Get ready for a forward-looking conversation with packaging leaders who have shaped the past three decades and are actively influencing what comes next.

This panel dives into the realities of hitting sustainability goals, tackling e-commerce demands, and using new tools that can transform development from concept through commercialization.

You will hear practical perspectives from experts across industry segments who know what it takes to execute big ideas. Expect insights you can apply to your own work as the packaging landscape continues to shift. 

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Meet the moderator

Rob States, CPP
Vice President, Technical Services, Cormica

With 25 years in packaging, Rob combines deep technical knowledge with strategic leadership to support successful product development. He specializes in Consumer Health, MedTech, and Pharma, guiding teams through risk management, performance challenges, and real-world manufacturing considerations. His work has helped deliver over 100 products to market, informed by hands-on experience across dozens of R&D organizations and more than 100 manufacturing facilities.

Rob has contributed to more than 1,000 projects throughout his career, and brings a practical perspective to every conversation, helping teams make confident decisions backed by data and industry know-how. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Plastics Engineering and an MBA from Penn State and Ashland University.

Meet the panelists

Clint Haynes
Co-Founder, Cognify

Clint brings 45 years of experience in predictive computational simulation, packaging development, and advanced engineering solutions. He spent decades at Procter & Gamble applying nonlinear finite element methods to optimize rigid plastic packaging, speeding up development and raising the bar for mechanical performance across the industry.

He later built a successful division at Stress Engineering Services, advancing computational tools, custom testing approaches, and instrumentation used across packaging, medical devices, pharmaceutical delivery systems, and manufacturing equipment. Now as a co-founder of Cognify, Clint is focused on the future of e-commerce packaging. He is developing smarter analysis techniques and testing technologies that reflect the true challenges of fulfillment and logistics environments. Clint holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Bill Eaton
Veteran packaging R&D leader in consumer goods

Bill brings nearly 35 years of experience in food and beverage packaging, including a highly impactful career at PepsiCo. He led major packaging innovation efforts across Carbonated Soft Drinks, Hydration, Food Service, and the Gatorade platform, while also guiding productivity initiatives for beverage and nutrition categories. His leadership extended to the Starbucks packaging innovation partnership, advancing solutions for on-the-go consumers. Before his time at PepsiCo, Bill worked on packaging engineering and innovation at Cadbury Schweppes, building a strong foundation in consumer packaged goods. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Project Management and pursued Architectural Engineering studies at Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Bill’s broad experience across global brands, product categories, and development priorities gives him a practical perspective on how packaging decisions influence performance, cost, and consumer experience.

Liz Mellone
Veteran packaging engineering expert in consumer good

Liz brings nearly 30 years of experience in consumer packaged goods, most recently serving as Vice President of Packaging Innovation at Colgate-Palmolive. She built her career from hands-on packaging engineering to executive leadership by partnering closely with R&D, marketing, and supply chain teams. Her focus has always been translating consumer and brand needs into packaging that performs, scales, and delivers results.

Liz has led major sustainability and operational excellence initiatives across global categories, developing strong supplier networks and building teams that push for continuous improvement. She understands how to balance cost, quality, and compliance while keeping consumer experience at the forefront. She holds degrees from Indiana State University and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Jamie Perry
Retired Director, Packaging Innovation & Sustainability

Jamie brings over 30 years of experience guiding strategy, R&D, and operations in both nutritional and medical device packaging. He is known for pairing hands-on engineering expertise with strong leadership to build teams that deliver practical, scalable solutions. 

In his role at Abbott, he led environmental sustainability strategy and governance, anticipating regulatory changes long before they arrived. He championed early R&D investment and alignment with long-term business planning to ensure packaging could support market access, compliance, and patient needs. His perspective highlights the increasing role packaging plays in a product’s success. Jamie holds a degree in Packaging Engineering from Michigan State University.

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