Hello Loves!

You all know that I’ve been going through some pretty difficult times lately. After I had my surgery in December 2021, I knew it was not going to be an overnight fix to my situation. I knew I was going to have a long road to recovery. What I didn’t know was how difficult and how long. I still don’t really have any clue. I truly didn’t believe that over a year later I would still be struggling with the same things I do…

For starters, anything hand-related, from tying my shoes to brushing my hair, is still a challenge. I just started blow drying my hair again about three months ago! Blouse buttons, forget about it! Very little jewelry: I can handle a few pairs of hoop or dangle earrings, but nothing with a backing.

I cannot grab most anything with any weight to it with one hand. Two is safer; especially if it can spill! I cannot hold onto something with my left hand and reach my open right hand out to grab for something without my left hand opening and dropping whatever it was that I was holding. They mirror image one another (they always have) but now it’s very pronounced and incredibly frustrating! I used to type 80+ words per minute.

This past week I had a mini-meltdown due to these challenges, but that led to this break-through… this newfound need to share some of the details of this struggle. As is true with everything in life, communication is key. And for me, I hope this will be therapeutic.

The task: Run to the 7-11 to pick up drinks and snacks.

Get in the car, drive, go into the store, pick out items, make purchase and go back home. Sounds simple enough, right?

Truth is, I am simply not ready to do these tasks on my own yet. This task is a giant challenge for me. I am able to get myself ready and out of the door. I can drive myself around and operate a vehicle safely. It’s once I enter the parking lot that my challenge begins. As soon as I get out of the car to go into the store, there is a giant step/curb that is clearly out to get me. I don’t know what I ever did to this curb, but it tries to kill me most days… once I have bested the step yet again, I make my attempt to open the door. Most doors I can get. Just not always on my first try.

Inside the store I become more aware of how I feel I must appear to others right now and become self-conscious. Maybe a bit shy. I wonder if they think I am drunk or high. The convenience stores are extra tricky, with the narrow aisles and no carts. I often need to reach an arm or hand out, to help keep myself balanced and not constantly feel like I am going to fall.

If I am going to pick up more than I can carry in just one hand, I need a basket. The problem with the basket is trying to keep my balance while carrying it around, reaching for things and getting them into the basket. If I am going to retrieve something from the fridge, I have to put the basket down, put my purse in the basket and open the fridge to be able to have the proper balance/strength needed to reach up and grab for things.

I cannot even count the number of items I have dropped in stores over the past two years.

Some days this just drags me down and I cannot shake it. It seems there’s no escape. There is not a single thing that I do, that I cannot tell that something is wrong. That something is still very off in my body. I tell myself it will be a good day and to try my hardest.

I know I just told y’all a few articles back that I am focusing on the positive and I am. But I realize I need to communicate the struggles more too. Turn them into positives. I cannot expect you to know or understand how difficult this all has been/continues to be for me. I hope none of you ever have to understand this. Not to the level I experience it! But this lesson is much bigger than me. I realize that if I don’t communicate and share this; the assumption is I am doing much better or that I’m much stronger than I am on my own.

Unfortunately, I am not alone when it comes to struggles with what many would consider everyday simple tasks. And the reasons for such struggles are many. Mine happens to be a rare physical affliction. But the key to managing and overcoming is a combination of awareness, communication, understanding and support. Like myself, I hope others can say I get by with a little help from my friends!

As for me, I am getting stronger every day and I will not give up on that but in the meantime, let’s run to the store together for a little while longer. Or for as long as it takes.



Jennnifer Thoroe,
IADD President

jennifer@steelrule.com

Let’s talk chicken!!

What?

Yeah, it sounds a little weird, but hear me out.

What if I told you I was talking about chickens with one foot?! A dinosaur chicken? Chickens with a wingspan like Jordan?!

Well, you’d probably not think this was any less weird… yet.

I’m talking Lego chickens!!

Recently, I was teamed up in a group of four and we were given a task. The teams were composed of three builders and one designer. I was the designer. My task was to quickly study the design of a Lego chicken and to the best of my ability communicate back to my teammates on how to construct that same chicken.

The challenges were immediate.

First, I was a little anxious. I am not embarrassed to admit that. I am a 40 year old woman and I have never been a designer to a team before.

I realized after studying the print and memorizing the color combo of legos would not work as IADD CEO Jenny Holliday shouted “the colors of the legos do not matter!!” Not only did the color not matter but also, turns out it is also not indicative of a certain size or shape.

Well, crap!

This all would have been useful to know two minutes ago!!!! It seems I may have misused my 90 seconds to study the print!

Sneaking a quick glance at my table (which was NOT allowed), I saw my team had already built an entire chicken. I looked around the room at other teams’ tables. They all had!! WTF?!? Now I realized we had to try and communicate how to redesign work they had already begun… just based off the concept of such a creation. Whoa! Designers had our work cut out for us!

Communication was definitely a challenge here, but it wasn’t the only challenge. There were more variables at play. More things to be considered.

Not only did we have to try to communicate how to properly build a chicken but also try to convince our teams to make the changes needed to be able to build the proper chicken. There was a point system involved that allowed the builders opportunity to speak to their designer more as well as go back to the “lego store” to trade out pieces for a redesign.

The goal of course was points!! In the real world; points are money.

There were so, so many things that I loved about this challenge.

It was interactive. It tested team-skills. It tested communication skills. It produced a lot of creative Lego chickens!

The thing I loved most of all?! TAKING FIRST PLACE!!!! Just kidding. Although it’s up there!!

What I love most is that I am able to get past my anxieties now with my IADD family. I look around the room now and I am able to realize that I am not the only one feeling a little nervous; a little uncomfortable with these types of new challenges. That’s the point. That’s why we’re here. Growth.

I also love that this activity represents only 90 minutes of our Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX, USA in October 2022. I took away valuable lessons from each activity I participated in and every speaker that we had.

Turns out there is quite a lot about the IADD to L-O L-O L-O L-O-V-E (I’m talking ‘bout love)!

If you weren’t able to join us to help us celebrate our 50 years at our Annual in Texas, I do hope you will join us in Milwaukee, WI, USA for our Odyssey Expo trade show. If you can’t make it to an event but still want to get involved, please let me know. I would love to hear from you!


Jennnifer Thoroe,
IADD President

jennifer@steelrule.com

Happy New Year!

There is something exciting about a fresh start to a new year. But it is just a mindset, yes? There is nothing stating that a fresh start has to happen or can only happen at the new year. It can be whenever you set your mind to it. Still, there is some peace and excitement that the new year brings that other starts just don’t. Perhaps it’s because you can officially lay a year down to rest. End the chapter.

2021 and 2022 have both brought me chapters I cannot wait to be done with! 2021 proved to be a challenging, confusing and very scary year for me. 2022 was not all too different, tbh (to be honest).

