DAY 1
Morning Networking Breakfast
8:00–9:00 a.m. | Hilton Rosemont
Start the day over breakfast with fellow attendees. Make new connections, reconnect with industry peers, and set the stage for two days of open dialogue and collaboration.
Welcome & Introductions
9:00–9:30 a.m. | Hilton Rosemont
Hear opening remarks and preview the themes and collaborative format that will guide the Color Council experience.
Event Kickoff
9:30–10:00 a.m. (30 minutes)
Host: Warren Werbitt
Print Consultant | The Print Whisperer
Session 1
Operating in a Constrained World
10:00–11:30 a.m. (90 minutes)
Labor, complexity, and the realities forcing transformation
Labor shortages are no longer temporary disruptions. They are exposing deeper challenges in how print and packaging operations are designed, managed, and scaled.
This session explores the operational pressures facing manufacturers today and why transformation is becoming a business imperative—not a future initiative. Through expert perspectives and peer discussion, attendees will consider what must change to build more resilient, scalable organizations.
Discussion Themes
- Workforce and skills shortages
- Process standardization
- Operational resilience
- Scaling expertise across locations
- Preparing organizations for long-term change
Keynote Speaker:
Ron Ellis
Print Consultant | Ron Ellis Consulting LLC
Customer Panel:
Stay tuned as we finalize our speakers!
Lunch
Lunch
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (60 minutes)
Please indicate any dietary requirements when registering.
Session 2
AI in Print & Packaging
12:30–2:00 p.m. (90 minutes)
Where Value Is Real and Where It Isn’t
Artificial intelligence is generating excitement across every industry, but practical implementation remains uneven.
Moving beyond the hype, this session explores where AI is delivering measurable value today, where barriers remain, and how organizations can chart a practical path forward. Attendees will gain a balanced perspective on the opportunities and limitations shaping the next phase of digital transformation.
Discussion Themes
- AI applications in manufacturing
- Data-driven decision making
- Workforce enablement
- Quality and process optimization
- Building a practical AI roadmap
Keynote Speaker:
Amy Servi-Bonner
Vice President | PRINTING AI
Customer Panel:
Stay tuned as we finalize our speakers!
Session 3
Changing Regulations & Rising Complexity
2:15–3:45 p.m. (90 minutes)
Navigating compliance, sustainability mandates, and global variation
Regulatory requirements and sustainability expectations continue to reshape how organizations operate. As complexity grows, leaders must balance compliance, cost, efficiency, and performance.
This session examines the changing regulatory landscape and how brands, converters, and industry partners are adapting while protecting efficiency, quality, and business performance.
Discussion Themes
- Sustainability requirements
- Packaging regulations
- Compliance and traceability
- Standardization strategies
- Managing complexity across global operations
Keynote Speaker:
Robb Frimming
Print Quality & Color Management Packaging Consultant | Robb Frimming Consulting
Customer Panel:
Stay tuned as we finalize our speakers!
Closing Comments & Questions
4:00–4:45 p.m. (45 minutes)
We’ll close Day 1 by reflecting on key takeaways from the day’s sessions and opening the floor for final questions, comments, and additional discussion. This flexible period also provides schedule buffer should earlier conversations run long, while allowing attendees to capture ideas and prepare for the evening outing.
Thursday Evening Outing
Kings Dining & Entertainment
5505 Park Place, Rosemont, IL 60018 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
After a full day of ideas and discussion, unwind with an evening of bowling, billiards, food, and friendly competition. It’s a relaxed opportunity to continue conversations, build camaraderie, and connect with fellow Color Council attendees beyond the meeting room.
DAY 2
Morning Networking Breakfast
7:30–8:30 a.m. | Hilton Rosemont
Reconnect over breakfast, continue conversations from Day 1, and prepare for a focused morning of forward-looking discussion and action planning.
Day 1 Recap
8:30–8:45 a.m. (15 minutes)
Revisit the most important insights from Day 1 and carry those themes forward into the final conversations of Color Council
Session 4
Future State of Print & Packaging
8:45–10:15 a.m. (90 minutes)
What Success Will Require
What will the most successful organizations look like five to ten years from now?
This forward-looking discussion connects the forces explored throughout Color Council, from workforce and regulation to technology and ecosystem change. Participants will identify the capabilities, partnerships, and strategies that can help organizations thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Discussion Themes
- Future operating models
- Connected ecosystems
- Digital transformation
- Supply chain collaboration
- Long-term industry evolution
Keynote Speaker:
David Zwang
Consulting Analyst | Zwang & Company
Customer Panel:
Stay tuned as we finalize our speakers!
Coffee Break
Coffee & Networking Break
10:15–10:30 a.m. (15 minutes)
Refresh, reconnect, and exchange perspectives before the final working session.
Final Synthesis
Turning Insights into Action
10:30–11:30 a.m. (60 minutes)
The forum concludes by bringing the event’s key themes, shared challenges, and most important opportunities into focus.
Together, attendees will translate discussion into direction—leaving with stronger connections, broader perspective, and actionable ideas to help shape what comes next for print and packaging.
Lunch
Boxed Lunch
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (30 minutes)
A boxed lunch will be provided as the program concludes. Please indicate any dietary requirements when registering.