It’s the end of an era at AWT Labels & Packaging. After 31 years, Dave Olson, a.k.a. Dr. O, is retiring.

From the start, our medical device label and packaging expert has been an integral part of the AWT team. Dave has offered a wealth of knowledge (oftentimes shared using colorful language and fun analogies), a cheerful energy (especially if a pint of craft beer was included) and a real insatiable drive to make this company not only meet, but exceed its potential.

Dr. O is a well-known presence throughout the medical device community. In fact, he and AWT’s predecessor, Web Label, were early members of the Medical Device Resource Group (MDRG), a consortium of independent companies from the Twin Cities that collectively offer everything needed to get new medical devices to market from the early design and legal challenges through reimbursement.

It won’t be easy to fill Dave’s shoes. But at AWT we utilize a toolbox of tested expertise every day to meet unique label and flexible packaging challenges, and the most valuable tools are our people, our medical device team. We are sure that we’ve got just the man for the job!  Dr. O has worked to pass along all those nuggets of knowledge and collaborate closely for the past two years with his successor in the medical device field, Blake Insteness.

Blake has over two decades of experience as a leader in the packaging and labeling industry, working alongside AWT personnel as a Packaging Engineer customer since 1995 and most recently as an AWT employee in Business Development focusing on Medical Device. That means he comes from a “been-there, done-that” knowhow and has a real passion for improving processes from all angles of the med device business. Blake is already actively involved in both MDRG and the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP), ensuring AWT’s expertise is strongly represented no matter where you turn for your label and flexible packaging needs.

But don’t fear: Dr. O isn’t going far!

Dave Olson has so much information and ideas jam packed in his cranium; we want to provide him with an outlet for continuous sharing. Dave will be consulting for AWT for the next 22 months, so you may seem him at select industry events, trade shows, and a few other things along the way. Also, stay tuned to AWT’s expert blog for Dr. O features. He’ll certainly be following AWT’s continual progress in the med device world, and we hope you will, too!