Travels with Larry—A Warm Family Welcome in Louisville, Ky.
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How do you put the icing on the cake of an outstanding week at CorrExpo2015? Well one way is to tour a corrugated and packaging company’s plant in Louisville, Ky., USA. That plant was none other than Independent II LLC located at 7825 National Turnpike Louisville, Ky., 40214.
Kristi Ledbetter asked Finn MacDonald about the possibility of touring their plant, and did he ever respond!
Finn MacDonald, director of operations, really put out the welcome mat, including a sign in their break room.
They also hung some banners from the ceiling inside of their plant for a bus-load of CorrExpo conference attendees to see.
We were placed into two groups, for what turned out to be an extremely interesting and unique plant tour. They actually had their suppliers staged, by their respective pieces of equipment, to explain the features, advantages, and benefits of each product.
I have been on hundreds of plant tours over my lifetime, and this was one of the best utilization of partner companies that I have witnessed.
In photo (l-r): Independent II employees Phil Harlow, Rick Mead, Jim Robbins, Ryan Patterson, Devin Danehy, Larry Beanblossom, and Paul White (ESKO).
Above is where the magic occurs. The design lab team members, along with other key employees, proudly stand by some of their best designed boxes and display pieces.
Independent II LLC is a privately owned and operated, full-service corrugated and packaging company that services a diverse customer base throughout the Kentuckiana region. The attitude and pride of what these folks accomplish every day is obvious in the smiles around this plant.
The genesis of this company, founded in 2006, really began back in the same year that the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox to become the World Series Champions--1967.
Neil MacDonald, president and CEO, began his career in the box business with Independent box makers. He went from there through some very successful positions in the industry that honed his skills and contacts, which brought him to his latest venture.
In photo (l-r): Neil and Finn MacDonald
If these folks treat their customers as well as they treated us, then the sky is the limit.
More information about Independent II is available online.
More information about TAPPI also is available online.
There are two types of people in this industry: TAPPI members and those who should be.
Until next time...Larry.