Usually, I don’t remember New Year’s Day in such detail. But I will never forget New Year’s Day 2021. I got up relatively early, got dressed and was ready to go play a round of disc golf with my brother, Tom and our friend, Aaron. It was a gorgeous day outside but a little chilly! Any time the temp is below mid-70s Fahrenheit (21 Celsisus), I must be in direct sunlight or I will slowly shiver away. I remember we didn’t have a chance to throw any warm up drives. This got me slightly more anxious than normal, but I felt I had properly warned Aaron of my lack of skill here. As I went up for my first drive, I got myself situated, attempted my best to mimic Tom’s approach and successfully drove my frisbee…. maybe 10ft (3m) away right into the ground!

My bro (Tom): “You held on too long.”

Me: “Whatever. You don’t know me.”

Tom: “Try again.”

It was less than 10ft (3m) away. If memory serves, I only had to reach to pick up my disc and not actually take any steps to retrieve it. Anyways, not important! I did a few dry runs before the second attempt, and then tried again!

Tom: “You held on too long.”

Me: “Hmmmm.”

I heard this time and time again for 18 holes. It was so weird! I enjoyed my day outside walking and attempting to toss a frisbee here and there, but I had never thrown a frisbee so terribly! I remember having the thought at the end of the round and stated aloud “It’s like my fingers aren’t doing what my brain is telling them to do. I know I’m bad, but I’m never that bad!”

Aaron and I called it a day for disc golf and Tom hung around for round two. When we parted ways, I attempted to jog back to my car, I noticed it was like I couldn’t find my footing quite right, but it wasn’t that. It was what I now understand to be the gait of my walk. I remember feeling officially unsettled as I started my Jeep and drove back home.

2021 was a year of doctor visits and disabilities for me. My main symptoms: numb/stiff fingers and hands, difficulty reaching arms above head, improper gait, lower back and hip stiffness, overall muscle weakness, muscle spasms and major balance struggles. Basically, I operated as if living in a drunken toddler’s body.

By March I had been diagnosed with Anky-losing Spondylitis (AS). All I can really say is that it sounds more fun than it is. What I had to do for this was IV treatments with a rheumatologist. In September I felt like I was losing my mind just waiting and hoping this treatment will work while it seemed my conditions worsened or plateaued with no hints of improvement. I decided to go to another rheumatologist for a second opinion. What bothered me most about being diagnosed with AS was it didn’t really speak to my finger/hand immobility. The second rheumatologist was immediately taken aback watching me operate and sent me to a neurologist. After some simple strength and reaction tests, I was sent for an MRI.

Jackpot!

It was late November that I was finally in front of the neurologist reviewing my MRI. I was being told I had a severely pinched spinal chord at my C3/C4 discs in my neck that would require surgery. It is a fairly common condition that does not always require surgery, but I had an arthritic build up on these discs so severe that it was not allowing for my spinal fluid to flow.

In early December I was in front of a surgeon who stated he couldn’t get me in right away and scheduled me for early January. What could I do? I had to wait.

As fate would have it, I heard back from Dr. Alexander Hughes from HSS, Hospital for Special Surgery. I had submitted my MRI to the hospital, hoping to catch someone’s attention, and it paid off! My brother took me into the city to Dr. Hughes’ office on Thursday, December 16, 2021 (Happy Birthday Tom!). We were back on Monday December 20 for my surgery!

I am still recovering. It’s been just over a year since surgery, by the time you read this. I am healed from that. But that doesn’t mean I’m 100%. Not even close. There are multiple things to recover from. Nerves heal slowly. Approx 1mm/day (.034") from what I can gather. I have a long road ahead of me yet. I will keep my focus on the positive, but will not shy away from sharing with you my challenges. If you have questions for me, please ask me.

It’s like I’m learning to walk again. I believe I’ve waited long enough. Learning to talk again. Can’t you see I’ve waited long enough?

I am certain I will refer back to this journey and challenge many times throughout my term. I have learned more lessons in this journey than in most others I’ve endeavored. Hands down, the most powerful lesson of them all was I learned how to ask for help when I need it. That may seem little but I promise you, it’s HUGE.

I can’t do this without you, loves. So, I will ask you for your help, and I hope that you will.


Jennnifer Thoroe,
IADD President

jennifer@steelrule.com

Hello Loves!

I find myself facing the challenge of article two. The thing is, it’s October 3rd and I really want to write about my experience at the South Chapter Golf Outing that I attended last month. But this article comes out for our December edition, so how can I pass on writing all things holiday related?

You can see the pickle I find myself in.

But I like a good challenge… What to do, what to do?

I know! I am going to talk about my South Chapter experience, just like I wanted but I am going to ask you, my loves, to see the parallel I drew.

Why do I want to share this with you? DG (Darrel Griffin, Stafford Cutting Dies, Inc.) will do his annual write up on it to tell you how kick ass it was, like he has 14 years in a row. So why am I insisting to do the same? Because my experience of this trip had spirit from start to finish. This trip truly captured the spirit of the IADD strongly for me. And in my eyes, it’s no different than the holiday spirit.

So, here’s my experience.

It was an early Wednesday morning start. I needed to leave the house no later than 6 am. Although I have experienced plenty of travel at this point in my career, I am only slowly finding my rhythm again as I re-emerge into the travel world. Both my recovery and minimal travel during the Pandemic have thrown me off my game a bit. As my fourth Uber driver cancelled on me, I began to feel my travel anxieties awaken. I climbed back up the stairs as I tried to lull them back to sleep. It was my brother who I needed awake! I knocked on his bedroom door and informed him Plan B was a go and then “patiently” waited for him to get the sand out of his eyes and his butt in the car! We bickered as we pulled out of the driveway in his car, running on fumes, as mine sat idle with a full tank.

Ten minutes into our commute, I could see that the traffic pattern wasn’t quite the norm. An accident had added at least 30 minutes… It’s at this point that I’m able to release the majority of my anxiety. Clearly the universe wants me to run out of gas on the side of the highway and find a different flight! This is out of my hands and whatever shall be shall be. Tom (my brother) and I relaxed into conversation for the remainder of the ride. Maybe a little too relaxed… One extra loop around the airport and finally I’m ready for the airport challenge of this journey! Once inside, and I still don’t know why, but a security guard led me right to the front of the line. Whatever the reason, I was grateful! I was in my seat and able to check my phone before take off, and I saw that Tommy Boy was able to make it to a gas station and was even to the office early. Whew!

When I landed in Charlotte, NC, USA, Rob Melbert, Essential Products, picked me up at the airport. We chatted off each other’s ears until we got to Stafford Cutting Dies Inc. Once at Stafford, DG joined in the chats and brought us up to speed on what’s been done and what was left to do. With the help of Jennifer Caskey, Cliff Little and Austin Murray (Stafford), we packed the cars up and headed to Jamestown, NC, USA.

Once in Jamestown, we assembled our Bag Crew and got busy! This year’s crew included: DG, Jennifer, Cliff, Austin (Stafford), Jeremy Guest and Chad Craig (Diansuply, Inc.), Gino Gualtieri (Central Die Supplies Inc.), Rob McCann (Bobst North America Inc.), Rick Putch and myself (National Steel Rule Co.). On year 15, I gotta say, we are impressive. We had the gift bags done in no time and ventured over to Ruby Tuesday’s to see what’s on tap!

