Professor represents School of Media Sciences at conference

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Greg D’Amico, associate professor in Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Media Sciences, attended the TLMI annual meeting and leadership conference from Oct. 14-17 in Amelia Island, Fla. TLMI is the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute, an organization that serves the label and packaging industry.  

This year’s TLMI conference delivered unique learning sessions led by industry experts, while also offering networking opportunities and memorable experiences. Over the course of the multi-day conference, speakers engaged attendees with talks on managing change, driving growth, leading by example, workforce development and seizing business opportunities. TLMI chose a "James Bond" theme — appropriate because, just like the fictional Secret Service agent, the industry is continually applying new technologies and adapting to challenges in innovative ways. 

As a representative of RIT’s School of Media Sciences, D'Amico serves on the college advisory council for TLMI. In early 2018, with the help of the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, the executive board of TLMI identified six top colleges to help launch its workforce efforts from the collegiate perspective. As a longtime leader in graphic communications RIT was among those chosen. 

The primary goal of the council is to serve as a collaboration vehicle to promote ongoing dialogue between key institutions of higher learning and the label industry, especially concerning workforce development.

Among the directives of this group are to build awareness among students with the label industry, engage students through classroom agendas, provide colleges with potential TLMI guest lecturers to supplement programs and promote social media interaction opportunities between students. The council was formed to provide opportunities for both students and local TLMI member operations. 

"TLMI is evolving along with the industry, and they realize that it's not factory work anymore — now it's an exciting industry in transition,” D’Amico said. “Recent college graduates are eager to make necessary changes.” 

In his role, D'Amico serves as a liaison between TLMI and RIT. 

He is charged with promoting the importance of the TLMI scholarship program and co-op and career opportunities offered by TLMI member organizations. This exposes RIT students to a showcase of specific job prospects across the country. D'Amico also provides his expertise to TMLI members on the best strategies involved in attending college career events, where interviews are conducted for qualified undergraduates. 

This results in RIT students being channeled into meaningful co-op and career experiences, the TLMI member organizations being coached on best practices to engage prospective employees and industry-at-large benefits from proactive work to address a shortage in qualified job applicants.

One of the essential takeaways from D’Amico’s work on this council is that it affords RIT the ability to connect with growing companies. TLMI members are encouraged to work together with educational institutions to ensure the next generation of leaders is prepared to enter this dynamic field.