The R. Stanton Avery Special Recognition Award sponsored by Avery Dennison, went to Ferdinand Rüesch IV, senior vice president, global key accounts, at Gallus Ferd. Rüesch is known throughout the industry as Ferdi. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who reflect the key values and vision of label industry founder Stan Avery.

Ryan Yost, president of Avery Dennison Materials Group, explained, “Ferdi took over the Gallus Group business from his father in the 1990s, accelerating Gallus’ growth globally. His dedication to the industry and global leadership not only inspired his own team at Gallus but also set an example of excellence for the industry. His reputation as a warm-hearted and inspiring leader embodies the qualities of Stan Avery himself.”

Paul Teachout, technical marketing and content specialist at Harper Corp. of America, won the Global Achievement Award. This award celebrates individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions to the label industry both on the national and international stages.

The Label Awards judging panel commended Teachout for his wide range of contributions to the labels industry in a career spanning over 40 years. In particular, the judges noted Teachout’s tireless work promoting the labels industry as a career to students and young people, and his key work through the FTA, TLMI, and Harper Corp. promoting standards for the global flexographic industry.

Andy Thomas-Emans, chairman of the judging panel, said, “I warmly congratulate Paul Teachout on winning the Label Industry Global Achievement Award, a unanimous decision by the judges. The judges particularly commended Paul’s selfless work as a mentor to young people looking to enter the label industry, championing the Phoenix Challenge competition and participating on the boards of multiple leading educational institutions.”

Alex Abbott, chief revenue officer at SmartSolv, was awarded the Rising Star Award sponsored by Avery Dennison. This award recognizes the achievements of emerging talent in the label and packaging industry representing the next generation of industry leaders. 

The judges were impressed with the significant impact that Abbott has made since joining sustainable materials specialist SmartSolve in June 2023. The judging panel noted that he pioneered the idea of having SmartSolve’s labels undergo APR Design for Recyclability Recognition, demonstrating his forward-thinking leadership and potential for further advancement.

The Converter of the Year Award was won by NextGen Label Group. The judges were impressed by the consistent record of the NexGen Label Group in developing its staff, supporting strong engagement with local communities, outstanding sustainability initiatives and customer-focused programs delivering innovative and cost-effective packaging solutions.