FLAG Annual Meeting to Feature Cross-Industry Panel on Strengthening the Label Value Chain

Published: March 4, 2026, By Trevor

Flexo Label Advantage Group LLC (FLAG) will bring together three industry leaders for a candid panel discussion at its 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, focused on strengthening collaboration across the label value chain.

Titled "Inside the Label Value Chain: How Brands, Designers, and Converters Work Best Together," the session will examine a familiar industry challenge: label converters are often brought in after key decisions have already been made - designs are finalized, timelines are compressed, and expectations are locked in.

This panel will take an honest look at how decisions are actually made, where breakdowns tend to occur, and how independent converters can engage earlier in the process to help shape stronger outcomes for brands and agencies alike.

The discussion will feature perspectives from across the value chain:

• Michael Milam, Chief Operating Officer of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, who has helped scale the company’s manufacturing and operational infrastructure through significant long-term growth. Milam brings a brand-side perspective grounded in operational discipline, margin protection, and executional excellence. 
• Jeremy Dahl, Co-Founder and Co-Creative Director of BexBrands, brings deep experience in strategy, design, and visual storytelling. Dahl understands how brand vision is translated into packaging and how early collaboration can prevent costly disconnects later in the process. 
• Adam Peek, Co-Owner of The Label King, widely known in the industry as the “Packaging Pastor.” With more than 15 years in packaging and as co-host of the People of Packaging Podcast, Peek brings the converter’s voice to the table, advocating for proactive partnership and transparent communication. 

Guiding the conversation will be Jackie Kuehlmann, Senior Principal at LPC. With more than two decades in the packaging industry, Kuehlmann has worked extensively at the intersection of brand, sales, and production strategy. Today, through LPC, she partners with converters and suppliers across the industry to develop marketing strategies that drive measurable growth.

“This is a conversation our industry needs to have,” said JC McKay, President of FLAG. ““The converter should never just be the last stop in the process. When brands, designers, and converters collaborate early, everyone wins. Margins improve, timelines stabilize, and products perform better. This session will challenge everyone in the room to think differently about collaboration.”

The 2026 FLAG Annual Meeting will take place March 23–26 in San Diego, California, and is exclusive to FLAG Members and Vendor Partners.

Not a FLAG Member yet? Learn more about FLAG, the Annual Meeting and Membership: www.flagadvantage.com/join

The 2026 FLAG Annual Meeting will take place March 23–26 in San Diego, California, and is exclusive to FLAG Members and Vendor Partners.

About Flexo Label Advantage Group LLC

Flexo Label Advantage Group (FLAG) is a Valuable Community of Independent Label Converters. We provide opportunities for our Members to be more competitive in the marketplace and become stronger companies, without sacrificing their independence. FLAG delivers bottom-line buying group savings on the most commonly used materials in the industry from our world-class Vendor Partners. Savings include substrates, tool and die, inks, pre-press, digital, overlaminates, shipping, and more. FLAG offers top-line new-label sales growth opportunities, catastrophic planning, networking opportunities with other label industry professionals, and a variety of new technical and business resources. FLAG is the ONLY industry group helping independent label converters unlock savings and resources similar to large national converters. Visit https://flexolabeladvantagegroup.com for more information.