PFFC - October 2007 - (Page 144)

EXPERIENCE SPEAKS Rising raw material costs are a challenge. In this competitive market, it is tough to pass along the increases because increased materials costs do not represent increased value to the customer. uWhat is the best advice you ever got? Follow your dream; you only live once. uHow do you handle a difficult customer? A difficult customer doesn’t just happen. Usually there is a miscommunication somewhere, and that leads to an expectation that is not met. We do everything we can to prevent these kinds of issues. Should one occur, we empathize with our customer and remain focused on Business isn’t a getrich-quick scheme. Focus on your customers. uWhat is the worst advice you ever got? I don’t remember, probably because I didn’t listen to it. uWhat keeps you up at night with regard to your business? Managing your resources while deploying the right mix of investments in technology and talent can be a high-wire balancing act. I wouldn’t say it keeps me up at night, but it does get my full attention. uWhat is the key to growing a business in a bad economy? Developing strategic relationships with customers and suppliers is a good start. Look closely at what your customer values, and make sure there are no gaps between what they value and what you expect them to pay for. maintaining a respectful working relationship. Things happen. When they do, fix the problem. uWhat do you know now that you wish you had known when you started out? There are no shortcuts here. You just have to live it and turn it into practical experience. I can honestly say that every day there is something new to learn. uWhat are you most proud of in your business? Three simultaneous outcomes: happy customers, happy employees, and happy shareholders. uDo you have a personal hero? Michael Jordan. He’s a fierce competitor with class. uThomas E. Tyndall uVP–General Manager of Eagle Flexible Packaging Inc. uPersonal Motto | Where there’s a will, there’s a way. uRecommended reading | First Things First by Stephen R. Covey uHow did you get into the converting business? By accident. My first job out of college was installing and training on specialized graphic art cameras designed for package printing. From there I moved into sales of prepress equipment and finally printing presses. This background gave me experience in packaging production. Once I got into packaging, I never got out. uDescribe your management style. I lead by example and empower others to take ownership and make decisions. uAre there specific challenges in your region to finding good employees? Finding good people is always a challenge. That’s why we work hard to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and pride. uWhat is the biggest threat to the converting industry right now? About Eagle Flexible Packaging u1300 W. Washington St., West Chicago, IL 60185 uwww.eagleflexible.com uFounded 1994; 1 plant uSpecialty | Flex-pack; package and label development; materials and ink testing What do you think is the biggest threat to the converting industry right now? Send your comments to yolanda.simonsis@penton.com. 144 | OCTOBER 2007 WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM http://www.eagleflexible.com http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - October 2007

PFFC - October 2007 Contents First Glance From the Editor Calendar of Events Web Lines Process Management Package Converting News Clips Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What’s New Products Bagmaking Slitting/Rewinding Digital Printing EB Flexo Web Handling Paperboard Packaging Security Packaging Business Transactions What’s New Products Focus: Unwinds & Rewinds Trade Show in Print Services Directory Classified Marketplace Equipment Buyers & Sellers Advertisers Index thePLACE Experience Speaks

PFFC - October 2007

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