Fulwiler Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
A panel of label industry experts for the 2010 Label Industry Global Awards has selected Terry Fulwiler, CEO of WS Packaging Group, Inc., as the 2010 winner of the prestigious R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is sponsored by Avery Dennison.
Fulwiler joined his father’s company in 1972 when there were 25 employees and he served in a variety of management positions leading to his promotion to CEO in 1987. He is credited with the unprecedented decision in 2000 to take the company from a mid-size player in the tag and label industry to the next level, with the merger of Wisconsin Label Corporation, founded in 1966, and Superior Label Systems, Inc., founded in 1970. This was followed by nine additional acquisitions in the last nine years. Now with more than 1,775 employees at 17 locations across the U.S. and Mexico, the company produces high-quality printing, flexible packaging, and promotional products.
After a lifetime in the label business, Fulwiler’s management style remains “people-friendly”. He believes in hiring good people and helping them to do their best by getting them to enjoy what they do. He believes in giving credible people an interesting and challenging job to do and then reward their success, thereby reducing employee turnover.
Fulwiler believes strongly in new printing technology and business improvements, such as the latest proofing systems, press equipment, and Lean Manufacturing, and continues to reinvest in the business with significant annual capital expenditures as part of his long-term business strategy. Fulwiler’s leadership has driven label industry innovation through Web-based ordering systems and customer interface management, as well as through the development of RFID technology, which was expanded in a joint venture with European-based ASK Corporation.
Fulwiler was selected Converter of the Year in 2000 by his peers in the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI). He is an active member of TLMI and served previously on its board of directors. the premier trade organization for the tag and label industry, in which Terry served on the board of directors. Fulwiler is chairman of the board for Bellin Hospital, on the board of directors for several area businesses, including the Green Bay Packers, and serves in an advisory capacity for various local organizations and groups.
The judges also announced the finalists in the other Awards categories. The winners will be revealed at the award ceremony on the Spirit of Chicago, Navy Pier, on the evening of the 14 September, the opening day of Labelexpo Americas 2010.
The 2010 finalists are:
Converter Award for Sustainability/Environmental Responsibility—Sponsored by GEW
• Paragon Label / Mrs. Grossman
• Spear
• Speciality PrintinG
• Vintage 99 Label MFG
Label Industry Award for Continuous Innovation—Sponsored by Flint Group Narrow Web
• Collano
• Omet
• Tailored Solutions
• Xeikon
Label Industry Award for New Innovation—Sponsored by Labels & Labeling, NarroWebTech, and Label & Narrow Web
• Cerm
• DG Roland
• Gallus
• Primera
Judges for this year’s Awards, under the chairmanship of Frank Gerace, Chairman of the Board, TLMI, were Andrea Vimercati, President of FINAT; Andy Thomas, Editor of Labels & Labeling; and Tony White, Editor of NarroWebTech.
