The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) recently held its annual spring meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, TX, March 26-29. Meeting organizers say this year’s goal was "to examine key elements—from manufacturing processes, to management techniques, to technology—to identify the "pressure points" of opportunity, where small effort will reap the greatest rewards."

Daily eye openers, general sessions, open forums, and workshops were offered covering a range of topics, such as industry sales, corrugated production, new technology, and leadership building. Several committee meetings rounded out the event, including planning for SuperCorrExpo 2004, which is scheduled for November 8-12 2004 at the Georgia World Congress Ctr., Atlanta, GA. Also meeting was the AICC Associate Membership, comprised of industry supplier members who come together to learn and discuss association programs, issues.

Author Jim Collins, CEO Michael Fiterman, and consultant Matt Weinstein topped the list of distinguished speakers. Collins, author of the NY Times’ bestseller Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t and the Business Week’s bestseller list’s Built of Last, led off events with an opening keynote address discussing the concepts that made his books a success. Friday’s speaker, Fiterman, CEO of Liberty Diversified, Hope, MN, discussed his company’s "successful route for the evolution and implementation of ideas and innovation. Closing speaker, Weinstein, founder and emperor of the international consulting company Playfair Inc, Berkeley, CA, presented creative team building programs that develop employee morale.

Recreation was at full swing as AICC once again sponsored its Men’s and Women’s Golf Tournament. This year’s first place winners were James Moncure, J.M Fry; John "Ace" DeStefano, Banner Fibreboard Co.; Marco Krappach, Cajas de Carton Sultana; and Gil Buescher, C & M Conveyor. Women’s tournament first place winners were Jan Bittner and Betty Hurley, Hawkeye Corrugated Box Co.; Kim Nelson, Royal Containers Ltd.; and Rachel Shillito; Triad Packaging Inc. of TN.

The AICC is offering members and industry professionals the exclusive opportunity to hear from the many industry and professional speakers that were featured at this year’s spring event in Ideas to Implementation: Taking Your Company From Good to Great!. The recording is available on audiocassette and CD. Meeting presentations and handouts are available. For more information, visit the AICC website at aiccbox.org