Herndon, Va.; May 6, 2026 - The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) and the PMMI Foundation are proud to announce their joint participation in the upcoming SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) beginning June 1, 2026.

Building on the PMMI Foundation's long-standing participation at SkillsUSA events, ICPF is joining efforts this year to expand visibility and reach while connecting with students, educators, and future industry talent through both organizations' networks.

Together, ICPF and the PMMI Foundation are leveraging this national platform to expand awareness of career opportunities in the corrugated and packaging industries and to help address the growing skilled labor gap across manufacturing.

ICPF is proud to participate as a Silver Sponsor of SkillsUSA this year — an investment that supports the organization's national programming while enabling deeper engagement with its network of more than 444,000 career and technical education (CTE) students and teachers nationwide. As part of this expanded involvement, ICPF is collaborating with SkillsUSA on a coordinated set of workforce development initiatives, including a national communications effort and a speaker series connecting industry professionals directly with classrooms.

ICPF and the PMMI Foundation will be on-site at NLSC, sharing exhibit space at PMMI's Booth #857 to increase visibility, foster engagement, and connect directly with students exploring careers in manufacturing.

As part of the conference experience, both ICPF and the PMMI Foundation will participate in the SkillsUSA scavenger hunt, an interactive, digital experience that encourages students to explore the show floor, visit exhibitor booths, and engage with industry representatives. Attendees are encouraged to stop by Booth #857 on June 2-4, 2026, to take part in multiple scavenger hunt experiences, learn more about packaging career pathways, and explore opportunities for employment across the industry.

"Opportunities like SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference allow us to expand awareness of careers in our industry while also creating opportunities for direct engagement," said Caitlin Salaverria, president of ICPF. "It's about helping students understand what these careers look like and where they can fit within the industry."

Together, ICPF and the PMMI Foundation are committed to closing the skills gap by expanding industry awareness, strengthening education connections, and creating clear pathways into rewarding careers.

About ICPF
The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) 3 corporation dedicated to growing the workforce of the corrugated packaging industry by promoting career awareness, supporting education, and building connections between students and employers. Learn more at www.careersincorrugated.com.

About the PMMI Foundation
The PMMI Foundation, a charitable foundation of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, supports packaging and processing education. Its mission is to attract, develop, and retain a workforce for the packaging and processing industry. The Foundation works to raise funds and aid education programs across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit pmmifoundation.org.

About PMMI
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, represents more than 1,100 manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, components, and materials as well as providers of related equipment and services to the packaging and processing industry. We work to advance a variety of industries by connecting consumer goods companies with manufacturing solutions through the world-class PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, leading trade media, and a wide range of resources to empower our members. The PACK EXPO trade shows unite the world of packaging and processing to advance the industries they serve: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, PACK EXPO Southeast, EXPO PACK México, and EXPO PACK Guadalajara. PMMI Media Group connects manufacturers to the latest solutions, trends and innovations in packaging and processing year-round through brands including Packaging World, ProFood World, Healthcare Packaging, OEM, Contract Manufacturing and Packaging, and Mundo EXPO PACK. PMMI Business Drivers assist members in pursuing operational excellence through workforce development initiatives, deliver actionable business intelligence on economic, market, and industry trends to support members' growth strategies, and actively connect the supply chain throughout the year.

Learn more at pmmi.org and packexpo.com and pmmimediagroup.com.