As a child, Ben grew up in a racially diverse neighborhood in Chicago. After moving to the east coast he watched, with curious eyes, as his father worked as the CFO of a camera business. During college, he worked on the camera company’s assembly line with people from very different economic realities. These experiences sparked Ben’s interest in supporting community and building business—two aims that would remain consistent throughout his career. 

The next leg of Ben’s career began in a paperboard and folding carton manufacturing company. Working his way up to Plant Manager in only five years, Ben mastered the skills he would soon use when he made the bold decision to break out and start a management consulting firm with his dear friend, Andy, and his wife, Jennie. Before long, Ben was traveling across the country, helping companies create tighter operating controls, superior performance, and increased profits. When PPC began to suffer from decreased engagement, shrinking membership numbers, and lost revenue, they asked Ben to take over. With a newly expanded team, Ben used his business and leadership skills to turn the association into a newly thriving organization.

Outside work, Ben loves to spend time with his family, serve on numerous nonprofit boards, and walk the many hills of his town, Ashfield, Massachusetts, where he has exceeded 10,000 steps per day, 365 days a year, for over six years without a miss. Obsessive and compulsive? Maybe! But he’s also compulsive about community, elevating our team, and making a difference.

Susie Stitzel is Esko’s Director of Product Management for Design & 3D Solutions. Susie has more than 25 years of experience in the design, prepress, printing, and packaging industries. Her roles have covered a wide spectrum of the industry, including design and prepress management, customer training and support, product management and strategy development. Susie is completely passionate about packaging – to the point that her family will no longer shop with her. She has assisted universities and schools with their packaging curriculum and has enjoyed serving on the Advisory Board for the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Susie is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the HOW Design and FUSE conferences, the Paperboard Packaging Council, the Brand Protection Conference, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and for the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA). She can be reached via e-mail at: susie.stitzel@esko.com.

Susie Stitzel is Esko’s Director of Product Management for Design & 3D Solutions. Susie has more than 25 years of experience in the design, prepress, printing, and packaging industries. Her roles have covered a wide spectrum of the industry, including design and prepress management, customer training and support, product management and strategy development. Susie is completely passionate about packaging – to the point that her family will no longer shop with her. She has assisted universities and schools with their packaging curriculum and has enjoyed serving on the Advisory Board for the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Susie is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the HOW Design and FUSE conferences, the Paperboard Packaging Council, the Brand Protection Conference, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and for the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA). She can be reached via e-mail at: susie.stitzel@esko.com.

Eric Frank has garnered more than 40 years in the printing industry, first as a 17-year veteran with a major press manufacturer and now 18 additional years with Koenig & Bauer North America, Inc.  A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from RIT as well as an associate degree in Printing from New York City Technical College. He has served and is currently serving as executive representative to several prominent industry associations. He currently holds the position of senior vice president of marketing and product management overseeing marketing, public relations, product management, sales operations, CRM, and the customer center.

I have 20 years’ experience in the paperboard and packaging industry. Through my tenure I have held a variety of roles from helper on a die cutter to Finishing Manager. I enjoy through my position the ability to build partnerships with our customers and become the link from converting to successfully representing the Brand they are building. Ultimately once a package is made it is an advertising tool promoting the brands and products. It is important that that through the converting process the brand image and representation depict the image the company desires to represent. The ability to do this is the Value we strive to bring to the process.

Harold Leete is an accomplished sales executive with over 25 years of experience in the printing and packaging industry. Currently serving as the North America Director of Sales for the Folding Carton division at BOBST, Harold leads a team of Regional Sales Managers and oversees national accounts for companies with multiple manufacturing locations across North America. Before this role, he spent nearly 11 years at HP Inc., where he held various positions, including HP Indigo Sales Account Manager and Business Development Manager for Industrial Print.

Harold’s career also includes significant experience as a Regional Sales Manager at BOBST and sales roles at Heidelberg and Bottcher America Corp. His expertise spans folding cartons, digital printing, print on demand, offset printing, and packaging. Earlier in his career, Harold served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, where he completed several leadership courses and earned the distinction of Honor Graduate in the Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course.

Bill is currently the Product Manager, Postpress Packaging with Heidelberg USA Inc., with a focus on folder gluers and die cutters in the US.  As a graduate of Liberty University, Bill began his professional career with Jagenberg USA Inc. in 1990.  He received his industry and technical training at the US operation in Enfield, CT with additional training and certification at the world headquarters in Neuss, Germany and die cutter certification in Barcelona, Spain, with continual recurrent training in Heidelberg, Germany. Bill has gained unique technical experience in his 34+ years of extensive travel both in the US and internationally, sharing his knowledge, insight, and technical solutions now offered by Heidelberg for both equipment and process.  He is a happily married father of five kids with 5 grandbabies, with #6 expected in September.  And of course, he can’t leave out Remi, the family dog and daily office companion when not traveling.