Our Thursday morning for the outing started early. We ordered some breakfast to go, loaded the cars back up and headed to the golf course. The course welcomed us right in and let us get organized and set up. As golfers and volunteers alike trickled in, I couldn’t help but smile. Although I’m not quite recovered enough to golf yet, it felt good to get out. I gave out hugs left and right and saw some faces I haven’t seen in years.

While Austin and I had a fabulous day together, riding around in the Rehydrate Cart, snapping pics, making new friends and chatting with old ones, we couldn’t help but notice we weren’t quite as in demand as the Dehydrate Cart driven by Anne Barrett (Carton Craft Supply Inc.) and Sarah Farley (Ameritek, Inc.). Hmmm.

Around 1:30 or 2:00pm, we switched gears and drove back to the clubhouse, so we could get the gazebos ready for the barbeque and prizes. As we pulled up, I saw a tuft of white hair that made me blink my eyes and do a double take. Clint Medlock has arrived. WHAT? That guy is so cool! I had tried my best to not discuss at all with any of my fellow volunteers that DG was going to be honored with an IADD Pillar Award. I wasn’t sure if his fellow Stafford colleagues knew or not. (They did not).

As the golfers finished their rounds and settled into the picnic benches with heaping plates of Cookie’s ‘Que, DG gave thanks to all of the golfers for coming out. Gino Gualtieri took over the mic to present DG with his very deserving award. Darrel was honored with his Pillar Award. It was so neat to see him receive the award in front of some fellow Stafford folk. They all should be proud. I know I am!

As the event broke up and people headed home for the day, I helped clean up and firmed up plans with the stragglers and locals. I had a lovely evening out with Sarah Farley, Rob McCann, Anne Barrett, Jerome Wojciechowski and Rick Ruckh (Carton Craft Supply Inc.), Gino Gualtieri, Ed Riga (Impact Alliance LLC), Wade Hartman and Mark Gocklin (Keystone Folding Box Co.). The weather stayed perfect for us and we all enjoyed each other’s company and good conversation. I think the food was good, but I’ll be honest… I was still so full of Gary Cooke’s barbeque, I barely ate!! The company is why I was there anyway though. I got to sit down with a group of people that I really, really enjoy and just hang out. We bull-frogged all night, whatever that means?!?! (I’m still not sure I get it!)

Rob McCann earned himself a 5-Star Uber rating making early morning rounds gathering a few bodies to bring with him to the airport. Wade, Mark, Rob and I all had early flights back to Newark, NJ, USA. Thank goodness for these guys! They all helped get me through Greensboro’s, NC, USA airport and made sure I was all good once we’d landed in Newark.

See what I mean? How can I not be proud to be your Lady Prez? Y’all treated me and each other with such respect and kindness. It’s times like these you learn to live again. It’s times like these you give and give again.

THIS is the IADD spirit. And I felt it strong. Keep it alive and well, my loves!

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!


Jennnifer Thoroe,
IADD President

jennifer@steelrule.com

Hello Loves!

I very graciously accepted the role of President-Elect for the IADD full on knowing I was/am terrified of it. I had passed on this opportunity in the past because of that. But I kept hearing that annoying little voice inside of me that challenges every thought I have. I didn’t want to be the first female. I already don’t like the thought of all the attention the role brings. I didn’t want to commit at the wrong time. Am I technical enough? I mean after all, what do I know about diemaking and diecutting? Is Secret Service provided to me or do I have to provide my own? My list of concerns goes on and on...

But eventually, I realized it came down to this: I don’t want to let anyone down. When I swam through all of my sub-fears and landed on this main fear, I knew I could no longer buy into the reasons I had turned the role down in the past. I knew, if the opportunity should ever present itself again, I’d toss my name in for the chance. I had really thrown myself into the thought of what this all means for me and it was not an easy yes for me. It took me years to get here. But somehow, I feel it’s exactly where I am meant to be right now.

So, I am the first lady prez. Turns out, it was supposed to be me. Big Deal!! Seriously, it is! And I am proud of it. But also, so what? Big Deal. Don’t like it? That’s okay. But baby, I was born this way. So, plz kindly get over it. Thank you.

I have come to realize that there is no “right” time. Life will throw you curve balls that you can’t even dream of. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of them. Even when I felt I was finally mentally ready for this next step, a new curve was thrown. Mainly a “fun” story for future articles… All I’ll say now is that I am beyond fortunate to have had immediate past-prez Gino Gualtieri tag on an extra year to his term due to unprecedented times/circumstances with the pandemic. That time has allowed me to knock some of those curve balls out of the park! The way I feel about the time being right or wrong for an experience like this is; you simply must decide if you think this is an experience that you are willing to make some sacrifices for or not. Because no matter when the timing lines up, there will be some needed.

Does my technical level truly matter? Do I need to be the expert of everything there is to know? Doubtful. If anything, that would probably be a major turn off. What I do have is very good listening skills. I will hear you, and I will help you.

I hope my strength in connecting with people and connecting people with one another continues to grow. I want to deepen our connections with our existing members to help identify their needs and share or come up with new solutions just as much as I want to bring new members in. I feel that no matter what I say or how I lead, I will have some haters. But I hope they are few. I hope more than anything that my passion for learning and sharing knowledge in positive ways helps many and even proves to inspire some to embark upon their own IADD journey.

So, finally my loves, we are here. Now is the time where the “Elect” drops off my title and I begin to serve you humbly as President.

Saying thank you to the amazing Gualtieri family doesn’t even begin to cover it. Much love to you all! I also want to give a special thank you to the owners: Eddie Mucci, David Bialoglow and BethAnn Bialoglow-Masiello as well as all of the amazing employees who make up National Steel Rule for their continued support. I hope my honest approach and truest effort serves you all well. Because I don’t doubt for a second that this continuation of my IADD journey will prove to be one of the best experiences for me.


Let’s do this!!!!

Jennnifer Thoroe,
IADD President

jennifer@steelrule.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

For those of you who have been keeping count (other than myself, I don’t know that there are very many of you out there…LOL) this is my 36th and final President’s Column. When I accepted the position of IADD president, it was supposed to have been 24 months…not 36! Thank you for bearing with me through all this time.

To say that so much has happened over the past three years is an understatement. I went back to read my introduction column from late 2019. In it, I wrote of “turbulent years” and “a general sense of uneasiness” about the market and business in general. I know things were not easy then, but I had no idea of just how things were going to go over throughout my term.

I don’t want to rehash how the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us all for a loop and upended our businesses and our lives, but it is impossible to ignore it when looking back from 2020 to 2022. We were basically looking at each other on computer screens for a two-year period due to disappointing, but necessary, travel and medical restrictions.

Everyone interacting with the IADD adapted well and enthusiastically worked together to develop online resources and content. Online Board meetings, committee meetings, chapter meetings, supplier spotlights, info sessions on technical and business-related topics, online Xchange, Annual meetings in 2020 and 2021, etc. Volunteers and members really turned out to support.

