Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Wichita, KS | Registration Fee: $150

Hosted by the Emerging Leaders Committee

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Registration is now open for the 2026 Young Professionals Seminar! This full-day seminar features a panel of industry executives sharing their career advice, three keynote sessions geared towards advancing your professional development, boosting your emotional health and well-being, and plenty of networking breaks to interact with and learn from your industry peers.

The seminar will be hosted at the Wichita Marriott in Wichita, Kansas and will be hosted the day before the PMMI Roadshow. Attendees are encouraged to attend the Roadshow, which is free to attend.

If you are looking for education and networking opportunities that are tailored just for rising leaders in the packaging and processing industry, you won’t want to miss the 2026 Young Professionals Seminar!

Need approval to travel to the event? Use this template as a guide to email your manager to help justify your trip!

This Seminar Is Eligible for Financial Support from PMMI U
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Take advantage of the PMMI U Skills Fund or Tuition Reimbursement Program to make this investment even more valuable.

2026 Young Professionals Seminar Agenda

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Executive Panel Discussion

Join a dynamic panel of industry executives as they share personal stories, lessons learned, and practical advice on navigating a successful career in the packaging and processing industry. From discovering unexpected career paths to embracing mentorship, seizing opportunities, and cultivating leadership potential, this session offers a candid look into the journeys of those who’ve risen to the top. Young professionals will gain valuable insight into what it takes to grow, lead, and thrive—both professionally and personally. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from those who’ve walked the path and are now shaping the future of the industry.

- Panelist: David Wales, Sr. OEM/Pharma Account Manager, Videojet

- Panelist: Andy Seys, Senior Director - Manufacturing, Engineering and Commercialization, Spectrum Brands

- Moderator: Glen Long, Senior Vice President, PMMI

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Networking Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Keynote: From "Managing Generations" to "Leading Individuals"

Key themes: Why generational stereotypes can be misleading, understanding personal motivations vs generational assumptions, building curiosity about people instead of relying on labels, and using one-on-one conversations to understand what drives each employee. Key takeaway: Leadership is less about age groups and more about understanding people.

- Speaker: Kristi Dooley, Executive Coach and Consultant, True Purpose Leadership

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Networking Break

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Keynote: The Practical AI Partner

Key themes: a structured framework for human-led AI collaboration, practical guidance on prompt design and workflow integration, approaches to documentation, version control, and review, and governance considerations for professional environments.

- Speaker: Bryan Griffen, President, Griffen Executive Solutions LLC‍

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Networking Break - AI Roundtable

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Keynote: Live Without Limits

Following the death of his longtime friend, Tom approached life from a different perspective and embarked on a journey that would put him in a small group of humans to have walked around the world (28,000 miles across 38 countries). Tom successfully accomplished this feat along with his loyal canine companion, Savannah, over the course of seven years. Tom’s inspirational keynotes focus on unlocking potential, beingresilient, focused, and mission driven.

- Speaker: Tom Turcich, Author of The World Walk‍

3:30 p.m.

Event Concludes

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Happy Hour

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Optional Dinner - YPS & Roadshow Early Arrivals

Young Professionals Seminar

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

2026 Young Professionals Seminar Agenda

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Thank you to the PMMI Foundation Benefactor