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Built for Monday: Why Annual Meeting 2026 Matters More Than Ever 

Jessica Avery on August 4, 2026

By Dale Coates, CEO & President, TLMI  

The conversations, challenges, and opportunities that are shaping our industry are also shaping Annual Meeting 2026.  

Annual Meeting 2026 is the result of everything we’ve been working on together over the past year. 

As our industry continues to navigate economic uncertainty, regulatory and legislative changes, evolving sustainability expectations, and shifting customer demands, TLMI has remained focused on one thing: helping our members stay informed, connected, and prepared for what comes next. 

Over the past year, TLMI members and leaders have been actively engaged in the issues affecting the future of the label and packaging industry. From tracking the growing impact of EPR legislation across the country and advocating for the printing industry on Capitol Hill, to supporting workforce development by delivering another sold-out Label Leaders of Tomorrow excursion and awarding scholarships to member employees and students, to adding a new economic and geopolitical forecast to our member benefits, TLMI has remained focused on delivering the insights, connections, and advocacy our members need to navigate a rapidly changing environment. TLMI is at the table where important decisions and discussions are taking place. 

At the same time, we’ve been listening. Listening to our members. Watching market trends. Tracking industry developments. Identifying the opportunities and challenges affecting businesses throughout our industry. 

The reality is that our industry continues to evolve, and TLMI must evolve with it. 

That’s why Annual Meeting 2026 has been built around a simple but important idea: 

Built for Monday 

More than a theme, it’s our commitment to you. 

Every session, conversation, networking opportunity, and experience has been intentionally designed to deliver practical value, ideas, insights, and strategies you can bring back to your business and put to work immediately. 

In fact, our planning team has operated around one simple filter: 

If you can’t use it next week, it doesn’t belong here. 

That’s what Built for Monday means. Not theory. Not trends for the sake of trends. Real-world takeaways that help you lead, compete, and grow in a changing marketplace. 

Member Highlight: Ben Luly

Jessica Avery on July 21, 2026

By: Makayle Botts, TLMI Senior Community and Membership Coordinator

At TLMI, our members are at the heart of everything we do. The relationships built, knowledge shared, and innovations discussed through our community are what make TLMI such a valuable resource for the label and packaging industry. That’s why we’re excited to launch our new Member Spotlight series, highlighting the exceptional individuals who contribute to our association and help move the industry forward.

Our first spotlight features Ben from Mark Andy, an active LLT member based in St. Louis, Missouri, with a strong background in engineering and product design.

When asked about his favorite TLMI experience so far, Ben shared that choosing just one was no easy task.

“One of the things I enjoy most about TLMI is that every event and experience I’ve been a part of has been genuinely engaging and valuable, which makes it hard to pick a favorite,” he said.

If he had to choose, presenting on high-speed hybrid technology stands out as a particularly rewarding experience.

“It was especially rewarding to share the work our team has put into developing profitability and ROI models and to show how the data really illustrates the versatility and business value that hybrid technology can deliver across a wide range of applications. Seeing the audience engage with those insights made the experience even more meaningful.”

Ben’s experience reflects one of TLMI’s greatest strengths: creating opportunities for members to share expertise, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. Whether through conferences, workshops, committee involvement, or speaking engagements, members consistently contribute to conversations that help drive innovation throughout the industry.

Beyond his involvement with TLMI, Ben is also excited about recent developments at Mark Andy. One initiative he highlighted is the company’s launch of SmartPress, a solution designed to help customers respond more quickly to changing market opportunities.

“One of the most exciting recent developments I’ve had the pleasure of working on at Mark Andy has been the launch of SmartPress,” Ben said. “It brings together our engineering expertise and application knowledge into application-ready configurations that can be delivered in as little as eight weeks.”

According to Ben, reducing equipment lead times helps customers overcome common capacity challenges and better position themselves to pursue new business opportunities.

“By significantly reducing delivery time, SmartPress helps customers respond faster and grow with greater confidence.”

Stories like Ben’s demonstrate the power of being actively involved in the TLMI community. Our members are innovators, educators, problem-solvers, and leaders who continuously contribute their knowledge and experiences for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

Thank you to Ben for sharing his insights and for being an engaged member of the TLMI community.

Interested in getting more involved with TLMI? Whether you’re looking to join a committee, participate in an event, explore leadership opportunities, or expand your industry network, we’d love to help you find the right fit. Contact Makayle at Makayle.botts@tlmi.com to learn more about ways to engage and make the most of your membership.