Probably the biggest disappointment of my term as president was having had to cancel our world-famous event, Odyssey Expo, that was supposed to have been held in May of 2021. A lot of work and preparation went into this show that was not to be. The cancellation is still having lingering effects on our Association, but we are looking to make up for it with the next iteration, scheduled for May of 2023 in Milwaukee, WI, USA. It will be a great one! People are itching to get back together, so I hope to see you there!

There are so many people that I want to thank for their support during my three years. First, I want to thank my colleagues at Central Die Supplies, in both our Montreal and Toronto, Canada offices. I never used to close the door to my office because I wanted everyone to feel that I am always available to help when necessary. However, over the past few years, I have had to close my door many times to work on IADD projects or committee meetings. Thank you for your support and patience.

I am the first president in a long time to deal with a CEO transition. Cindy Crouse was CEO during the first year and a half of my term, then Jenny Holliday became CEO, and has been so for the last year and a half. It is a great privilege to have been able to serve with both. I know that I did not make their jobs easier, but they both certainly did so for me. Thanks to Cindy and Jenny for their professionalism and thoroughness.

Next, I want to thank the rest of the IADD staff. At the beginning of my term, there were five members at the head office, but when the pandemic broke out, in short order, we had the unfortunate situation of losing two of them due to personal circumstances. That left Leanne Schimming as the only other person on staff with Cindy and Jenny. This was the case for several months. Among the three, they were forced to split up and share, as well as prioritize, all the tasks that five were doing beforehand, on top of dealing with the “new normal” and difficulties. Thank you to Leanne for your perseverance and creativity, and to staff members who have joined the team and help us to move forward in so many ways: Cassi Mills, Sarah Beste and Katie Sweeney.

I have been on so many Committee Zoom calls over the past three years that it is difficult to quantify, but I want to say how great it is to see the enthusiasm with which these volunteers take time out of their business work schedules to contribute to IADD projects.

The last three presidents that I had a chance to serve with on the Board before I became president were Darrel Griffin of Stafford Cutting Dies, Jeremy Guest of Diansuply and Shaun Larson of Jonco Die Company. Thank you to them for serving as role models for me and for offering guidance when asked.

To my fellow Board members, I am grateful to have had such an amazing group to work with. We have gone through so much together in the past years and the current strong position of the IADD is due in no small part to your contributions. As well, I want to thank our Board members’ employers for their generosity in sharing their team members with the IADD. Without exception, our Board members are top performers in their respective companies, so when they are away from their regular company duties working on IADD projects and meetings, it can be a burden at times.

Last and certainly not least, I want to thank my family for their support. If you’ve read some of my previous columns, you will know a little bit about them. I have often had to do extra work in evenings and on weekends, so I appreciate their understanding, especially from my wife Rosa, who coordinates all the home and kids’ activities, in addition to her other jobs.

Although I will still be around for another two years of support in my position of Immediate Past President, as well as being Chair of the Odyssey organizing committee, I believe that I will be leaving the Association in the good hands of our incoming President, Jennifer Thoroe of National Steel Rule Co., and President-Elect, Robert McCann of Bobst North America Inc., as well as all the other volunteers on our Board of Directors. We have an amazing group of people, and it has truly been an honor for me to serve with all of you.

I’m not a camper, but there is a motto in camping that says to leave the surroundings in at least the same condition that you arrived to them. When I took over the presidency of the Association, my hope and wish were to work with our IADD staff and industry volunteers to, just like that motto, leave it in as good a condition as it was in October 2019. I don’t know if I can say that, but I am confident that the future looks bright.

Take care,

Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

One of the highest rated and most valuable benefits presented to IADD members during the past 50 years has been the opportunity to visit the operations of a variety of diemaking, diecutting and manufacturing facilities.

In this ninth, and final, article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022 in San Antonio, TX, USA we will explore how open houses are such a popular attraction and beneficial to both attendees and hosts when they are offered as a meeting option for an IADD event.

Thanks to the generosity of numerous companies of all types and sizes, we’ve been able to see first-hand the many facets of business operations, plant management, warehousing and production, all within the converting industry. Often, these tours are accompanied by educational programming designed to enhance attendees’ experiences and to encourage better communication throughout the production chain.

For example, diemakers who are able to visit various diecutting plants develop a more thorough understanding of how the tools they create are being used (and abused). They may be able to spot circumstances that impact future design or discover questions they should be asking their customers before fulfilling their purchase order.

On the other hand, diecutters who watch dies being made in real time gain a better knowledge and appreciation of the craft, technical expertise and components which go into the tool, furthering greater understanding of pricing and production times.

All attendees agree that being exposed to the entire process leads to a more thorough recognition of the problems and challenges faced by their suppliers and customers and strengthening a team approach to identifying solutions.

So many companies have partnered with IADD to open their doors throughout the years that it would be impossible to list them all here. However, to give you a variety of the scope of experiences which have been provided, here are a few (some names have since changed):

Ace Dies Alliance Packaging AmeriKen Bobst Canada/Bobst North America City Stamp Works Craftsman Cutting Dies Data Technology/Gerber Die Techs ELCEDE Fibre Containers Graphic Coating Heidelberg USA, Inc. Jellco Container Jonco Die Co. Inc. K & D Graphics

Markal Finishing MarquipWardUnited ModPac National Steel Rule Nor Cal Design, Inc. Pacific West Coast Die Preco RotoMetrics Sakurai Sonoco SouthEastern Die/Atlas Die Synergy Tooling Thomson National Press US Steel Rule Dies

Dozens more companies have made their facilities available to students at technical colleges and high schools, as well as scout troops (Be prepared!), in an effort to educate the future workforce about the industry.

You may be surprised to learn that the benefits of holding open houses and plant tours can be as great as attending them. Hosts have found that sharing their expertise positions them as a leader in the industry and increases their visibility with customers and potential customers. They get to “show off” their premises as well as the technology they are using for production. Their employees are also proud to showcase the company and their talents and to be recognized as experts in their field.

An important note is to know that no IADD member can be excluded from an IADD-sanctioned event if they wish to attend. This means that an open house host cannot bar their competitors from visiting their facility, though they can limit access to proprietary products and processes and also to restricted areas.

Nevertheless, when polled, meeting attendees overwhelmingly request plant tours, so it’s a great way for hosts to have an instrumental role in an engaging event with their community.

Unfortunately, for the last couple of years, the worldwide pandemic negatively impacted our ability to get together face-to-face. Now that we have discovered the power of remote access through video communication, as well as have begun learning how to safely navigate in-person gatherings, it’s time to begin planning for future open houses and plants tours. I would like to invite you to consider working with an IADD local chapter and the staff to become a host.

P.S.: I want to thank IADD staff, and in particular Cindy Crouse, Jenny Holliday and Leanne Schimming, for their help in putting the information together for this column.

Take care,

Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

Many things about the IADD have changed over the past 50 years, but one thing that has remained consistent throughout is the strength and vitality the association enjoys because of the unfailing support of its volunteers. In fact, the association would not exist if it weren’t for the efforts of an insightful and dedicated group of industry leaders.

