Packaging Innovation Trends and Insights Briefings

The PTIS Pulse Program delivers four briefings each year. You get them by email in a format that lets you scan through high points and dig into details that affect you. PowerPoint slides ready to drop into your own presentations. Click here for a sample

Access to PTIS Principals by phone

We’ve all had times when we need to “bounce ideas off” a trusted peer. With the Pulse Program, you get that access to PTIS principals. On any call, you can spend up to 30 minutes with Phil McKiernan, Mike Richmond or Brian Wagner—you get a packaging savvy professional on the phone, and you can gain added thoughts and resources.

One PTIS Expert Network© survey per year

PTIS expertise comes from its network of knowledgeable packaging professionals. When you need that kind of input, we can “pulse” our network to come up with answers to your challenges.

Summaries, themes and key insights from seminars, conferences and events

PTIS attends many of the top packaging-relevant conferences and events each year. As a Pulse subscriber, you receive the top-line reports to extend your insights on what is really going on in packaging. As an example, early 2010 conference reports identified the sharp rise in private brands and the packaging that supports them as a driver of packaging changes.

24/7/365 access to the PTIS Intellectual Capital Center Resources

We’ve addressed some of the most frequently encountered packaging management issues with a series of PTIS Intellectual Capital Management Checklists. By opting for the PTIS Pulse Program, you receive a password that lets you access this information 24/7/365. (Click here to see the PTIS Intellectual Capital Center Resources.)

PTIS has a decade of business and packaging consulting experience. Its Principals have worked with business as big as Fortune 100 companies and a small as packaging start-ups. With strategic programs such as the Future of Packaging, workshops and individual consulting, the PTIS principals have one of the most wide-reaching perspectives on packaging around the world.

Brian Wagner, Principal, Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions

Brian Wagner is a business and technical leader known for innovative solutions. He is a principal of Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions, and he builds on more than 20 years of business experience. His career includes positions with Kellogg, Sara Lee, Multiform Desiccants, Carton-Craft Corp., Burger King, and General Foods. He entered the Michigan State University School of Packaging Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also recognized as a Western Michigan Business Review 2008 Thought Leader.

Brian's career spans packaging, business development, sales, marketing, and operations. His hallmark is developing and communicating practical solutions to complex problems. This process is driven by knowledge of consumer and retailer needs, and Brian has led cutting edge consumer insight programs and worked to drive new methods to quantify packaging’s value in the marketplace.

 

Mike Richmond, Ph.D., Principal, Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions

Mike Richmond is a strategic business and technical leader with 25 years of experience. He co-founded PTIS in 2000, building on experience with Kellogg, Kraft, and Michigan State University. At Kellogg, Mike developed and started up departments including Technology Discovery and Global Packaging Innovation. Mike was instrumental in developing and implementing strategic plans and programs nationally and globally for both Kraft and Kellogg. He led the research and development component of strategic sourcing at both companies, resulting in millions of dollars in savings.

In addition to strong vendor knowledge, Mike has brought new consumer and trade focus to the development of superior solutions to packaging problems globally. He also  is an expert in benchmarking and best practices. Mike has completed executive business programs at both Harvard and Thunderbird and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Alliance Foods.

 

Phil McKiernan, Principal, Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions

Phil McKiernan brings over 20 years of new product development, productivity enhancement, and process-oriented business leadership to PTIS. Phil joined PTIS as a principal in 2008, with prior work as a PTIS Senior Associate. His resume includes leadership positions at organizations at Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Sweetheart Cup Company.

As a leader in the creation of new products and packaging, Phil guided cross functional teams in the development of multi-year product and intellectual property plans, leveraging consumer insights, technology trends and qualitative and quantitative research. Phil delivered a number of speed-to-market, cost savings and quality enhancements throughout his career. Phil is also a leader in sustainability and sustainable packaging. He is an expert in the Wal-Mart Sustainable Packaging Scorecard and modeling software and is qualified to teach the Sustainable Packaging Coalition Essentials of Sustainable Packaging workshop.