current and future members of the ELC, thank you, as well. Thank you for what you have done and what you will continue to do to advance the ELC and the industry. I am here for you and cheering for you.
Jonathan Quinn is vice president of marketing and sustainability for Accredo Packaging Inc.