Premier Power Hour

Big changes are coming to Premier's podcast! Billy Watkins explains we will have a change in hosts and a new name, “The Whole Package by Premier Packaging.” But don't worry: The re-branded podcast will feature the same entertaining look at industry trends and our people who make Premier special.

In a lighthearted episode, Billy Watkins interviews Digital Media Specialist Chaz Rough and Market Researcher/Content Writer Steve Hall, who work behind the scenes on this podcast. They have cool backgrounds, from playing their music at famed punk club CBGB to hanging with TV stars at network parties. Chaz explains PPH's unique approach is leveraging our people to discuss industry trends and  showcase Premier.

Lori Orr, Premier's Corporate Learning and Development Manager, talks about the key to success at work: “OWN it.” The acronym coined by Lori stands for Overcome (obstacles and problems), Welcome (help and advice), and Network (to build partnerships). Lori demonstrates the power of self leadership by quizzing Billy Watkins on how he would handle different on-the-job scenarios. “There's no better leader for you than you,” she concludes.

Cohost Zach Pearson talks about his role as a Premier Supply Chain Specialist, solving problems for customers. The Pacific Northwest native tours warehouses to spot supply chain inefficiencies and does more listening than talking to understand clients' needs. How does he handle rejection? “You have to have the mentality that it's all about getting at-bats.” Also: How Billy Watkins shaves.

Cohost Billy Watkins works with Premier's bin boxes—customizable corrugated solutions to improve product storing and picking in warehouses. Billy marvels at how scalable bin boxes are, from 125 bin boxes for one customer to 3 million for another. He explains the bin box process as well as the unlikely objects sometimes stored in them. Also: Billy likes receiving a company gift of popcorn, even when supply chain issues cause it to be delivered at 2 a.m.

Jeff Steele, Premier's National Industrial Sourcing Manager, finds quality raw material at the best possible prices from hundreds of suppliers around the world. In this career progression episode, he explains how good communication and Premier's size and reach are the keys to getting our customers what they need. We also learn how Jeff is prepared if a second Prohibition should occur: He has a collection of 100+ bourbons.

When Chip Underwood started at our Chicago division 12 years ago, the new Operations Manager had a PC on a crate and 2 coworkers. Today the division has 46 employees and Chip is Premier's Customer Service and Procurement Director, managing teams for “everything west of the Mississippi and Canada.”  He reflects on that journey as well as what's great about Premier: Helping each other, going the extra mile for customers, and watching his employees growing into new roles with Premier: “The sky's the limit.”

Zach Pearson and Billy Watkins celebrate a year of cohosting the “Premier Power Hour” by looking back. What was their favorite moment on the show? What have they learned about Premier that they didn't know before? Funniest moment? Most awkward? And what have Zach and Billy learned about each other? The answers may surprise you!

Where has packaging been and where is it going? On a very special 2-moustache episode, cohosts Billy Watkins and Zach Pearson discuss the changes they've seen in the packaging industry, from the e-commerce explosion to the shift toward more sustainable options. “Future” innovations are already here, such as 3-D printing, QR codes to help build a customer experience, and edible packaging. If Billy was out of cereal, would he eat a box for breakfast? Stay tuned!

Molly Maci, a Project Manager in our Chicago office, says “The Premier Way is to do whatever it takes to get what the customer needs.” Molly, a 27-year veteran of the packaging business, gives our customers the white-glove treatment, forming a partnership to find solutions to challenges. And maybe enjoying a certain restaurant chain's romano-crusted chicken in the process.

Joining Premier after 16 years in the food industry, Ohio Valley South Sales Manager Mike Farmer considers our company “innovators,” with founder John Gaynor always looking to the future for an edge on competitors. In this fun interview, the Cleveland native reflects on Premier's culture and what makes a good sales manager, namely helping his people be the best they can—“I'm Scotty Pippen … you all are MJs.” Oh, and he once wrestled a bear for beer money. No, seriously.

Mekesia Yarborough was looking for “something different and more” when she first interviewed at Premier—but that job was not a good fit. Two years later, Premier leadership remembered the veteran manufacturing and distribution leader and called her when the role of Operations Manager of our facility in Augusta, Georgia, opened up. That's typical of what Mekesia calls “the Premier Way,” a people-centered culture where you “can reach out to just about anybody if you have a question” and “the opportunities are endless.” As Operations Manager, she juggles employees, vendors, and shipping schedules. She's excited about her future with Premier.

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Growing up in the strip-mining regions of Kentucky sparked Mackenzie Crigger's passion for sustainability at an early age. When she joined Premier as our new Sustainability Manager, she found an organization already tracking key sustainability data for logistics purposes, with energy-saving measures such as electric forklifts already in place. Mackenzie highlights Premier's environmental achievements and challenges, as well as  sustainable swaps each of us can make in our daily lives.

At 17, Chris Winfield started at Premier, stuffing inserts in vacuum cleaner packages in a former tobacco warehouse. Today, he's Vice President of Sales. Chris talks about his career progression, from his favorite job (forklift driver) to a management decision he'd make differently in hindsight. Chris is proud of Premier's growth and culture, where heartfelt, friendly conversations between employees are the norm. He, Billy, and Zach also “circle back” to “take a deep dive” into business cliches.

What makes a good salesperson? Glen Clements, a Premier Supply Chain Specialist based in Georgia, says it's important to listen more than you talk and focus on how you can help the customer. With Premier, “you always have something to offer, some solution to provide. You can always bring value,” Glen said. How does he handle those times when he doesn't make a sale? “For every fail that I have, I need get two more shots up. It's all shots on goal to me … You don't put the shots up on the goal, you're not going to score.”

