TLMI Annual Meeting 'Kicks Off' in Palm Beach

After a year marked by several transitions, including a new association president, office location and staff, the Tag and Label Manufacturer’s Institute (TLMI) has come together to spend three days learning, networking and celebrating at its Annual Meeting. The meeting, which is being held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., began Sunday night with the tabletop exhibits and a reception, and continued Monday morning with the annual business meeting and a general session highlighted by speaker Eric Boles.

Boles, a former wide receiver for the New York Jets, is currently the president of The Game Changers, Inc., which provides services to companies and organizations to improve their leadership, sales teams and overall attitudes.

While Boles’ presentation touched on a variety of topics, at its core, he explained that just implementing change in an organization is not effective. Instead, he said that it is essential to explain why the change is important. In doing so, it is easier to generate buy-in from the organization and limit resistance to the change being proposed.

Boles explained that even when people know that change is needed, there are four major obstacles that typically need to be overcome:

• Being OK with the way you are
• The fear of the unknown
• The fear of failure
• The fear of rejection

While addressing those obstacles can be challenging, Boles explained that in order to be successful, people and organizations need to embrace what is uncertain, work toward implementing the needed change, and if a mistake is made, alter the course on the fly to what may be more successful.

Dan Muenzer, chairman of the TLMI board of directors, opens the TLMI Annual Meeting.

Prior to Boles’ presentation, TLMI chairman Dan Muenzer opened the annual meeting, which included the nominations of new board members and officers. With the approval of the motion, it was established that at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, Muenzer will become immediate past chairman and Craig Moreland of Coast Label Company will take the chairman position.

Muenzer also took the opportunity to pay special recognition to Dave McDowell of McDowell Label for his 12 years of service on the TLMI board of directors.

The TLMI Annual Meeting will conclude Tuesday, Oct. 18, with the annual awards dinner, which includes the presentation of the TLMI Label Awards, Supplier of the Year, Converter of the Year and Environmental Leadership Awards.