In this eighth article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022 in San Antonio, TX, USA we will explore just how important volunteer support has been to the growth and success of the IADD.

During the 1960s and ‘70s, the monthly publication called Diemaking, Diecutting and Converting magazine was the common link of communication throughout the industry. In the October 1969 issue, Editor Walter Kubilius asked his readers if there would be any interest in forming an industry association. Although the response the magazine received was very positive, the groundwork necessary to bring it all together took a few years.

In March of 1971, the First Annual Symposium on Diemaking and Diecutting was held in York, England. This “first-of-its-kind” program was jointly organized by W. Notting Ltd. and PIRA (Printing Industry Research Association), both of London. The program was a commendable first step toward industry unity and open exchange of information, as DD&C magazine had proposed to United States diemakers and diecutters. It was followed by a symposium in April 1972 at the Warwick Hotel in New York, NY USA where 136 diemakers and diecutters enthusiastically confirmed the need for a formalized association. The national association became a reality on October 31, 1972 at the Ambassador Hotel in Chicago, IL USA when the following officers were elected to serve:

President: S. Ray Miller, Jr., Atlas Steel Rule Die Inc.
1st Vice President: Ben Kenny, Die-Cut Specialty Co.
2nd Vice President: Tom McAdam, J.F. Helmold & Bro. Inc.
Secretary: Phil Saunders, Container Graphics Corp.
Assistant Secretary: Robert L. Larson, Boston Cutting Die Co.
Treasurer: David K. Hart, Cir-Cut Corp.
Corresponding Secretary: John T. Connor, DD&C Magazine
Publicity & Program Director: William L. Edgell, DD&C Magazine

We owe a debt of gratitude to these visionaries, who became the first of thousands to assist the IADD in meeting its goals over the years. In June of 1974, the Midwest Chapter was formed, soon followed by chapters in the Eastern and Western US. In February 1975, the association hired paid management staff, but it was the tireless ingenuity, leadership and hands-on participation of members who created such projects as technical programming, Recommended Specifications (1979), Industry Standards (1991), rule bending module (1992), credit classes at New York City Technical College (1997), Odyssey Expo (2001), TechTeam™ (2004) and IADD Diecutting Academy (2020), just to name a few. In fact, behind every valuable product or service that has been a catalyst for new memberships and is directly responsible for increasing the technical content of the magazine and IADD website, you will find a team of volunteers working together with the paid staff.

Throughout the years, volunteers have provided leadership and direction through their board and committee service. The IADD’s Leadership Guide, a text that is full of great information and serves to give focus to the board’s directors, says that in volunteering “you’ll be working regularly with a group of professionals at the peak of their careers, making decisions that will have a direct impact on the association’s directions, members and staff.”

In the early days, the board of directors was made up of eight volunteers from across the industry in the USA. Today, the association’s board is made up of nine executive members and ten directors, a diverse group of people from companies around the world and with different experience levels and backgrounds. Our colleagues cover a full gamut of areas of the industry: printing and graphics, folding carton converters, corrugated boxplants, diemakers, diemaking and diecutting consumable product vendors, automated diemaking equipment, steel rule manufacturers, punches, etc.

In 2019, when I started my role as president, it marked a milestone in the Association’s history, as I became the first president from outside of the USA. At the end of the Annual Meeting comping up in October, we will reach yet another milestone by introducing our first female president for the organization.

The IADD offers many ways for people to get involved, from technical writing to committee work, to chapter support and board positions. As mentioned before, we have had thousands of volunteers over the years, but here is just a small sample of what a couple of current volunteers have said about participating in our association as a volunteer:

“Volunteering is a two-way street. You give and you receive. You contribute based on your interests and skills and then learn from others who have different expertise. Volunteering creates a platform for networking, learning, teaching and advocating for the well-being of the industry,” shares Lisa Boyd of Wagner Die Supplies.

“The knowledge and learning that the IADD provides through its members, and their unselfishness and willingness to share, will give you invaluable skills, knowledge, and learning, adding strength to your character and inspiring you to want to give back to the IADD. The power of the association is providing a personal reward to individuals, now and throughout the future of their careers!” adds Brent Singer of Metsä Board Singapore Pte. Ltd.

It’s great to reflect on the tangible ways volunteers have contributed to the improvement of our industry. There are definitely so many more ways than I have listed in this article, too. From personal experience, I can say that the biggest benefit for me has been meeting and interacting with many of the amazing people in our industry. Each person has a unique background, set of experiences and knowledge that is truly fascinating to get to know industry colleagues who have passion for what they do.

An example of this was this morning (well, the morning of me doing the final touches on this column, not the morning of you reading this column…but I digress) when I saw “IADD Committee meeting, by Zoom” on my calendar. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but my first reaction to being reminded of the call was “Ugh! I’m too busy for a committee call today!” But I called in anyways, and it was such a great call that I came away energized by the exchange of ideas and meeting some people who were new to the association, but who have been around the industry much longer than I have. So often this is the case.

We certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without the help of our volunteers. The association—and our entire industry—evolves when a diverse group of dedicated people works together to find solutions. When we get together and discuss various topics and projects, we don’t always agree on what needs to be done or how to get there. But that is the best way to make things better when everyone has the best intentions.

Thank you to our MANY volunteers! They do what they do for free, but the value of what they do is priceless!

Take care,


Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

When it was formed 50 years ago, IADD’s leaders quickly understood that the key to industry and association success is education. In fact, the IADD’s Statement of Purpose declares, “By sharing collective knowledge, expertise and information, the IADD leads and stimulates creativity and innovation, provides opportunities for professional growth, serves the diverse needs of all industries engaged in diecutting and demonstrates commitment to ensuring progress through participation.” Through the years, the IADD has grown more sophisticated, not only in the topics offered, but in the methods of providing those offerings.

In this seventh article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022 in San Antonio, TX, USA, we will explore just a few of the many examples of how education and training have been among the most important contributions of the IADD to the industry.

Right from the start, the IADD produced high quality, targeted seminars, panels, keynotes and demonstrations, whether it be managerial programs like Managing the Small Rapidly Growing Firm (1977), A Diemaker’s Secret of Success (1978), Financial Planning (1980) or Managing the Manager (1981), or technical programs like Reciprocating Autoplaten Diecutting (1978), Uses of Laser (1980) or CAD-CAM Rule Manufacturing (1983). For five decades, various iterations of education committees, program planning task forces, chapter officers, ad hoc program groups and now the Technical Services Committee have provided valuable content for a multitude of midyear, annual, chapter, Xchange and stand-alone meetings. It’s impossible to state exactly, but looking through the archives, I would estimate that the IADD astoundingly has presented several thousand topics throughout its 50 years!

We know that creating effective training for adult learners requires acknowledging their unique characteristics and tailoring the training accordingly, which is why the IADD continues to expand on the ways that it delivers education to the industry. Not every employee can travel to meetings, so in the early 1980s IADD created a self-teach manual on hand rule bending, complete with pre-lasered dieboard. Also popular were a series of printed publications covering in-depth technical topics on both the flat and rotary sides of the industry. As time elapsed and technology improved, these have made way for digital downloads and videos of the same important content.

