Industries We Serve

Industries We Serve
Pharmaceutical and Healthcare
Nutraceutical (Vitamin)
Beauty and Personal Care
Food and Beverage
Chemical and Automotive
Learn More About Services

Our Management Team

Our management team has a broad range of experiences in the packaging industry that is quite complementary. We are always counting on each other's strengths to better serve our client base.  

Kenneth M. Gillman

Partner

Kenneth Gillman is a Founding Partner of The Packaging Design Group. Ken has more than 30 years of experience in packaging sales, marketing and manufacturing.
Prior to starting PDG, Ken developed his expertise in all facets of the business while serving in several roles at Poly-Seal/Berry Plastics for 17 years. He learned the business from the ground up and as a result has an unparalleled understanding of plastics manufacturing.   
As VP of Sales and Marketing for Poly-Seal, Ken was instrumental in developing and expanding the core product line of injection and compression closures, collaborating routinely with the company’s engineering and manufacturing departments. He was also involved with corporate acquisitions and was instrumental in growing direct sales from three national sales offices to nine.  
With PDG, Ken’s vision was to take that experience and establish a unique presence in the design, development and distribution of packaging components. By identifying and meeting client requirements at the packaging development stage, Ken believes PDG can offer greater quality and value than any other company in the packaging distribution business today.  

Education:

  • University of Delaware, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Minor - Marketing

Professional Development:

  • Penn State University Executive Management Program
 

Peter S. Kallman

Partner

Peter Kallman is a Founding Partner of The Packaging Design Group. He has more than 30 years of experience in packaging sales, marketing and manufacturing. 
Prior to starting PDG, Peter developed expertise in all facets of the business while serving in several roles at Poly-Seal/Berry Plastics. As National Sales Manager, he developed custom, injection-molded parts and expanded the stock closure line, working closely with the engineering, product development and manufacturing departments. During his 15 years at Poly-Seal, Peter established strong relationships with national and multi-national companies in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, health & beauty aid, household chemical and food industries.  
With PDG, Peter’s vision was to create a company that offers clients a wide array of services and expertise. PDG combines the sales and marketing experience and technical knowledge Peter gained from working with a world-class molding manufacturer in offering prospective and current customers the services and expertise equal if not better to them having in-house Packaging Design and Engineering Departments.
Peter’s plan for the future is to continue to expand PDG’s business, utilizing the same vision and model in supporting the endeavors of the highly trained & experienced Sales Management Team.

Education:  

  • Rutgers University, Bachelor of Science in Management, with Honors  
  • Alpha Sigma Lambda – Beta Zeta Chapter 
  • University College Honor Society   
 

Lawrence N. Blake Jr.

Executive Vice President

Larry is PDG's Executive Vice President and has over 12 years of diverse packaging experience including, Rigid Plastics, Flexibles, Printing and Fulfillment. Larry is responsible for the Sales, Marketing and Strategy areas of the business.  Larry works closely with Ken and Peter to drive growth through increased value creation and sales penetration, by entering new markets, and by driving design and new product development.
Prior to starting at PDG, Larry led the Marketing, Pricing, Project Management and Product Development efforts for Amcor Rigid Plastics’Diversified Products Division.  While in those roles, Larry developed a deep understanding of Operations, Lean Manufacturing and Product Costing and had the unique experience of being able to drive Products from conception through to commercialization, touching all areas of the business. 
As Director of Marketing for Amcor DPD, and it predecessor Alcan Pharmaceutical Plastics, Larry launched numerous products and services including the StabilitySolutions® Dry and Barrier Bottles, Securance®  Child Resistance Closures, EZID® Security and Labeling solutions and many other stock products.
Prior to Amcor/Alcan, as a Director of Marketing for MeadWestvaco, Larry and his team formally developed a new market, Pharmaceutical Compliance, and grew the product portfolio from one product line to five and developed the following brands, Dosepak®, Dosepak Lite®, Surepak®, Shellpak®, Cerepak® and other carded blister products.  Larry and his team grew and developed Compliance as one of the most profitable product lines at MWV with a market cap of $250MM.

Education:

  • The College of William & Mary, Bachelor of Arts in History, Minor in Religion
  • The Haub School of Business, Saint Joseph’s University, Master of Business Administration – Marketing and Management

Professional Development:

  • NationsBank Corporation M.A.P.S. Executive Management Training Program
  • Alcan Packaging 2007 CLP (Corporate Leadership Program)
  • Alcan Packaging 2009 CMDP (Corporate Management Development Program)
 

Stacy M. Kecken

Director of Operations

Stacy began her career with The Packaging Design Group in 1998. From the very beginning, she has been an integral member of our team. Her responsibilities over the years have grown commensurate with PDG’s growth.
As PDG’s Director of Operations, Stacy oversees the day to day activities with clients by heading the Customer Service, Procurement and Logistics departments. Stacy’s strong organizational skills and attention to detail coupled with her complete understanding of “sense of urgency” ensures that PDG’s customers continue to receive the same unwavering and unparalleled level of service that they have grown accustomed to receiving in the past.
In addition to Customer Service, Stacy is also responsible for the day to day communications with our manufacturing partners by overseeing our procurement initiatives and logistics operations (warehousing and shipping). Her keen understanding of our business as well as precisely what is needed and expected so as to more than satisfy our customers positions her to capture and execute all of the details required from our vendor partners.
 

