Commentary
This month, Commentary is provided by guest editorialist,
Ryan Montgomery, President of the Midwest Aerosol Association (MAA).
6 Spray March 2020
SPRAY Technology & Marketing
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Volume 30, No. 3, March 2020
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“Smooth seas do not
make skillful sailors...”
As we start a new decade, and the 49th year of the Midwest Aerosol Association,
I reflect on the challenges of our past and the new opportunities on the
horizon. As an industry, we’ve overcome numerous obstacles but still face
many of the same challenges today. Constantly evolving regulatory issues, aerosol can
recyclability and promotion of the aerosol package to a new generation are just as
important today as they were 20 years ago. New challenges like labor shortages, global
uncertainty and the most diverse consumer set in U.S. history add further complexity
to our great industry.
To combat the challenges of yesterday and approach the opportunities of tomorrow,
we need to unite as an industry. If you’re not a member of your regional association,
become one and get involved. Ask yourself, How can I, how can my company
address the challenges we all face? What can I contribute to the industry? What am I doing to
grow the pie?
Founded in 1971, the Midwest Aerosol Association is a nonprofit organization
consisting of companies in all phases of the aerosol packaging industry. Our membership
consists of contract packagers, brand name marketers, component and raw material
suppliers, equipment manufacturers and industry consultants. Our mission is to
further educate and promote the viability of the aerosol package to our members and
the general public by offering information and ideas on technology, regulatory, marketing
and packaging issues. If your company falls into one of these buckets, and you
are not a member of the MAA or another regional association, you should be. Along
with my fellow board members at the MAA, we are proud to be moving forward with
an exciting agenda in 2020 and don’t want you to miss out.
The MAA will have several members attending the 2nd Aerosol Summit (Vision
2020) in Nashville, TN this month. We feel this is a great opportunity to unite as an
industry and we look forward to building on this collaboration for future events.
Our Annual Spring Dinner Meeting will be held May 14 at Top Golf in St. Louis,
MO. Please join us for what is sure to be a memorable event. The evening starts with
a cocktail hour, followed by dinner and a speech from Jeff Kronforst of IKI Manufacturing.
After dinner, attendees will head out to one of the reserved golf bays for an
evening of fun and networking with industry peers.
The MAA Golf Outing will be held August 13 at Seven Bridges Golf Club in
Woodridge, IL. I hope you will join us for what has become the industry’s most wellattended
social event.
As part of our commitment to education, the MAA sponsors the Aerosol Can
Races that take place in the middle of the 6th inning at the Schaumburg Boomers
minor league baseball games in Illinois. Prior to the start of each game, the MAA
sponsors an anti-huffing message on the video billboard directed at parents of teens
and pre-teens and is presented by a member of the Boomers team.
I hope all of you will take the time to get involved with your regional and national
associations. My goal as President of the MAA is to continue to grow our association,
assist our corporate members in making an impact and continue to drive collaboration
with the other associations.
As the great Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort—
that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization
work.”
Ryan Montgomery
President, Midwest Aerosol Association