Chapters were some of the first to explore hands-on training at local meetings in skills like rule bending, nicking and rubbering, and in the late 1990s they even held classes in computer navigation and online ordering, with attendees seated at individual PCs to learn how to use a mouse (!!!) and hone their skills. Ultimately, standard-style presentations were expanded to include mini-trade shows, diemaking and diecutting facility tours and on-site demonstrations. In 2001, IADD unveiled the Odyssey Expo, a cornucopia of education, training, vendor displays and networking—people who attend often describe it “like being a kid in a candy store.”

These days, as on-demand learning became a priority for many, IADD was proud to unveil its Diecutting Academy, a foray into online education in cooperation with The Packaging School, with Diecutting 101 as its first course. Training available anytime, anywhere, and at the student’s own availability and pace. Feedback has been very positive so far, and since there is such an interest and need for this type of training, the IADD has decided to expand its offering with the development of a sister course called Diemaking 101. Release is expected sometime before the end of the year, and further offerings are being evaluated.

No matter how it is delivered, if you are an employer, it is important to remember that adults seek training to improve their job performance by learning the latest developments in their field, building on their skills and enhancing their effectiveness. They may also attend training for personal growth—to expand their horizons by acquiring new information, developing new skills or fulfilling inner desires. Are you providing your employees with these education and training opportunities? Are you providing follow-up support to help them incorporate what they have learned into their daily practice?

With so many ways to get educated, there’s no excuse for not investing in your employees. ROI is not limited to performance and productivity improvements, but also to employee satisfaction and feelings of fulfillment, which help foster loyalty and belonging. A win-win scenario!

Take care,


Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

I Ever since our first organizational meeting 50 years ago at the Ambassador West Hotel in Chicago, IL USA, the IADD has sought out interesting and unique meeting sites guaranteed to add excitement and value to our educational and leadership gatherings. From exotic locales to trendy hot spots to little known towns to travel favorites, the IADD has offered members the ability to see new places while learning and networking with industry pioneers.

In this sixth article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022 in San Antonio, TX, USA we will explore just a few of the many examples of how travelling to different locations has helped add fun and value (and some spice!) for those who have been able to attend.

In February of 1978, the IADD held its second annual Mid Year Executives Conference at the Camino Real Hotel in Mazatlan, Mexico. Described as “muy bueno” by the 32 attendees who weren’t stranded by the state of emergency declared in Massachusetts, USA due to snow and closed airports, the meeting offered a seminar on personnel management, along with a round of cocktail parties, banquet dinners and continuous informal management seminars held on the beach, tennis courts and around the pools. Then-President Don Moore noted, “After a relaxing experience, people are more likely to go back and attack their problems with a renewed vitalization after finding answers to problems that previously had them stumped.”

Windjammer Cruises’ “Flying Cloud” was the site of the following year’s meeting in February 1979. Twenty IADD attendees enjoyed a Caribbean cruise, management seminars and “an atmosphere of congeniality among the group of 80 shipmates and crew. The ship was 208 feet long, uncrowded and remarkably comfortable. Half the pleasure came from being with nice people,” according to one attendee.

The 1991 Mid-Winter Meeting held in Kaanapali Beach, HI, USA was declared “a whale of a success,” with almost 125 members in attendance whose home countries included, among others, Canada, USA, Australia and Japan. A luau, South Pacific dancing and gorgeous weather enticed quite a number of members to remain a few extra days on the beautiful island of Maui.

Other fun destinations have included the Don Cesar Resort & Beach Spa, St. Peter’s Beach, FL, USA in March 2001; Niagara Falls, one of the 7 Wonders of the World, in September 2003; Hilton Waikaloa Village, HI, USA in March 2005; and a European jaunt to the dual cities of Bergamo, Italy and Interlaken, Switzerland in November 2006, a very memorable trip for those who were able to partake.

Just about any meeting location can become spectacular when it involves doing something unique. When asked about their favorite IADD trip, now-retired members Frank and Janet Clay from Reliable Steel Rule Die noted the fabulous time they had in Nashville, TN, USA which included a riverboat tour and visit to the Grand Old Opry. Former President Joe Adkison of Adko, Inc. cited a meeting held in Vancouver, Canada because he went fishing with another former President, Clint Medlock of Stafford Cutting Dies.

I was speaking recently with my parents, Johanne and Rinaldo Gualtieri, long-time IADD members since 1983, about this topic. When I told them I would be writing a column on past IADD locations, they just came out with so many stories that I couldn’t keep up! The first one was also the meeting in Vancouver that Joe cited, but for a different reason than fishing. Apparently, there was a famous (or probably more “infamous”) sightseeing train ride during that meeting that began in Prince George, BC and ended in Vancouver. Along the way, though, a series of events happened that were very memorable, like another train breaking down on the tracks in front of them, delaying the entire trip, but some other details were a little too spicy to put on these pages…

Nashville, Hilton Head and another train ride in Rhode Island were all among my parents’ memories. However, the one meeting which stood out to them the most was one that involved no travel at all: the IADD’s 25th Anniversary meeting, which was held in our hometown of Montreal, Canada. They served on the host committee that helped plan a lot of the special little touches to give the meeting local flavor. It was a great meeting with lots of memories.

If there is anything that we’ve learned in our 50 years, it is that IADD members can meet anywhere—even online—and find value, education and a good time. However, we feel especially fortunate when we can see the world while learning and participating. We look forward to seeing YOU at IADD’s 50th anniversary Annual Meeting at Saint-Anthony’s Hotel, in San Antonio, TX, USA on October 26-27, 2022. I have no doubt that it will create as many memories for attendees as the 25th anniversary meeting created for my parents!

P.S.: If any of you have any information, interesting stories, or pictures from past IADD events, please don’t be shy to share them with us. What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at an IADD meeting? They could appear in a future column, or in a social media post!

Take care,


Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,
IADD would not have survived for 50 years without the support of its supplier members. I do not say this with any sort of arrogance, being a supplier member myself, but based on information from people who have been intimately involved for many years. Supplier members were there from the beginning, encouraging the formation of the Association in 1972, and guiding it through its early years.

In this fifth article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022 (in San Antonio, Texas, USA by the way), we will explore just a few of many examples of how our supplier members have been instrumental in the development and success of our Association.

Tom McAdam from J.F. Helmold & Bro. Inc. (now part of voestalpine) was one of the first elected officers, serving as 2nd Vice President. Supplier members have stood by us during tough times, and they are still here, supporting us with their time, talent and financial resources.

The IADD has always been fortunate to attract the top companies in the industry. Some of the names may have changed, but the following seven supplier companies, who are still current members, have been members of the Association since its first decade: AmeriKen Die Supply, Inc., National Steel Rule Co., Diansuply, Inc., Bar-Plate Mfg. Co., Wagner Die Supply, Pace Punches, Inc. and Essential Products.

