Join us for an insightful and energetic afternoon exploring and discussing trends and solutions for the future of external supply chain. Featuring a panel of experts, we will discuss how companies are making the choice to outsource manufacturing, the benefits of doing so (as well as the challenges), and best practices for making it work successfully to more effectively manage increasingly complex supply chains across the enterprise. By outsourcing all or part of your manufacturing, there are opportunities to drive additional efficiencies, additional innovation, and to expand your business – but there are challenges as well.  

Hosted by Frain Industries, the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, and the Contract Packaging Association, there will be plenty of time for networking, tours of the beautiful Frain Manufacturing facility, drinks and refreshments.  Make time on your calendar to engage in this important discussion, and to get up to speed on the best practices for managing your company’s external supply chain.

AGENDA

1:30 PM Welcome

1:45 PM State of the Contract Packaging industry

2:15 PM Panel Discussion and Q&A Featuring CPG decisionmakers, Co-Manufacturing Leadership, and Industry Analysts

3:30 PM Networking & Social Session

4:15 PM Tour of Frain Industries

5:00 PM Event Close

FRAIN MANUFACTURING FACILITY 

SPEAKERS & PANELISTS 

Charles Weinberg, CEO, MSI Express

Charles cofounded Manufacturing Solutions International in 2008 starting with a single installation.  Prior to MSI, Weinberg managed contract manufacturing for Smurfit Stone Container for 6 years.  Weinberg’s Consumer Packaged Goods experience is based on 16 years of engineering and manufacturing roles at The Clorox Company, and 5 years of engineering and operations roles at Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Weinberg holds a Masters Degree in Business from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. 

Thomas Koziel, Vice President R&D, McCain Foods

Tom is the R&D VP for the North American Appetizer Division at McCain Foods, providing product solutions to Food Service, Quick Service Restaurants and Retail categories.  He has 25+ years of International Food Industry experience, always working to inspire and enable innovation from idea to market.  While working at Wrigley, Mars, KIND and McCain he worked across categories which include confectionary, snack bars, rice & grains and frozen appetizers & desserts.  Tom holds a MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and a BS of Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Scott Robison, Vice President of Business Development, GreenSeed Contract Packaging

Scott has 30 years of experience in the Contract Packaging and Manufacturing industry, with Cloud Packaging Solutions, Ryt-way Industries, Hearthside Food Solutions, and most recently GreenSeed Contract Packaging.  He works with existing and new clients to identify and execute projects that are a win-win for both companies. Over the past 17.5 years in Business Development, Scott has worked with various companies, from small startups to established CPG companies.  Scott has successfully led projects ranging from short term overflow production runs to multiple year campaigns. 

Beth Statkus, Founder, Sorridi LLC

A recognized visionary and innovator, Beth collaborates with business leaders to shape ideas and technologies into viable, market-ready products. Sharing her 20+ years of CPG technical and commercialization expertise she guides clients through all phases of R&D, production, marketing, and new business development. Beth employs best practices from her experience at Kraft, The Wrigley Co. & Mars Inc. where she launched H&W innovations into US, EU and China. Beth holds a Food Science degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.  

Ron Puvak,  Executive Director, CPA The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers

Ron has been in the packaging industry for over 48 years. In 1976 he began his career as a Research Technician managing projects in Material Strength studies, Fracture Analyses and Technology Training. In 2007 he joined Plastic Technologies Inc. and for over 10 years he was the Managing Director, of the PTI’s/SBA-CCI joint annual event “The Packaging Conference”. In 2014 Ron was elected to be the President of ISBT. In addition, he has been a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers Blow Molding.  In September 2017 he accepted the position of Executive Director for the CPA.

Alan Reed, Executive Director, Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (CFBN)

Alan Reed is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, a startup, nonprofit organization that brings industry players together, provides a forum for collaboration and support, and better connects the 4,500 companies in the industry across Chicagoland to drive innovation and growth in the region.  The group leverages the power of the food & beverage industry in Chicagoland to grow the industry, and the local economy. 

MORE SPEAKERS TO COME..........

THIS EVENT IS PRESEnted by:

this event is sponsored by: