As the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) celebrates 75 years since its founding this year, Joyce Dickerson recalls being elected as FPA’s first female chair in 2000, after more than a decade of involvement that began with technical and environmentally focused committees.
“My background is chemistry, so I was easily accepted and demonstrated that I was competent in those areas,” says Dickerson, who retired as director of research and development at RJR Packaging, which is the packaging division of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. “I never felt excluded as a woman and earned the respect of my peers.”
On the executive committee, backed by her mentor and longtime FPA leader Jerry West, Dickerson felt she quickly earned her place.
“I worked with colleagues who were the industry leaders and felt as a group we made a difference,” she says. “I would hope that as a woman in a mostly male environment, I demonstrated that equal opportunities are available for all.”
“Seeing a woman running this prestigious organization made me believe that I could do it one day, as well.”
Kathy Bolhous, chair and CEO of Charter Next Generation
Kathy Bolhous, chair and CEO of Charter Next Generation, recalls joining the industry and FPA in 2006, when Eileen Gordon, president and CEO of Alcan, was FPA’s chair.
“She was an inspiration to me,” Bolhous says. “Seeing a woman running this prestigious organization made me believe that I could do it one day, as well.”
When she rose to chair from 2020 to 2022, Bolhous says, she hoped she could emulate Gordon’s role model status.
“I am always encouraging others to go for their dreams and believe in their ability to achieve great things,” she says.
After all, she notes, FPA should “reflect the customers that buy our products. The products are not purchased by 80% men, so why should our association be 80% men?”
One of Bolhous’ mentors, American Packaging Corporation’s Executive Chair of the Board Peter Schottland, remembers the positive impression Bolhous and her “remarkable talent” made on a largely fraternal group.
FPA colleagues “all provided support, mentoring, and levity to help Kathy through her first year of transition into the flexible packaging industry and the FPA,” Schottland says. “She was definitely a member of this brotherly network.”
Next Generation of Leaders
Bolhous cites the Emerging Leadership Council (ELC) as one of FPA’s most significant recent accomplishments, as it “plays to the strengths of the younger generation in terms of advocating for the flexible packaging industry.”
“Within that, I have seen more diversity, not just women but more diversity in general,” she says. “That’s great to see. I believe there’s more opportunity within our industry and our association to increase female representation and have more diversity, but I think we’re making the right moves in that direction through the Emerging Leadership Council.”
Former FPA President and CEO Alison Keane agrees that ELC members are pivotal when it comes to promotion and outreach through FPA’s social media channels and consumer platforms such as perfectpackaging.com and YouTube.
FPA founded the ELC in 2020, during her time there, to raise awareness of careers in the industry and “to mentor the next generation of leaders, both for the industry and for the association,” Keane says.
As Schottland notes, FPA leaders “embrace talent in every form.”
“FPA and the flexible packaging industry are all benefiting from the range of so many capable, talented people of different backgrounds who are attracted to this great industry,” he adds.
M. Diane McCormick is a writer and editor based in Pennsylvania.