Larry Lanham of Polymer Packaging Named Entrepreneur of the Year® 2021

Celebrating one of our Allendale Chamber of Commerce Members, from their family of companies, Polymer Protective Packaging, Allendale, MI.

Larry Lanham of Polymer Packaging Named Entrepreneur of the Year® 2021 East Central Award Finalist by Ernst & Young

Massillon, OH — Larry Lanham, Founder, and CEO of Polymer Packaging have been named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 East Central Award finalist by Ernst & Young LLP. Now in its 35th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors exceptional business leaders whose ambition, ingenuity, and courage in the face of adversity help them to anticipate needs and bring new ideas to market, playing a key role in the world economy.

Lanham was selected by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced during a special virtual celebration on August 5, 2021, and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation, and future plans. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. Lanham founded Polymer Packaging in 1986 as a marketing and distribution organization. The company has since grown into a state-of-the-art manufacturing organization providing engineered flexible packaging solutions with three divisions in Ohio and Michigan and three affiliate-owned plants in Cincinnati and Charlotte.

"Whether it's a standup pouch containing a food item you buy at the grocery store or an iPhone or iPad that was shipped to you, there is a good chance Polymer Packaging has touched your life in some small way, almost every day," Lanham said.

The company's focus over the last three years has been the launch of the newest division, Polymer Film & Bag, which produces co-extruded blown film used in food, medical and industrial packaging.

"We've grown from a start-up in January of 2020 and will produce more than 52 million pounds of blown film at the end of 2021," Lanham said. "It took a huge leap of faith to invest more than $20 million for the first four co-extruded lines with the fifth line to arrive in September and lines six, seven, and eight projected through 2023."

Lanham credits the company's successful entry and growth in the co-extruded film market to his employees' technical expertise and attention to detail.

"Revenue and employment have doubled in less than two years, and we expect it to double again over the next five years," he said. "It only happens when the right people are led by the right leaders.

"My nomination would not have happened if not for the countless dedicated people who perform every day and comprise Polymer Packaging," he added. "I hope this award will help our company and its employees be recognized and ultimately helps our community ravaged by economic hardship and job loss by increasing employment and contributing to an economic rebound."

About Polymer Packaging
The Polymer Packaging Family of Companies is comprised of Polymer Packaging, Inc. (PPI), a leader in developing flexible packaging solutions for the consumer products industry; Polymer Protective Packaging (PPP) which provides custom protective packaging solutions that protect products from shock vibration effects and surface abrasion; and Polymer Film & Bag (PF&B), which manufactures superior quality films that are environmentally responsible through the design of stronger but thinner films that surpass properties of thicker conventional films. https://www.polymerpkg.com

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. ey.com/us/eoy