March & April 2026

March and April kept things moving around here. From a record month on press and Laura’s promotion to a group of Quality Champions doing their thing and a safety scavenger hunt that turned into a full-on race, it’s been a full couple of months.

Add in a perfectly guessed jelly bean count and a well-earned retirement, and there’s been a lot worth calling out.

This issue is packed with the people, moments, and small wins that make this place what it is!

ImPRESSive Records!

Sometimes a month comes along that makes you stop and say… wow.
Our Carol Stream press team just shattered a monthly production record that had stood for years, setting a new standard for press performance at PPI.
Records are meant to be broken. This team made sure of it.

Leading the Way

Please join us in congratulating **Laura G** on her promotion to **Lead Senior Account Coordinator** — a title that is incredibly well deserved.
Over the past 14 years, Laura has played a hand in training every account coordinator and sales rep on our team, along with supporting several other departments across the company. She manages some of our largest customer accounts with remarkable attention to detail, professionalism, and a calm, steady approach that keeps everything running smoothly.
Simply put, Laura makes the entire team better.
We’re grateful for the leadership, knowledge, and consistency she brings every day. The PPI team is lucky to have her.

QUALITY CHAMPIONS

March is the Month of Martin at PPI.

This month, we’re proud to recognize two Quality Champions who share the same first name and the same commitment to doing things the right way: Martin L. and Martin V.

Quality at PPI isn’t just about processes or specifications. It’s about the mindset of the people behind the work.

Martin L. consistently demonstrates that mindset through his attention to detail and willingness to step in where the team needs him most. His dedication to quality and teamwork recently stood out as he supported the slitting team, helping ensure product was prepared and ready to move forward to the customer.

Martin V. brings the same ownership to every day on the floor. When something doesn’t appear fully aligned with customer specifications, he takes the time to ask the question and confirm the right path forward. That level of engagement helps reinforce our standards and strengthen our processes.

From teamwork and problem solving to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, both Martins represent what being a PPI Quality Champion is all about.

Thank you both for the pride you bring to your work and the example you set for the entire team.

Before diving into forecasts, strategy sessions, and the year ahead, we made time to connect.
Our annual sales meeting started at Topgolf, a little friendly competition before getting down to business. Nothing better than getting the whole crew together and kicking things off the right way.

April in Carol Stream:

This month, we’re recognizing Carlos H. (Converting) and Andy A. (Extrusion) as Quality Champions.

Carlos brings a strong level of focus to the converting floor, staying engaged in the process and ensuring everything is aligned so production runs smoothly. His attention to detail and accountability help keep things moving in the right direction.

Andy’s deep understanding of extrusion and commitment to precision stand out day in and day out. His awareness and consistency help ensure we are running to the standard we hold ourselves to across every job.

Both Carlos and Andy demonstrate what quality ownership looks like in action. From setup to execution, they play an important role in supporting the consistency and reliability our customers depend on.

Thank you both for the pride you bring to your work and the example you set for the team.

At our Sparta facility, quality shows up through awareness, ownership, and the people who take pride in doing things the right way.

This April, we’re recognizing Wyatt and Riva as Quality Champions.

Wyatt demonstrated strong quality ownership by staying alert and speaking up in the moments that matter. His awareness and quick action gave the team the opportunity to evaluate and ensure everything met our standard before moving forward. That kind of attention and accountability helps keep our operation strong.

Riva consistently brings a quality-first mindset to everything she does. She takes pride in her work, pays close attention to detail, and approaches every task with a positive attitude. Whether running her line or supporting the team where needed, her willingness to step in and help makes a meaningful impact every day.

Both Wyatt and Riva represent what it means to take ownership of quality and support the team around them.

Thank you both for the pride you bring to your work and the example you set.

Safety Scavenger Hunt

Jelly Bean Fiend

Sparta’s April morale challenge was guessing how many jelly beans were in the jar, and John somehow nailed the exact number.
Not close. Not rounded. Exact.
We’re all just trying to live up to that level of precision now.

Retirement

We celebrated the retirement of Charles (“Chuck”), who has been part of our team as an Electro/Mechanical Technician.

In his time with PPI, Chuck brought valuable experience and support to the team, helping keep things running the way they should. His contributions, especially in a role that touches so much behind the scenes, did not go unnoticed.

We appreciate the time and effort he put in during his time here and wish him all the best in retirement.

Enjoy what’s next, Chuck. You’ve earned it. 👏

Personified Times