Greg A Frederick

Director of Global Business Development

Greg Fredrick is the Director of Global Business Development for The Packaging Design Group. He has more than 30 years of experience in the rigid packaging industry with a concentration in plastics (injection, extrusion and compression blow molding), metal cans and filling line equipment. 
Prior to joining PDG, Greg was with Owens-Illinois/Rexam for 12 years and Silgan Plastics for 15 years. He provided packaging solutions for global companies such as Pfizer, Wyeth, Johnson & Johnson (pharma and consumer divisions), Playtex and Procter & Gamble. He was involved in PET container sales to Pepsi, Coke, RC and Seven Up franchises, as well as Heinz. 
As a result of his vast experience in packaging, Greg has a proven record in providing innovative packaging solutions with a focus on supply chain cost reduction.  

Education: 

  • Bowling Green State University, Bachelor of Science, Marketing and Sales Management 

Professional Development:   

  • SAP training
  • International Negotiating Academy
  • O-I Management Development Training
  • ISO 9000 Training
  • SPC Training
  • Philip Crosby's Zero Defect Program 
 

Rob Tretter

Western Regional Sales Manager

Rob Tretter joined The Packaging Design Group with 20+ years’ experience working with Fortune 100 Consumer Products companies in Healthcare, Food & Beverage and Household industries developing stock/custom bottles and closures for new and existing consumer packages.  
Rob has an Industrial Engineering background and technical experience in injection, compression and blowmolding plastic processes covering a range of materials and multilayer applications. He has experience working in various filling and capping environments including ambient fill, retort, clean room and aseptic filling. Rob can also troubleshoot capping & sealing issues and can provide customers with recommendations for specific liners and package compatibility.  

Education:

  • Kansas State University, Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering

 

Trisha A. Thomas

Director, Strategic Business Development

Trisha Thomas has over 13 years of experience in packaging sales and manufacturing (ISBM,EBM, SBM, IM and CBM) in addition to product innovation, branding, sustainability and consolidation.   She also brings technical, creative design expertise and solutions with degrees in both packaging engineering and design.
Prior to starting PDG, Trisha was successful with Amcor and Alcan for 10 years. She provided packaging solutions while managing regional, national and international accounts in pharmaceutical and health and beauty such as Merck, GSK, AstraZeneca, Bausch & Lomb, Patheon, Fresenius Kabi, Revlon, L’Oreal, and Estee Lauder. She worked closely with the engineering, product development and manufacturing departments to design, develop and qualify custom, innovative packaging. Trisha also facilitated quality and compliance resolution and executed multi-million dollar contracts for new business awards. Prior to Alcan and Amcor, Trisha worked as a packaging consultant for almost 4 years in the food, household and industrial chemical industry. She consolidated products and simplified the supply chain while managing both customers and an extensive base of manufactures of plastic, metal and glass. 

Education:

  • Clemson University, Bachelor of Science, Package Engineering- graduated highest honors, Sigma Lambda Chi
  • Bauder College, Associate of Art in Design- graduated highest honors

Professional Development:

  • Akina Management & Professional Sales Program
  • Skillpath Sales Management
  • Alcan Professional Sales & Negotiation Training
  • Amcor Management & Sales Training
 

John D. Krebs

Director, Business Development

John Krebs has nearly 30 years of work in the packaging industry, with operations assignments including blow molding supervisor, materials scheduler, custom service manager, and commercial assignments including account manager, marketing manager, new product development and business development director.  Having worked in both the manufacturing and distribution arenas for Owens Illinois, Alcan Pharmaceutical and Berlin Packaging, John has developed new custom packages & programs with clients ranging from start-up brands to the Fortune 100.  Programs included work in pharmaceutical, personal care, fast food, medical device, industrial and chemical markets. 

Education:

  • State University of New York

Professional Development:

  • Two time US patent holder
  • Former Marine Corps officer 
  • Licensed US Coast Guard Captain
 

Stephen M Gillman

Northeast Regional Account Manager

Stephen is the third generation of successful Packaging Professionals and many would say that "Packaging is in his DNA."  He has been with the business 4 years in an Account Management role yielding significant customer and territory growth for each successive year.  Stephen has developed new custom packaging concepts and launched innovative supply chain programs for his customers.

Education:

  • University of Michigan, Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing, Minor in Art History, with Honors
  • Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity

Professional Development:

  • Mold Rite Plastics Injection Molding Training Program (Quality, Engineering, Process Metrics)
  • Weatherchem Training Program
 


The Packaging Design Group
© Copyright 2014 The Packaging Design Group
0%
 
10%
 
20%
 
30%
 
40%
 
50%
 
60%
 
70%
 
80%
 
90%
 
100%