Pantano: I believe strongly that we all have to be committed to driving success in the industry, and we all have to be a part of helping the industry navigate through change, whether it’s digital transformation or regulatory challenges. There’s a lot happening. The one area that I really want to be focused on is our small distributors or small customers that don’t necessarily have the resources and the scale that some of the larger companies have and making sure that we are listening to them or being a voice for them. We need to provide resources and tools and solutions and content, things that are going to enable them to be successful. Because that’s the bulk of our industry, the bulk of the customers that are members of the Association, and we have got to make sure they have a voice and a seat at the table. PPAI Media: In all sorts of industries, there’s a fear of the growing trend that big companies are getting even bigger and small companies are struggling to survive. Do you believe it takes conscious action to avoid that? Pantano: I don’t know if you can avoid consolidation. Companies have capital or access to capital to invest and make acquisitions, so that will happen. But the acquisition is a two-way street. Somebody has to be willing to sell, and somebody has to be willing to buy. Those that sell can have success in selling their business. If they built a successful business, that’s a good exit for a lot of people, so I don’t think that’s going to diminish. But those that want to stay and compete and thrive and have a successful livelihood, even with a small company, should be able to do that. Part of our job as an association is to provide them with the tools and resources that will enable them to be successful. If they decide to sell their business, that’s great – as long as no one is forced to sell their business and it’s a decision they make on their own. PPAI Media: Almost a half a year into your board tenure, have you enjoyed the process so far? Pantano: I’ve learned a lot. I wasn’t that familiar with how the board worked and how it operated and the intricacies around the strategy and the other things that we’re trying to do as an association, so the learning side of it has been really fun and exciting for me. And then it’s the relationships and getting to know the other board members and PPAI management team. I’ve really enjoyed that. We just had our offsite board meeting a couple weeks ago and spent two days together. It feels like a team with PPAI. It has been pretty rewarding. PPAI Media: Seeing the industry from the board perspective a decade after joining alphabroder, how do you feel about the state of the industry in 2023 and onward? Pantano: We’re seeing change happen at a more rapid pace than when I first started. Industry consolidation, adoption of technology and the push for sustainable products are just a few examples of that change. We’ve been talking about this for 10 years, but this industry has been slower to change from a technological perspective. The digital transformation that’s, frankly, been happening more quickly in other industries – I think those dynamics are starting and going to continue at a more accelerated pace than what we’ve seen in the past. Auping is a news editor at PPAI. We need to provide resources and tools and solutions and content, things that are going to enable smaller companies to be successful. Because that’s the bulk of our industry, the bulk of the customers that are members of the Association, and we have got to make sure they have a voice and a seat at the table. Dan Pantano | Must Read PPAI • SEPTEMBER 2023 • 51
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