Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this engaging conversation, George Perreira of Moyy and Mike Schaefer of Tavens Packaging and Display talk with Rich Croce, President and CEO of Viking Packaging. Rich shares his journey from growing up in a family business to navigating the challenges of college and ultimately returning to lead the company. He discusses the evolution of Viking Packaging, the importance of customer service, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures in his career. The conversation highlights the significance of legacy, leadership, and the impact of personal experiences on professional growth.

About Rich

Richard Croce is the President and CEO of Viking Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of corrugated packaging as well as George H. Swatek Inc., a distributor of packaging products. Rich is proud to be the 5th generation Croce to be leading a packaging company and the 3rd at Viking. He has been published in the industry publication Box Score, as well as featured in Hudson Valley MFG Magazine for his knowledge and expertise.

Rich attended Union College in Schenectady, NY. and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Rich has donated his time to work with the Council of Industry of South Eastern New York, serving as a board member and board president, to help area manufacturing companies improve their businesses. Rich is on the steering committee for Hudson Valley Pathways Academy which is a local P-Tech school which provides high school and associates degreed programs for local youth. Rich has served with the Boy Scouts as a Den Leader and as a coach for many youth teams in Saugerties, NY.

Connect

• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook
• www.vikingpackaging.com

Resources

• AICC Packaging University
• CEO Advisory Groups

New episodes drop the first Monday of every month. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this episode we dive into the fascinating origin stories of industry leaders who have shaped the packaging world. Join us as we revisit the early days and pivotal moments that set the stage for success for our distinguished guests: Greg Tucker, President and CEO of Bay Cities; Charlie Hodges, who retired as President and CEO of Hood Container in late 2024; Jerry Frisch, President of Wasatch Container; and John Bird, Chairman and CEO of JB Machinery.

Each guest shares the unexpected twists and turns that paved their way into the packaging industry, providing invaluable insights and inspiration to both newcomers and veterans in the field.

New episodes drop the first Monday of every month. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this episode of Breaking Down Boxes, hosts Jeff Pallini and George Perreira sit down with Mark Jared, Director and CEO of Cumberland Container in Monterey, TN, to explore his unconventional career path and the evolution of his business. From navigating international challenges in China to leading a box plant in Tennessee, Mark’s story is a fascinating tale of resilience, innovation, and community.

Mark shares his unique perspective on leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust and collaboration, and discusses the strategies that have driven Cumberland Container’s growth. From investing in technology to building personalized customer relationships, Mark offers insights into the challenges and opportunities within the independent packaging industry.

About Mark

Growing up in the countryside outside of a small town I learned to be fairly self-reliant and after a couple of extensive trips a love for travel. I started mountaineering at 14 with my Dad which has taken me to some pretty amazing places. At 18 I went west to work the wheat harvest before moving to Virginia to attend school at Washington & Lee University. My junior year was three of the best as I had multiple jobs over a 2 year period from construction to sales and made a trip to Mexico to climb the 3 highest peaks.

Once back at school I took the opportunity to get selected for an exchange program W&L had with the Chinese University of Hong Kong. That was in 1979 when the US recognized the People's Republic Of China and it became the “new frontier” as few Westerners had traveled there since 1949. As a poor student I could not afford to join a tour but used my majors in history and philosophy and a bit of Chinese language to get a job leading tours to China. Over the next 5 years I lead over 45 trips all over China and also into Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, the Soviet Union, Japan and others. During that period I also went to grad school and received my Masters in International Management.

Not wanting to turn 30 leading tours I got a job with consortium of companies building the largest foreign invested real estate project in Shanghai. After working and managing the Shanghai Centre project for 20 plus years and also working on projects in Korea and Vietnam I went to work for Dubai World responsible for developing new real estate projects in Asia. In 2010 I received a fax from my father to come home and buy the box company he had started in 1969. He claimed I could continue to live in China as the company had a management team but that turned out to be stretch of the truth. In 2013 I moved the family away from their 23 million best friends to middle TN and began to work at Cumberland Container where I had no clue how a box was made. However the company had a very good team of leaders that I recognized I needed to even try to manage the business.

After our GM left in 2016 taking a considerable amount of business we formed a management committee to run the business all of which are still at the company. I joined AICC around 2018 and began attending the meetings where I got a great introduction to a lot of new ideas and great people in the industry. I pretty quickly drank the kool-aid to get ahead we needed to have fast and precise equipment to be competitive and grow the business so over the past 5+ years we went on capital investment program buying new FFGs, RDC, Baysek, Speciality Folder Gluer, Partition Assembler, Automatan and Stitcher/Gluer.

