Carlton L. Highsmith founded Specialized Packaging Group in 1983 and identified opportunities in the packaging industry. SPG has grown from 3 to 500 employees and is now the largest minority-owned folding carton manufacturer in North America. SPG focuses on innovation, operational excellence, and customer value. Certification from the National Minority Supplier Development Council has helped SPG's growth and exposure. SPG's executive team has over 130 years of industry experience driving the company forward.

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Highsmith finds a niche and takes it for miles
By Peter Fretty
When Carlton L. Highsmith founded Hamden, explained . “Certification has given our
Conn.-based Specialized Packaging Group dynamic firm a broader level of exposure as
Inc. in 1983, he quickly identified the wonder- well as initial access to opportunities otherwise
ful opportunities existing within the packaging unavailable,” he said.
industry. However, at that time, there was no
way of knowing he would be able to build the Looking forward
company to its current level. Like most forward-looking companies,
In fact, the company has realized what Highsmith is dedicated to meeting and exceed-
most only hope to achieve one day — a truly ing customer expectations. “As we continue to
marketable niche. Plus, the National Minority grow and strengthen our offering, we hope to
Supplier Development Council certified Cor- continue delighting all of our customers by
porate Plus Member has grown from three to delivering world-class innovative products and
Carlton L. Highsmith
500-plus employees, and they are now the services at competitive prices,” he said.
largest minority-owned folding carton manu- In order to achieve this goal, the company
ous positions in continuous quality manage-
facturer in North America. is focused on staying true to its core. “There is
ment and operations management.
no question, innovation is at the core of all that
At the core we do,” he said. “Central to our culture is chal-
Managing Director: Don Gray
Highsmith told MBN USA that SPG has lenging current thinking and ways of doing
Gray is a professional engineer with over 20
three core competencies successfully guiding things with an eye toward doing it better than
years experience in the printing/packaging
its daily operations. “The first is innovation, our competition to bring more value to our
industry.
and by innovation I am referring not just to customers.”
developing new structural package designs,
Managing Director: Tony Turino
SPG Management Team
new materials and process improvement tech-
Turino is a 15-year veteran of the
nologies, but also complete supply chain inno- Vice President and COO: Robert Gariepy
printing/packaging industry. He has held vari-
vation,” he said. Gariepy is a 33-year veteran of the
ous positions in finance, operations and techni-
Secondly, SPG has built the core of its printing/packaging industry with broad global
cal service during his career.
business around fielding a noticeable level of operations and management experience.
operational excellence. “We have developed a
The Specialized Packaging
reputation of reliability and of flawless execu- Director of Sales and Business:
Group Inc.
tion that we are extremely proud of,” Development: Renzo Sparavier
Highsmith said . Sparavier is a 25-year veteran of the Certifying Council:
Finally, SPG has been able to build and printing/packaging industry with strong prod- National Minority Supplier Development
nurture a world-class performance organiza- uct development and technical expertise. Council (NMSDC) - certified in 1983
tion focused on delivering customer value
Capabilities:
today and well into the future. Director of Human Resources:
•Structural package design and innovation
Brenda Chapman
teams
Driving forces Chapman is a 10-year veteran of the
•Lithographic printing
In addition to its core competencies, SPG printing/packaging industry with a wide range
•Primographic printing
has continued to benefit from the actions of a of personnel, training and human resources
•Web Flexographic printing
seasoned executive team sporting over 130 experience.
•Rotogravure printing
years of industry experience. “I am extremely
•Comprehensive converting capabilities
proud of my management team. They are an Director of Finance and IT:
extraordinary group of seasoned industry pro- Liz Emig-Rosekrans Contact:
fessionals with enormous talent and expert- Rosekrans is a 15-year veteran of the print- Carlton L. Highsmith
ise,” said Highsmith. “They share my vision of ing/packaging industry, holding various posi- President and CEO
excellence and are impassioned about deliver- tions in cost accounting and finance during her 3190 Whitney Avenue # 7
ing exceptional service and value to our cus- career. Hamden, CT 06518
tomers.” (203) 248-3370
Being a certified minority supplier has Managing Director: Leo Basciano
e-mail: c.highsmith@spinternational.com
also made a difference in SPG’s growth, Basciano is a 35-year veteran of the
www.spgroup-inc.com
development and success, Highsmith printing/packaging industry. He has held vari-
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