When AmeriKen was thanked for their support during the IADD’s 25th anniversary, Rich Kengott (now retired) replied, “It is through participation that we gain the opportunity to grow. We originally joined the Association to find out about industry changes and to meet with our customers. As we became more active, it became a whole lot more. We have learned far beyond the basics of diemaking, and our personal gains have gone far beyond any business gains. Our own personal growth has helped us become better business managers, better citizens and better parents.”

At the same time, Robert F. Bruno from Bruno Associates, another long-time supporter, added, “As a manufacturer of steel rule diecutting, embossing and mold and trip presses, we feel that this association has been very beneficial, helpful and valuable to all our employees and company. The knowledge that we receive by meeting other members and the knowledge that we pass on to each other and future customers about diecutting is extremely valuable to our industry. We constantly use the IADD directory as a service to our customers. We at Bruno Machinery feel that service is a major key issue to success.”

Supplier members are often the first to share their resources for the good of the IADD. Whether it be providing speakers for technical programs and chapter meetings, financial sponsorships and scholarships, paid advertising, serving as committee and TechTeam™ members, writing articles or serving as leaders at the chapter and Board levels, supplier companies are often the first to step up and volunteer.

Some people would probably say that it is in their own self interest that supplier members want to be part of and participate in the IADD. Those people would be partly right. As business people, they cannot run their organizations as charities. There is no doubt that being involved in the IADD provides benefits to their businesses, such as contacts, learning about the inside scoop on certain situations or trends, etc. However, it goes beyond that, in my estimation. Many of these benefits would be available to supplier members even if they were only mildly involved, or not even signed up as a member at all.

Furthermore, “Patron” is a special class of IADD membership which denotes that the participating member has made an additional financial contribution and provides other support to the IADD. Many suppliers are Patron members because they feel this helps them give back to the Association and industry in a meaningful way for the benefit of all.

In a previous column, I talked about tough times. Almost every IADD member has a story about a circumstance when one of our supplier members helped them recover from a setback and ensured that they could continue operating their business. Other members note that they wouldn’t have known about the IADD if it weren’t for the suggestion of their trusted suppliers.

With all the importance of having loyal supplier members, it might surprise you to note that most other associations treat them differently, almost like a “second class” member, with limited or no voting rights. At IADD, we have always felt that the supplier members bring great value and information to the IADD table. They have always been equal partners, able to serve in all capacities and with an equal voice. In fact, a representative from a supplier member can even be IADD President! The following companies have supported IADD in this way: National Steel Rule Company (Ed Mucci, Sr. 1979-1981); Ward Machinery Company (Russell Smith 1985-1987); National Steel Rule Company (Eddie Mucci, Jr. 2003-2005); Zimmer Industries Inc. (Greg Zimmer 2009-2011); Cimex Corp. (Andrew Carey 2011-2013); Diansuply, Inc. (Jeremy Guest 2015-2017); and now Central Die Supplies, through my presidency (2019-present).

My own involvement in the IADD has been very beneficial to me in many ways. As I mentioned before, participating regularly has helped my professional life with being able to learn from many of the other members that I have had the privilege to meet and spend time with. As many of you know by now, Central Die is a family business, and I have basically spent my entire working career there. In some ways, this has limited my exposure from different work environments, to see how things are done elsewhere. The IADD has given me the opportunity to have that exposure to a whole slew of different types of companies, large and small, local and international, with a different perspective than I would have had from just my regular day job.

On the personal side, I have met so many great people, who have things in common, but who are different, fun and interesting in so many ways. Even getting to know competitors on a personal level has shown me that we are all just doing our best to make a living and support our families.

In the end, we’re all in this together, and the IADD is grateful for supplier members who have supported all other members and the Association for close to half a century now!

As the saying goes: “A rising tide floats all boats.”

Take care,


Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

Most of you are aware that IADD’s vision is to be the definitive resource in our industry, and we work hard to provide you with valuable technical information and creative solutions to your daily work challenges. One of our favorite ways to share critical information is to bring together experts and participants from diverse geographic locations to discuss and learn, whether it be our Midyear and Annual Meetings, chapter meetings or Odyssey Expo.

But you know what they say about all work and no play… Which is why these in-person get togethers often include a huge helping of FUN. Dale Carnegie said, “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing,” and it’s a well-known fact that enjoying time with colleagues and competitors in a relaxed and fun environment encourages honest and open discussion and trust in one another. At the IADD, we’ve always felt that if members are friends with the people they work and compete with, as opposed to simply being colleagues or adversaries, then they’ll work better together and communicate more effectively.

Looking back over the IADD’s successful 50 years, there are many examples of planned—and spontaneous—fun. In this fourth article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022, we will recount some of these fun times!

Laughter and camaraderie are key components of getting to know each other better. In the past, the IADD has offered social activities such as oil painting, off-road racing, flower arranging, historical tours, hip hop and line dance instruction, art exhibits, Segway tours, jewelry designing, comedy clubs, karaoke, talent shows and much, much more. What fun experiences haven’t the spouses and members participated in?!?

Competitive activities have included chili cookoffs, virtual scavenger hunts, trivia contests, Texas Hold ‘Em poker and the unforgettable “You’re a Peach” welcome-the-first- timers game which resulted in several members being covered from head to toe in self-stick embroidered peaches (maybe you had to be there). As part of a team bonding experience, the IADD sponsored a Murder Mystery in Florida, USA in which many Board members and spouses dressed in character and handed out clues.

Some of the most competitive moments in the early IADD years were the “boat races.” This drinking game pitted diemakers v. diecutters v. suppliers to see which “crew” would be the first to down their mugs of beer in a relay without spilling drops on their heads. An engraved trophy, friendly threats and bragging rights made participation wildly popular.

Often the good times revolved around everyone creating a mood or theme with their special clothing. One Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, USA had attendees dressing up in period Southern costumes. The 25th anniversary Annual Meeting held in Montreal, Canada (my hometown, in case you didn’t know by now!) had an elegant black/white/silver banquet dinner to celebrate the milestone. Meetings in the USA West states of Texas and Arizona have had people dress in Western gear for receptions. Even Executive and Board members have gotten into the spirit at their smaller meetings, with a popular example being the infamous “wild animal bathrobes” picture which has appeared in The Cutting Edge, or the “Valentine’s Day accessories” we-love-our-members video on our YouTube channel.

Although I’ve had a lot of fun at many IADD organized events, the most fun for me was at a post-banquet event at the Cat’s Meow, a karaoke bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, USA. After a drink or two, I added me and my wife Rosa into the queue, set to sing Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. Now, I am a really Terrible singer (that capital T is not a mistake…) but luckily Rosa is very good. She handled almost all the vocals, while I joined in for the choruses. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, both strangers and IADD friends alike. What a great time!

Sometimes the celebration can get a bit out of hand. We won’t provide details about the time all the hotel lobby’s plants went for an extended elevator ride to the top floors, or why the IADD is extremely familiar with the security personnel at a major hotel in Kansas City, MO, USA. We will simply say that no bail money has been needed and no laws have been broken.

Not all the fun activities have been “officially” sponsored by IADD. Once members get to know each other, they’ve been known to create their own opportunities to get together, such as the mini-cruise in the Vancouver area; the California wine train; and singing and dancing at Dueling Pianos-type bars.