We also expanded the facility growing to 260K square feet, upgraded our shipping fleet, scrap system and graphics capability making us well positioned for the next 10+ years. Plus I bought 12 acres of property adjacent to the plant for future expansion. Cumberland has a great management group and a very capable workforce of 95...

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this episode we talk with Fabien Val, CEO and owner of Cuir. Hosted by Simona Georgescu of Adduco Communications and Mike Schaefer of Tavens Packaging & Display, the episode provides a rare and heartfelt look into Val's journey from closing a textile company to the helm of a corrugated machinery company.

Connect with Fabien

https://www.cuir.com/en/

New episodes drop the first Monday of every month. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this episode we talk with Justin Hill from Lawrence Paper Company.

In this conversation, Justin shares insights into the company's rich history, spanning over six generations. He discusses the importance of customer service, innovation, and employee engagement in maintaining a successful family business. Justin reflects on the challenges faced throughout the years, including economic downturns and the evolution of the packaging industry. He emphasizes the significance of fostering a strong company culture and the value of long-term customer relationships. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of family business succession and the importance of preparing the next generation for leadership roles.

New episodes drop the first Monday of every month. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this special episode of Breaking Down Boxes, the podcast welcomes a dynamic group of new guest hosts who are set to bring fresh perspectives and engaging stories to the independent packaging industry.

Featured Guest Hosts:

Mike Schaefer - President, Tavens Packaging & Display

Mike shares his unexpected journey into the packaging industry, from his early days as a mechanic to becoming a key player in the box business. He discusses his leadership at Tavens Packaging & Display and reflects on the unique challenges and opportunities within the independent sector.

Jeff Pallini - President, Fosber America

With a background that spans from the tissue industry in Europe to founding Fosber America, Jeff brings a wealth of experience in corrugated machinery. He talks about his passion for supporting independent manufacturers and the stories of entrepreneurship that define the industry.

Simona Georgescu - Founder, Adduco Communications

A seasoned communications professional, Simona offers insights into the intersection of branding, marketing, and packaging. She reflects on her journey from Romania to founding Adduco Communications in New York, and her deep commitment to telling the stories of the packaging industry.

George Perreira - Vice President, Moyy

George’s story is one of growth and resilience, from his early days in sales to leading a successful rebranding and technological transformation at Moyy. He shares his passion for connecting with people and the importance of storytelling in building relationships within the industry.

New episodes drop the first Monday of every month. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

This episode marks a significant milestone as hosts Gene Marino, President of Akers Packaging Service Group, and Joe Morelli, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Huston Patterson and Lewisburg Printing Company, bid farewell as hosts.

As Breaking Down Boxes takes a brief hiatus in August, the podcast will return in September with guest hosts, continuing to offer inspiring stories and valuable insights. AICC is committed to providing a platform that fosters learning, growth, and connection within the packaging industry.

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.

Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this episode, we talk with AICC President Mike D'Angelo.

Mike shares his compelling journey through the packaging industry, offering listeners a wealth of insights into his career progression, the importance of mentorship, and the balancing act between work and personal life. From his childhood experiences to his transition from college to the workforce, Mike's story is a testament to the power of hard work, adaptability, and the enduring importance of personal and professional relationships.

About Mike

Mike is a 40+ year veteran of the packaging industry with experience in the corrugated, folding carton and flexible packaging markets. After graduating from Villanova University, Mike went to work for Bobst North America in a sales support role. Over the next 32 years he rose through various leadership positions in the Bobst organization in various packaging equipment markets. This growth culminated in an 18-year role as Vice President of Sales and Service.

Goss International recruited Mike to be its North American Managing Director and to transition its web offset printing press business from the publication and newspaper markets to the packaging markets. This challenge was successfully met, resulting in the sale of Goss to a private equity company.

After Goss, Mike continued to pursue service to the paper-based packaging industry by joining AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, as Vice President in October 2016. He was elevated to the President’s role at AICC on July 1, 2019.

Prior to joining AICC, Mike had been a 20+ year Associate Member of the Association. Mike has served on the Board of Directors of the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) including a term as Chair. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA). Both Board experiences showed him the satisfaction that can be achieved in Association management.

Mike and his wife Susan are the parents of two grown daughters. They live in Dumfries, Virginia.

Connect with Mike

• Linkedin
• AICCbox.org

New episodes drop the first Monday of every month. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org. When you invest and engage, AICC delivers success.

Breaking Down Boxes is sponsored by Ox Box, offering strength you can depend on.