Pleasant Prairie, WI – January 1st, 2026 – LMI Packaging is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2025 Chester Sykes, Vince Incandela, and Jean Moran Awards.
2025 Chester Sykes Award
The Chester Sykes Award is our Employee of the Year award. Chester Sykes founded LMI Packaging in 1967 to create a company where people could be heard. The people presented with this award follow the example of Chester’s core values: Humility, No Filter, Curiosity, No Limits, Respect, and Giving Back. This award goes to the employee who has worked towards improving performance, advancing the company, and acting as a change agent while upholding their morals and corporate values. LMI Packaging is proud to announce the recipient of our 2025 Chester Sykes Award, Juan Cruz.
This year’s Chester Sykes Award recipient has been instrumental this year in supporting the changes we have made in operations while being a constant positive influence on our team. He follows all of our processes to a tee, lives out our core values, and comes in killing every shift. On multiple occasions, Juan was a great example to others in speaking up when issues were observed on the floor. This was done thoughtfully, in a way that didn’t push down other team members. He has worked to train new employees this year while still maintaining the utmost commitment to customer service.
Juan is respectful across the board, an ultimate team player, and doesn’t waste their energy worrying or complaining about the things they can’t control. Each day is attacked with a plan. He is a very valuable employee on our team and has once again shown their ability to be an MVP.
2025 Vince Incandela Award
The Vince Incandela Award is LMI’s Volunteer of the Year award. Giving back to our community through volunteer groups, nonprofit organizations, charity, or other means does so much to help those in need and contributes to the common good. It also embodies the values that Vince Incandela instilled at LMI Packaging for 24 Years. This award is a symbol of what he created and passed on to us, as a company. His support for others to find their passion in the world of volunteerism was the reason this award was created so others like him can be recognized for their contributions to make change out in the community. LMI Packaging is proud to announce the recipient of our 2024 Vince Incandela Award, Hannah Nelson!
This year’s Vince Incandela Award recipient has been an integral person for LMI’s community outreach, whether it’s our internal LMI community or the greater Kenosha area. Hannah inspires the team and is a great team player who is willing to help in any way possible. She frequently comes to the rescue when fellow employees have run into problems and brings a positive attitude every day. Hannah probably knows just about everyone in the business and is very respected and appreciated throughout the building; People clearly trust her judgement and ability to get things done.
In her work with the community team, Hannah has helped to provide numerous volunteer opportunities as well as internal events for the LMI team. Key employee events like our Day of Caring, Employee Appreciation Week, and the Holiday Party would not be possible without Hannah’s help.
2025 Jean Moran Award
The Jean Moran Award is our Leadership Award. Inspirational Leadership are the two words that sum up the Jean Moran award. Jean was the second CEO of LMI Packaging and embraced and represented all the values her father, Chester Sykes, taught her. No matter who she talks to, their background, their experience, their position in business or the world, Jean meets people where they are and treats them with the respect they deserve as humans. Her mindset is – we are all in this together! This award goes to the employee whose glass is not just half full, it is overflowing. Whose positivity is contagious, who regularly puts others before themselves, and helps others live into their genius, to make the world a better place for all. LMI Packaging is proud to announce the recipient of our 2024 Jean Moran Award, Ryan Kirschbaum!
This year’s Jean Moran Award recipient has had themselves one hell of a year, finding himself with a big opportunity for growth and taking it head-on, doing this without what is in it for himself. Ryan is not afraid to make mistakes, not afraid to challenge the status quo and rock the boat, and understands how to do so by treating people with the respect and patience they deserve. He is always willing to work with people to help find a solution to any issue and does it at their level. Seeing how Ryan interacts with different people throughout the organization shows that he has respect for everyone and the role they play; no one person or job is more important than another. Ryan engages with his teams, encouraging them to grow and step out of their comfort zones.
Ryan just nailed it this year; his leadership throughout the building has grown each day in 2025, and it can’t go unnoticed.
Pictured Left to Right:
Ryan Kirschbaum, Mark Holmes (CFO), Hannah Nelson, Cassie McNitt (Accounting and HR Manager), Juan Cruz, and JP Moran (CEO)
