Dan serves as President & CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the association representing U.S. converters of film, foil, paper and other materials into packages for food, medical device and industrial products. Prior to joining FPA in 2024, Dan served as Executive Director for AMERIPEN – the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment. A well-known leader in the U.S. government affairs arena for more nearly 20 years, Dan has represented multinational corporations, various coalitions, and trade associations representing several Fortune 500 companies. He is particularly passionate about environmental, sustainability, and packaging issues and has advocated extensively in those areas at the local, state, and federal levels in the U.S.

Russell Grissett is the CEO & President of TOPPAN Packaging Americas and Chair of the FPA Board of Directors.

Russell joined Toppan as CEO and President of TOPPAN Packaging Americas following Toppan’s acquisition of Sonoco’s Flexibles and Thermoforming businesses in April 2025. Prior to joining Toppan, he was with Sonoco for over 30 years where he was most recently President of Global Thermoforming and Flexibles and an Officer of the company.

A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Engineering, Russell remains actively involved with his alma mater as a member of Auburn’s Industrial Engineering Alumni Council. He also serves as Chair Elect of the Flexible Packaging Association and contributes to Clemson University as a member of the FRESH Advisory Board.

Russell lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife, Christina, and their three children. In his free time, he enjoys boating, mountain biking, hiking, cooking, and watching college sports.

Andrew (Andy) is a registered federal lobbyist who has testified before the U.S. Senate and lobbied in over 25 state capitols. Prior to joining Serlin Haley, he served as vice president of government affairs for the Toy Industry Association, where he oversaw TIA’s advocacy programs at both the state and federal levels. Andrew also has directed the national government affairs program of the Consumer Specialty Products Association.

Andrew received a Bachelors of Science in Public Affairs from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington, Indiana and a Masters of Business Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

During his 24-year career, Esteban has experienced all aspects of the petrochemical value chain, through commercial and marketing assignments with Repsol Química in Spain, Tetra Pak in Panama, and New Castle Industries in Houston. That cycle of experiences, spanning chemical producers, polymer converters, and consumer product companies, was a key success factor for his transition to the chemical consulting industry, where Esteban worked under the umbrella of renowned firms like Townsend Tarnell, Nexant ChemSystems, CMAI (now part of IHS Chemical), and Wood Mackenzie, honing his price research, reporting and forecasting, market research, and analysis and feasibility studies skills.

During his tenure at CMAI, Esteban was responsible for the discovery and analysis of supply, demand, cost, and price dynamics for polyethylene and polypropylene in the Americas. He was also the lead in several proprietary studies, including feasibility studies, market analysis, and due diligence reports.

Before founding ChemPMC, Esteban headed Wood Mackenzie’s polymer practice, designing and implementing the company’s polymer services, which features scenario-capable long-term supply and demand models, logistic demand forecasting tools, global trade grids, as well as seasonality-driven short-term supply and demand models, and in the process trained a global team of analysts located in Houston, London, and Singapore.

Esteban has been a featured speaker at North and Latin American chemical and polymer associations meetings including APLA, IPA, ANIPAC, Canadian Plastics, or CERI, as well as consulting firms and producers-led events. Esteban holds a Chemical Engineering Degree from the Instituto Químico de Sarrià in Barcelona, Spain as well as an MBA from Rice University’s Jones School of Business.

Suzanne Shelton is a senior partner at ERM Shelton, the nation’s leading marketing communications agency entirely focused in the sustainability space. She regularly counsels C-level executives at Fortune 1000 organizations on how to best define and leverage their sustainability approaches to drive business results. She currently serves on the board of BioLogiQ, and recently served on the board of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the executive advisory board of Cyclyx. She is also a member of the Exceptional Women Alliance. Ms. Shelton offers insights and inspiration on conference stages around the country, guest writes for Trellis, and directly manages a team of leaders who, collectively, have made the company a success story since 1991.

Clint Smith has over 12 years experience working for global market intelligence agencies, 8 of which at Euromonitor International, providing strategic insights on international markets and consumers. He has worked closely with numerous Fortune 500 B2C and B2B multinational companies, including packagers, packaging associations and raw materials suppliers of packaging.

BearCat Café

Bearcat CBD is an expansion upon our original Uptown location. As always, our goal is to provide options for all dietary preferences and restrictions. Our menu features a Good Cat section, which offers lighter fare, and a Bad Cat section that features heartier, more indulgent dishes. We have a curated selection of sustainably sourced coffees, a diverse array of specialty teas, a rotating line of house-made bottled beverages, and a full-service bar program. We always maintain a variety of Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo, and Gluten-Free choices amongst our selections. Bearcat CBD tries to cater to each and every one of our patrons to the best of our abilities. Serves a casual breakfast and lunch.

Brennan's

A New Orleans Original Since 1946! Brennan's Executive Chef Kris Padalino's menus are rooted in Creole traditions and are bolstered with contemporary New Orleans influences. Marrying classic and modern techniques yields a decidedly innovative approach and enhances our local, seasonal offerings. Great for business meetings – breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

GW Fins

Welcome to GW Fins, where the finest seasonal seafood meets culinary artistry in the heart of New Orleans. Our chefs craft each dish with subtle techniques that enhance the natural flavors and textures of the day's freshest catch. Indulge in a menu that changes daily, offering a true taste of elegant simplicity. Reserve your table today or explore our menu to discover why GW Fins is a seafood destination like no other. A great location for business dinners.

Muriel’s Jackson Square

The epitome of decadence, opulence, and mystery that surrounds the French Quarter, coupled with Chef Erik Veney’s contemporary Creole cuisine. At Muriel's, enjoy a street side lunch or relaxed dinner with friends surrounded by an inviting ambiance on our first floor. Our second floor offers a provocative sensory private dining experience. Guests are immersed in a world of refinement and revelry that reflects the rich historical, cultural, and culinary character of the Crescent City.

Napoleon House

Owned and operated by the Impastato family since 1914 and Ralph Brennan since May of 2015, Napoleon House suspends you in time. Listen to Beethoven's Eroiqua, which he composed for Napoleon, and the music of other classical masters, while sipping a Pimm's Cup, and basking in an ambiance that could only be New Orleans. Casual lunch and dinner.