PROGRAMMING
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SCHEDULE
**Schedule and program subject to change.**
Monday, November 9
Welcome Reception (hosted by Board of Directors)
Enjoy an open bar and light appetizers.
6:45 PM - 8:45 PM
Tuesday, November 10
Coffee Service
Kick off the day’s programming with a coffee service and light snacks.
1:00 - 1:15 PM
PSTC Program
1:15 PM - 1:30 PM I Welcome and Opening Remarks
Kick Off the Program with PSTC President Jonathan Hirsh
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM I Keynote: Gene Marks
Gene Marks
Gene will speak on 3 key topics impacting our industry. Each segment will include a presentation followed by a short panel.
Globalization & Trade
- The impact of globalization on the pressure sensitive tape industry, including import and export dynamics.
- Evolving trade policies and tariffs and their influence on manufacturing costs, supply chains, and competitiveness.
- Balancing domestic manufacturing priorities with the realities of a global marketplace.
- Building resilient supply chains through strategic international partnerships.
- The future of sourcing, reshoring, and nearshoring initiatives.
Artificial Intelligence & Digital Transformation
- The growing role of AI across manufacturing, operations, logistics, customer service, and business intelligence.
- Opportunities for AI to improve efficiency, productivity, forecasting, and decision-making.
- Challenges associated with AI adoption, including workforce readiness, data quality, cybersecurity, and governance.
- The impact of AI and automation within warehouse and distribution environments.
- Balancing technological advancement with human expertise.
Affordability – Navigating a Higher Cost Environment
Companies in the pressure sensitive tape (and related industries) have seen their operating costs skyrocket over the past few years. How are companies navigating this higher cost environment? Gene Marks will share with you some of the strategies being used by many of his clients, readers and community to manage their bottom line in this very volatile and disruptive time. During his presentation Gene will make recommendations for minimizing tariff exposures, maximizing pricing, leveraging new tax deductions and credits, financing options and government programs to consider as well as controlling healthcare, retirement, PTO and other workplace benefits.
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM I State of PSTC & Committee Updates
State of PSTC
Close out the year with PSTC President Jonathan Hirsh. See what we have accomplished this year and what you can expect in the year to come.
Committee Updates
1:15 - 4:00 PM
Welcome Reception and Dinner
Join us for the Welcome Dinner and start the event off right with an evening of cocktails, conversation, and relaxed networking. The evening will feature lawn games and a dinner buffet starting at 6:00 p.m.
5:00 PM
Wednesday, November 11
Morning Coffee
All attendees are welcome to coffee service to start your day.
8:00 AM
PSTC Program
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM I PSTC Research Project: Breakthrough Research
Guiding Future Growth: A Decade of PSA Tape Opportunity Research
Join us for an engaging session with Christy Panlilio, Vice President from Breakthrough Research, that brings together insights from PSTC’s latest research initiatives to explore the evolving landscape of PSA tape applications and future growth opportunities. Drawing on both broad industry feedback and a deep-dive examination of data center and AI infrastructure applications, this presentation will highlight emerging trends, key market opportunities, and strategic implications for the industry.
Attendees will gain a comprehensive view of how PSA tape opportunities have evolved over the past decade, learn about the latest research findings, and participate in an interactive discussion designed to translate insights into practical actions. The session will also explore potential priorities for future education, content development, and industry collaboration, helping PSTC members prepare for the next phase of category growth.
Through a combination of research findings and a strategic foresight exercise, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of where the industry is headed and how emerging applications within data centers and AI infrastructure may shape future demand and innovation.
An advance copy of the PSTC research findings will be provided to all registrants approximately one week before the event.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM I Keynote: ITR | Taylor St. Germain
Keynote
Taylor St. Germain, ITR Economics
Taylor spent time in the tech industry providing market intelligence to electronics OEMs, semiconductor companies, and component manufacturers. In his five years with ITR Economics, he has worked with various distributors, manufacturers, and producers, helping each client navigate the business cycle and optimize their corporate planning strategy. Taylor has also spent several years in Texas furthering his research in the industrial sector, with a specific focus on oil and gas.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Golf Outing (optional acitvity)
1:00 PM
Closing Dinner and Awards Recognitions
Celebrate PSTC’s achievements this year with your industry colleagues in a business casual, plated dinner setting. Includes full open bar.
6:45 PM - 9:00 PM
SPEAKERS
KEYNOTES
Gene Marks
The Marks Group
A former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post, Gene Marks now writes regularly for The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Washington Times, and The Guardian.
Gene is the author of more than half a dozen bestselling business books, including his latest, The AI Business Playbook — Lessons, Risks and Opportunities.
He appears regularly on national media outlets including Fox News, Fox Business, and CBS, and is a frequent guest on “Eye on the World” with John Batchelor as well as SiriusXM Wharton Business Channel, where he discusses the financial, economic, and technology issues impacting business leaders today.
Through his keynotes and breakout sessions, Gene helps business owners, executives, and managers understand the political, economic, and technological trends shaping their industries—and, most importantly, the practical actions they can take to grow and remain competitive.
Gene is the founder and owner of The Marks Group PC, a successful technology and consulting firm serving small and midsized businesses.
Earlier in his career, Gene, a Certified Public Accountant, spent nine years with KPMG in Philadelphia, where he was a Senior Manager in the firm’s entrepreneurial services practice.
Taylor St. Germain
ITR Economics
His dynamic personality and extensive knowledge of economic trends and their business relevance are highly valued by clients and colleagues alike.
Taylor spent time in the tech industry providing market intelligence to electronics OEMs, semiconductor companies, and component manufacturers. In his five years with ITR Economics, he has worked with various distributors, manufacturers, and producers, helping each client navigate the business cycle and optimize their corporate planning strategy. Taylor has also spent several years in Texas furthering his research in the industrial sector, with a specific focus on oil and gas.
Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in statistics from the University of Vermont and is finishing a master’s degree in applied economics at Southern New Hampshire University. He has been featured in OEM Magazine and on the Fab Lab and Wealth Formula podcasts.
Christy Panlilio
Breakthrough Research
Christy Panlilio is a Vice President at Breakthrough Research, a custom research firm that partners with organizations to uncover growth opportunities and elevate strategic impact. Breakthrough has partnered on multiple initiatives for PSTC, helping the council identify and illuminate new opportunities to expand its influence on the pressure-sensitive tape industry and related applications.
With 20 years of marketing research experience across categories such as pressure-sensitive tape, automotive, telecommunications, retail, and entertainment, Christy specializes in custom research design, brand strategy and positioning, and marketing communications. Prior to joining Breakthrough Research, she held senior-level roles at Kantar, Kantar Added Value, and Hypothesis, where she led complex, multi-market studies and advised clients on turning insight into clear, commercially grounded decisions.
ACTIVITIES
Wednesday, November 11
GOLF OUTING
1:10 PM Shotgun Start
Price includes green fees, cart, sleeve of balls, unlimited range balls, GPS Golf System, all tournament services (i.e. scorecards, scoreboard, cart cards, etc.) and box lunch. Drinks the responsibility of players.
Golf Clubs are availabe to rent for $65.
PSTC will not be providing transportation. Allow 20 minutes to get to course due to traffic.
Deadline to register is Thursday, October 15th.
The Club at Emerald Hills
4100 North Hills Drive, Hollywood, FL 33021.