Patty Stoff wisely “hung up” on her pay phone company job and joined Premier as an accountant. In a decade, she has worked her way up to Director of Customer Service and Procurement by asking questions, finding a mentor, and being a team player. Patty went to college on a bowling scholarship and has bowled two perfect games. What's her secret? “You gotta know how to throw the ball.”

Rebecca Okken, a dispatcher at Premier's Indianapolis Distribution Center, is unstoppable. Whenever she was told she couldn't do something like drive a semi because of her gender or size (4'-10”), she did ‘em anyway. Rebecca talks about her remarkable career progression, including supervising 7 drivers for Premier and the satisfaction of “getting it done” every day for a company that's like family: “I used to design what went on the (printing) machine, now I'm hauling what comes off the machine.”

The statistics are startling: 1 in 10 packages arrive damaged. Cohosts Zach Pearson and Billy Watkins discuss why damages occur during shipping and how you can ensure your package—and more importantly your product—arrives in good shape: right-sized packaging, protective void fill, and Premier's ISTA-certified lab testing. We design boxes to pass the highest hurdles they'll face in transit. Also: Why you should never buy a “Weasel 78” computer mouse for work.

Three years ago, Ellie Kramer knew little about packaging. Today she is Customer Service Manager for Premier's North Central Division, working closely with our different divisions and our vendors to find solutions for our customers. In a laugh-filled interview, she talks about her career progression, why she loves Premier's culture, and getting through the craziness of peak (“OK, I deserve a Gucci bag for that”). And why she suspects her previous job was working for the Russian mob.

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As a college junior, Joe Cox began working at Premier when the company consisted of 15 employees in a gloomy tobacco warehouse. (His “job interview”: “When can you start?”) Twenty-six years later, he's Corporate Resources Director of Premier, which has grown to 900 employees in more than 90 locations. In this interview, Joe reflects on serving in a variety of roles at a company where employees are pushed “really hard” while also being patted on the back. His advice to Premier newbies: Work hard, listen to your peers, and avoid the question “What happens when you hit this button?”

The explosion of e-commerce during the pandemic has coincided with supply chain issues making it more expensive to ship product. Billy and Zach interview Ryan Benningfield, Director of Corporate Operations for Premier, about the causes of high freight rates and how to lower them. Ryan recommends planning better, packing as much as possible on each truck, and turning to Premier's extensive distribution network, since local shipping costs less than over-the-road. And if high freight rates aren't scary enough—how about some “dad jokes” too?

Every year 3 billion packages are damaged or go missing. How can you avoid the cost of damaged packages, product returns, and negative public image? Billy and Zach discuss the rigors of Premier's ISTA-certified testing, which ensures your package will survive dropping, stacking, extreme temperatures, and simulated—not “stimulated”—vibrations to arrive in good condition at your customer's door.

Miguel Resendiz talks about his career progression, in four years, from temp worker to supervisor of Premier's Chicago warehouse. Miguel says everyone's opinion matters at Premier and anyone can advance if they work hard and take pride in their work. Also discussed: the challenges of peak, why “The Notebook” isn't just a “chick flick,” and how being a soccer referee in his free time sometimes helps on the warehouse floor.

What's the secret to running a successful IT department? Treating everyone like a valued customer and giving them great service, according to Mike King, Premier's IT Director. In this career progression interview, Mike describes his path up from cleaning computer mouses to working out of a literal closet in a conference room to managing a stable, hardworking team in Premier's fast-paced environment. Also discussed: The importance of “Matthew McConaughey hair” and why you might want to rethink eating 5 quesadillas at one sitting.

From fine paper to fine packaging: Meet Claudia Jacober, Premier's new National Sales Director, Luxury Packaging. She and cohost Billy Watkins discuss how luxury packaging, with its soft-touch boxes, colorful designs, and magnet closures, creates a memorable unboxing experience for your customers. Claudia explains how your packaging should reflect and be an extension of your luxury brand and why you should choose Premier for your luxury packaging: our talented designers, great sourcing team, and supply chain solutions. “I think our customers would like to collaborate with the best … to come out with a premium package,” Claudia says. “We bring all that to the table.”

Did you know Premier works with 8 of the 10 largest ecommerce companies in the United States? We do! Zach Pearson explains how Premier can fulfill any company's e-commerce needs: A supply chain target assessment, all the products we offer, and our experience in design, branding, and creating a memorable unboxing experience for the customer. “We customize things to you.”

Cohost Billy Watkins talks to Melvin Coe, who started as a temp at Premier's production facility in Indianapolis when there was one, count ‘em, one machine. Today, he leads an 8-person team at Premier's huge distribution warehouse in Indy. Melvin discusses his career progression, the most effective ways to lead, and Premier's family atmosphere. Not to mention the pleasures of driving a forklift: “It's a great thing to honk your horn.”

Cohost Billy Watkins talks to Ryan Benningfield about his rise through the ranks at Premier, from forklift driver to Corporate Operations Director. The two longtime coworkers have an informative and often funny conversation about making the most of your opportunities.

Cohosts Billy Watkins and Zach Pearson discuss sustainability, from the latest sustainable innovations in the packaging industry to packaging tips that can help the environment and save your company money. They also talk about ways they could make their lives more sustainable at home and on the road.

On our new podcast, cohosts Billy Watkins and Zach Pearson discuss why Premier is such a great company to work with and for—and get to know each other. In future episodes, they'll explore such topics as sustainability, ecommerce, and planning for peak, while taking listeners behind the scenes to meet Premier's people and facilities.

Premier Power Hour Series Introduction