One of the most fun and memorable times for me was a big “Monster Jenga” showdown in Miami, FL, USA at a small bar between yours truly and “Ranger” Darrel Griffin. Totally off the cuff and unplanned, this confrontation was one for the ages! After several nail-biting rounds and excruciatingly long pauses to strategize, the match boiled down to a final turn where I had to attempt an impossible move that would have required Newton’s laws of physics to be paused. With no alternative, and having caused the tower to crumble, I had to humbly accept defeat!

Safely meeting and offering opportunities for connecting and networking are an important goal for IADD. We are looking forward to being together again, (unapologetic and shameless IADD event promo to begin…LOL) especially in October for our 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting Extravaganza, but even sooner than that, in May for the Midyear Meeting which will be held in Squaw Creek, CA, USA near Lake Tahoe. This meeting, which will be in a gorgeous mountain setting, is planned specifically with laid-back impromptu group activities in mind, whether they be outdoors, by a fire or elsewhere. We need to get back to having some fun together…hope to see you there!

P.S.: If any of you have any information, interesting stories or pictures from past IADD events, please don’t be shy to share them with us. What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at an IADD meeting? They could appear in a future column, or in a social media post!

Take care,


Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com

Dear IADD Members and Industry Friends,

Just like everyone else around the world, we at the IADD are experiencing an unbelievable amount of adversity and turbulence in our daily business. As much as things are different now, there are many other examples of how the IADD has been forced to raise our masts and sail as best as possible through stormy seas.
In this third article in a series leading up to the IADD’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in October 2022, we will recount a few of those challenging situations.

Our first example brings us back to 1989, when the Annual Meeting was scheduled to be held in Charleston, SC, USA. Mother Nature had a difference of opinion however, when she decided to wreak havoc on the Eastern Seaboard. Executive Director Ron Ballard declared in that year’s September issue of The Cutting Edge that “Hurricane Hugo moved the 1989 Annual Meeting through time and space.” According to Wikipedia, “Hugo affected approximately two million people. Its direct effects killed 67 people and inflicted $11 billion USD in damage. The damage wrought by the storm was more costly than any Atlantic hurricane preceding it. At its peak strength, east of the Lesser Antilles, Hugo was classified as a Category Five hurricane—the highest rating on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Over the course of five days, Hugo made landfall on Guad-eloupe, Saint Croix, Puerto Rico and South Carolina, USA bringing major hurricane conditions to these and surrounding areas.” IADD’s meeting was quickly cancelled and rescheduled, which is not a small feat on such short notice, to the end of October at the Sheraton World Resort in Orlando, FL, USA. To do this, the IADD’s Can-Am, New England and Midwest Chapter officers were asked to reschedule their October meetings to November. It was a lot of work, but ultimately everyone worked together to make all those meetings a success. Outgoing President Dan Carda served an extra month, and incoming President Allen Gurka helped with the transition while himself fleeing from the path of the hurricane. Whenever a meeting site is devastated, IADD attempts to become part of the recovery. A meeting in Charleston was ultimately held in 1995.

For decades, many of you will remember that IADD supplier members participated in a traveling road show called the Diecutting Resource Exhibition and Conference (DREC), which required them to travel twice a year to 6 cities in 12 days. Most of the exhibitors traveled by car, and their exhibit materials and booths were consolidated in a yellow rental van, usually piloted by Dennis Garrity, Andrew Carey and Jeff Benham. In March 1998, snows in the northwest made passage in the mountains impossible, and many of the crew were stranded overnight. Dozens of exhibitors shared the three available motel rooms, sleeping on the floor, in the tub and on every available surface. When the roads reopened the next day, everyone pitched in to set up the show as quickly as possible so as not to disappoint the attendees.

Storms can often be predicted, but everyone was without a doubt caught off guard by the attacks on September 11, 2001. On this infamous day, 19 militants hijacked four commercial airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City. A third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, USA just outside Washington, DC, USA, while a fourth plane, hypothetically targeted at the White House or the Capitol, crashed in a field in Shanksville, PA, USA. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The IADD’s Annual Meeting was scheduled to begin on September 13 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and IADD CEO Cindy Crouse and several Board members had already arrived. Others were on their way that day, and the sudden closing of all airports was startling and incomprehensible. IADD President Ken Holliday said in his column, “When the second plane hit the [Twin Towers], it was terrifying to hear and see the reaction of the hundreds of people in the concourse. There was crying, people on their knees praying and then a silence came to the entire concourse that was unlike anything I have ever witnessed. No sound of people talking or walking, complete silence.” Even though no one was quite sure yet what was happening, IADD’s immediate focus was to do everything possible to keep our members safe, so Cindy and the officers who could be reached made the decision to immediately cancel the meeting. She and a number of volunteers began calling all 185 attendees, urging them to get home as soon as possible. Those who were “trapped” in Niagara Falls worked together to find ways to travel home. Ultimately, a somewhat smaller, but cathartic, version of the meeting was held in Point Clear (Mobile), AL, USA, where Karl Marbach was finally able to receive his Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year Award and with all of the attendees expressing gratitude that the IADD was able to bring them together again in person.

Another Hurricane—this time Katrina—forced the IADD to reschedule its 2005 Annual Meeting from September, at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS, USA to October in Irving (Dallas), TX, USA. In his President’s column, Eddie Mucci Jr. discussed the devastation to cities like New Orleans and said, “Everyone I talk to has the same sense of helplessness. They want to help, they want to do something, but don’t know how. I encourage those who haven’t already to contribute to the Red Cross, Salvation Army or other relief agencies. What makes me angrier than anything right now is the people of New Orleans are not suffering due to a lack of funds. They appear to be suffering because of a lack of planning. This is a costly lesson for our [country’s] leaders, one I hope they learn from.” IADD finally made it to Biloxi in February of 2012.

While the IADD didn’t have to cancel any events in 2008-09, the Great Recession’s economic downturn hit the IADD hard as a small non-profit organization. We did our best to support those of our members who were struggling and couldn’t pay their dues. In return, it was amazing and heartwarming to see the loyalty and support of exhibitors and attendees at the 2009 Odyssey Expo in Atlanta.

Finally, the Covid-19 pandemic we are living through right now, and its devastation on the world and certain parts of our industry is forcing everyone to change. IADD’s shift to online learning and the quick pivoting of our leadership and staff, coupled with the cooperation of you, our members, have allowed IADD to strengthen its value and resources during some unusual times, with the goal of providing as much support and assistance to our members who need it and to our industry as possible.

Ultimately, perseverance and determination, sprinkled with a little bit of creativity, have enabled us to survive and become stronger. The IADD is not necessarily unique in this regard. Many of you and your companies have had to weather the same, and different, challenges over the years. Strong teamwork, along with steady leadership, help overcome adversity. One of my favorite quotes, which I have shared with IADD Board members, is from the 32nd President of the USA, Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

Take care,


Gino Gualtieri,
IADD President

ggualtieri@centraldie.com