The Print & Pkg Lab - Practical conversations for print and packaging professionals - Powered by PIA MidAmerica

PIA MidAmerica
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT

The Print & Packaging Lab is a place where ideas are tested, challenged, and refined—together. Each episode explores the real decisions and practical information facing print and packaging professionals today, from operations and production to leadership, sales, marketing, and workforce development. This isn’t theory or hype. It’s thoughtful conversation grounded in experience, experimentation, and what’s actually working across the industry. Whether you run a company, manage a team, or are building your next phase in print, The Print & Packaging Lab offers perspective you can use. PIA MidAmerica helps print and packaging companies run stronger, more connected businesses—through workforce programs, leverage, data, and industry collaboration. Bottom line, whether a company is focused on growth, workforce, or operational clarity, PIA MidAmerica is here to support and to identify ways to reduce costs, improve performance, and strengthen teams.

  1. Ep. 21: Leadership Bites. A conversation with Zach Fargo – From Selling to Helping: What Actually Works in This Industry

    17H AGO

    Ep. 21: Leadership Bites. A conversation with Zach Fargo – From Selling to Helping: What Actually Works in This Industry

    Most people don’t plan on a career in print—and Zach Fargo didn’t either. In this conversation, Zach shares how he found his way into the industry, why he stayed, and what changed when he stopped focusing on selling and started focusing on helping. From restaurant rollouts and the surprising staying power of physical menus to

    27 min
  2. Ep. 20: 5 Things Gen Z Wants From Your Workplace (That You Can Actually Deliver) THRIVE: CULTURE

    17H AGO

    Ep. 20: 5 Things Gen Z Wants From Your Workplace (That You Can Actually Deliver) THRIVE: CULTURE

    Gen Z isn’t “difficult”. They’re different. This 15‑minute brief breaks down five essentials aspects younger employees expect: Let’s dispense with the “young people don’t want to work” nonsense and lean in to the opportunities to fold them into our companies in ways that benefit everyone Learn more www.piamidam.org/thrive-series.

    17 min
  3. Ep. 19: Production Foundations: Hazardous Waste in Print: The Mistakes That Lead to Cost, Risk, and Compliance Issues

    2D AGO

    Ep. 19: Production Foundations: Hazardous Waste in Print: The Mistakes That Lead to Cost, Risk, and Compliance Issues

    Hazardous waste in print isn’t just about compliance—it’s about safety, cost, and day-to-day operational decisions. In this Production Foundations episode, Janie sits down with Xon Post (Clean Earth) and Teresa Campbell (PIA MidAmerica) to break down what plant managers need to know. They cover: Where print shops get into trouble What’s often misunderstood about waste

    26 min
  4. Ep. 18: The Invisible Shortlist: How to Get Your Print Shop Chosen Before Buyers Ever Talk to You THRIVE: MARKETING

    2D AGO

    Ep. 18: The Invisible Shortlist: How to Get Your Print Shop Chosen Before Buyers Ever Talk to You THRIVE: MARKETING

    The Invisible Shortlist: How to Get Your Print Shop Chosen Before Buyers Ever Talk to You Modern buyers build their shortlists long before they talk to a sales rep. This fast, practical session shows you how to make your shop findable, credible, and irresistible online, so you stop getting cut early and start getting called

    13 min
  5. Ep. 17: Wide Format Deep Dive: From Film to Smart Finishing — What’s Really Changing

    APR 8

    Ep. 17: Wide Format Deep Dive: From Film to Smart Finishing — What’s Really Changing

    In this Wide Format Deep Dive, we sit down with Chris Manley, President of Graphco, to explore how print has evolved from engineering drawing reproduction to today’s highly automated, digitally driven production environments. The conversation moves beyond equipment to focus on where wide format is headed: the growing importance of digital finishing, increasing substrate complexity,

    37 min
  6. Ep. 16: 8-Touch Rule is Dead: Why Modern B2B Prospecting Needs 12+ Touchpoints (And How to Do It Without Burning Out)   THRIVE: SALES

    APR 7

    Ep. 16: 8-Touch Rule is Dead: Why Modern B2B Prospecting Needs 12+ Touchpoints (And How to Do It Without Burning Out)   THRIVE: SALES

    The 8-Touch Rule is dead. Today’s buyers often need 12+ thoughtful interactions before they’ll take a meeting. This 15-minute session shares a simple, modern multi-touch cadence, specific examples by channel, and practical tips to stay consistent without feeling spammy or burning out. Learn more www.piamidam.org/thrive-series.

    18 min
  7. Ep. 15: Leadership Bites. A conversation with Rob Styacich – Perspective of Relationships in Business and the Joys and Pressure of Ownership

    APR 7

    Ep. 15: Leadership Bites. A conversation with Rob Styacich – Perspective of Relationships in Business and the Joys and Pressure of Ownership

    In this Leadership Bites episode, Rob Styacich shares perspective on his career, the economy of relationships, what it is like to own a company, and perspective for peers and those up and coming in the industry.

    18 min
  8. Ep. 14: Psychological Safety: How Everyday Behaviors Build (or Break) Trust on the Shop Floor and Everywhere THRIVE: CULTURE

    APR 7

    Ep. 14: Psychological Safety: How Everyday Behaviors Build (or Break) Trust on the Shop Floor and Everywhere THRIVE: CULTURE

    Psychological safety is the missing link between culture, safety, and quality in and around your shop. In this 15‑minute brief, we’ll explore what it is, how everyday reactions from leaders shape it, and simple, repeatable behaviors that help people speak up before problems, mistakes, or injuries escalate. Learn more www.piamidam.org/thrive-series.

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Print & Packaging Lab is a place where ideas are tested, challenged, and refined—together. Each episode explores the real decisions and practical information facing print and packaging professionals today, from operations and production to leadership, sales, marketing, and workforce development. This isn’t theory or hype. It’s thoughtful conversation grounded in experience, experimentation, and what’s actually working across the industry. Whether you run a company, manage a team, or are building your next phase in print, The Print & Packaging Lab offers perspective you can use. PIA MidAmerica helps print and packaging companies run stronger, more connected businesses—through workforce programs, leverage, data, and industry collaboration. Bottom line, whether a company is focused on growth, workforce, or operational clarity, PIA MidAmerica is here to support and to identify ways to reduce costs, improve performance, and strengthen teams.

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