Looking to capitalize on his 20 years of sales success in the packaging business, SOMIC America has hired Ryan Schumacher as its new East Coast sales manager. Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, he reports directly to Peter Fox, senior vice president of sales

Schumacher’s experience with case packaging equipment will serve him well. He joins SOMIC—a manufacturer of end-of-line secondary packaging systems—after working as a mechanical packaging systems specialist with Westrock Automated Packaging Systems in Orlando. He enjoyed solid results selling fully automatic case erectors, packers, tray formers and wraparound systems to food and beverage, pharmaceutical, distribution and industrial companies in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico.

Previously he worked for a variety of companies in sales positions, developing relationships with Fortune 500 packaging accounts such as Conagra Foods, Georgia Pacific, Nestle USA, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Shell Oil Company and Tyson Foods, to name a few. It’s been a successful path since he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Economics.

“My first job after graduation was in the Finance world, but I learned I was more passionate and excited about solution selling,” said Schumacher, who grew up in the Chicago area. “That passion and my competitive nature will help me sell SOMIC’s automated equipment. My biggest immediate challenge will be getting the word out about SOMIC up and down the Eastern seaboard, but I am really impressed with the mechatronic products we have to offer in the cartoning world.”

Schumacher and his wife are parents to four sons, who range in age from 12-23. At one time he coached his sons basketball and football teams, but now enjoys time boating, diving, fishing and golfing. Ryan can be contacted via email: r.schumacher@somic.us.