Progressive Leadership For All
Strong, low-key leadership at CL&D Graphics and TLMI has earned Mike Dowling packagePRINTING's TLMI 2004 Converter of the Year Award.
TLMI IS A strong association, thriving on the active involvement of a wide range of industry leaders that in many ways represent its past, present, and future. It is made up of both supplier and converter companies that run the gamut from small entrepreneurial start-ups to large established companies.
Keeping the association on a solid financial foundation, while meeting the needs of such a diverse membership is no easy task. It requires farsighted leadership that focuses on the needs of all its members—large and small, new and old.
Mike Dowling, president of CL&D Graphics, has contributed his innate skills throughout more than a decade of leadership involvement in TLMI. While working with others on the Finance Committee, the Board of Directors, and as president, Dowling has helped keep TLMI on its growth path of success.
Away from TLMI, he has guided his company to the forefront of the industry, recognized by his peers as a state-of-the-art, progressive converter of labels and flexible packaging products. For his contributions to TLMI and the industry in general, Mike Dowling has been selected as the TLMI Converter of the Year.
Label industry start
Mike Dowling was exposed to the printing industry at an early age. His father, Brian, started the family-run business in 1978 as Custom Label & Design in Oconomowoc, Wis. The company started with one Webtron 650 press in a building that measured about 5,000 sq. ft. At that time, the popular thinking was "How are we going to fill this place up?"
Well, that apparently wasn't much of a problem. Today, the original Custom Label & Design has evolved into two companies, CL&D Graphics and CL&D Digital, with three facilities and 14 presses. And the original 5,000 sq. ft. facility that was in need of "filling up" has grown to 125,000 sq. ft.
Mike Dowling started in the printing business during his high school years, working for the family business during the summer. He joined the company full time after graduating from Arizona State University with bachelor of arts and master of business administration degrees.
Over the years between 1996 and 2003, he and his brother and sister purchased the family business. Dowling says his father still plays an active role in the company and "is a tremendous resource to himself and the company, imparting an invaluable vision of the label industry."
CL&D Graphics focuses on the needs of its consumer products company customers. It supplies pressure-sensitive paper and film labeling, roll-fed unsupported film labels for shrink and non-shrink applications, cut-and-stack sheeted film and pressure-sensitive labels, and flexible packaging.
CL&D Digital provides one-stop, digital package-printing solutions, with two HP Indigo Omnius Webstream presses, finishing capabilities for varnishes and laminates, and product fulfillment in a GMP-approved operation. Dowling attributes the success of both companies to their focus as companies that are "easy to do business with."
Active TLMI participation
The relationship between TLMI and Dowling has been one of mutual benefit, and began more than 20 years ago. CL&D Graphics joined TLMI in 1983. "One of the best things my father ever did was join TLMI—that and starting the company in the first place," says Dowling. "[TLMI membership] has easily provided the best payback for the company of anything we've ever done."
Dowling has been an active member of TLMI for many years, including moderating and speaking at many TLMI events. His involvement in TLMI leadership began in the early '90s with an invite from Tom Cobery to join the Finance Committee, which he later chaired.
According to Frank Sablone, the impact of his leadership was felt right away. "Mike was an absolute savior to me in his role as finance chairman," he states. "He has been an unbelievable sounding board; his sense of what is right for TLMI members is uncanny."
In 1995, Dowling followed in his father's footsteps by being elected to TLMI's Board of Directors. At that time, he was offered some advice to help him during his tenure on the Board: "Keep your mouth shut and stay close to the door," he was told. Evidently, he didn't listen to this advice, as he was elected president of TLMI and served in this capacity in 2001 and 2002. He is now serving in the role as past president, continuing his leadership legacy in TLMI.
In his various roles in the association, Sablone says that Dowling has led by example, and the members of TLMI are always foremost in his priorities. "His first and primary concern is for the members—is it right for all TLMI members," says Sablone. "His main goal over 14 years has been to maintain a strong financial position for the organization and to maintain an even playing field for all members."
In his unassuming way, Dowling deflects credit for his impact as a Board member and as president. "Being on the Board is an honor," he says. "Running it is very, very easy with Frank and his staff."
As much as he has given to TLMI, Dowling says that he has gotten far more in return, "by at least a factor of 10." In addition to the plant visits (particularly those over in Europe) and the ability to observe equipment in operation, he especially values the friendships he has formed through his involvement in TLMI. He has formed close friendships with converters in Europe stemming from TLMI's association with FINAT. Closer to home, of Frank Sablone, he says, "He will do anything he can do to help you."
The most immediate challenge for TLMI is to continue its vitality and growth, says Dowling. "All organizations want to be growing, and we have been successful in increasing our converter membership. However, this must be done in a way that keeps the small-organization feel, while bringing in new people. The existing members have to make sure new members are included and are welcomed."
As a member-run association, Dowling stresses the importance of member participation, and points to the TLMI Ratio Study as a great example of the value of participation. The Ratio Study provides feedback to participating converting company members over a series of key financial performance ratios, benchmarked against similar-sized converters. The results of each annual study are available only to converter members, "providing great value to those TLMI converter companies that participate," says Dowling.
The Ratio study is also used to determine winners of TLMI's annual Eugene Singer Award for Management Excellence, an award that is coveted by association members. Dowling takes great pride in the two Eugene Singer Awards won by CL&D Graphics, in 1990 and again in 2002.
The success of CL&D Graphics under Dowling's leadership is recognized beyond the analytical measures of the Ratio Study, by some of those who have wide-ranging knowledge of the tag and label industry. "Mike leads a state-of-the-art, very progressive label and flexible packaging converting company," says John Bankson, president of TLMI and president/CEO of Label Technology. "They are on the leading-edge and have led the way for the rest of the industry."
Bruce Bell, chairman and founder of Belmark, Inc., has been involved with Dowling through the industry and working together on the TLMI Board. "I have found Mike to be bright, enthusiastic, and full of energy," says Bell. "He is a person who enjoys life and brings to TLMI a new style of leadership. He is a respected competitor whose company is well run and progressive in style."
Time out
Away from work and TLMI activities, Dowling enjoys vacationing with his family and doing "kids activities." He and his wife have two children—a 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. He has also been known to spend time looking for his golf ball in high grass and waiting patiently on the dry end of an empty fishing pole. Of his wife, Wendy, Dowling says they have been married 15 "glorious years."
By Tom Polischuk
Editor-In-Chief
