25 - Michael Hughes CEO of Elevation Labs
Michael Hughes, CEO of Elevation Labs, discusses his transition from Procter & Gamble to leading a contract manufacturer in Idaho Falls, emphasizing a culture of employee recognition that reduced labor costs by 30% despite higher wages. He details the company's rapid pivot to producing hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 crisis, which created a massive surge in demand for specific packaging components like pumps and sprayers. Hughes highlights the resulting supply chain disruptions, noting customers' urgent shifts toward sourcing from the US and South Korea, and predicts a future where sustainability and refillable packaging systems will regain priority once safety constraints ease.