Sonoco Implementing Price Increases for Uncoated Recycled Paperboard, Converted Paperboard Products

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Hartsville, South Carolina-based Sonoco Products Company (NYSE: SON), a global leader in high-value sustainable paper and metal packaging, announced it is implementing a $70 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the United States and Canada, effective with shipments beginning April 10, 2025.

According to John Florence, general counsel, secretary and vice president and general manager, Industrial Paper Packaging North America, the price change is necessitated by continued inflation in input costs and tightening market conditions.

“Sonoco is committed to continuously improving our product offerings and pricing strategies to serve our customers better. As part of this commitment, we are also realigning to value-based pricing and transitioning away from offering old, corrugated container price mechanisms, which are not true reflections of our overall value and cost to serve customers,” Florence said.

Florence added, “This change more accurately reflects current market conditions and the value of our products and service offerings while ensuring the sustainability of our operations.”

Sonoco also will increase prices for all converted paperboard products by a minimum of 8 percent, effective with shipments on and after April 15, 2025.

Officials said this includes paperboard tubes, cores, cones, partitions, protective packaging and other specialty products.

Sonoco has approximately 28,000 employees working in more than 300 operations around the world.

Sonoco was named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek in 2024.

Generational Group Advises Priority Home Care In Sale to Arcus Health Services

Generational Group, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm for privately held businesses, announced the sale of Priority Home Care, LLC to Arcus Health Services, LLC.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Located in Walterboro, South Carolina, Priority Home Care, LLC is a provider of home and community-based healthcare services, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seniors and disabled individuals.

Priority Home Care offers a range of personalized services, including in-home residential care and community integration programs.

Arcus Health Services, LLC is private organization that is primarily engaged in providing skilled nursing services and other therapeutic services, such as physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, occupational therapy, medical social services, and home health aide services.

Generational Group Executive Managing Director, M&A, Eastern Region – David Fergusson, and his team led by Generational Affiliate, Tim Dalton, with the support of Vice President, M&A, Emil Nirkis, successfully closed the deal.

Senior Managing Director Terry Stidham and Chief Marketing Officer David Ohrvall established the initial relationship with Priority Home Care, LLC.

Generational Group, headquartered in Dallas, is a full-service M&A advisory firm.

With over 300 professionals across 15 offices in North America, the company helps business owners unlock the value of their businesses through a comprehensive suite of advisory services.

These include strategic growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A advisory, digital solutions, and wealth management.

University of South Carolina Launches Nurse-Midwifery Program 

The University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing will offer the state’s only accredited nurse-midwifery education program starting in Fall 2025 to address South Carolina’s maternal health needs.

Midwives care for women throughout their lifetime and, officials say, play a critical role in maternal health by providing gynecological, prenatal, postpartum and primary care.

Their presence is linked to lower C-section rates, reduced preterm births and higher breastfeeding rates, the officials say.

The program will offer an accessible online pathway for registered nurses to earn a Master of Science in Nursing.

Upon completion, students will be eligible to sit for the Certified Nurse-Midwife certification exam administered through the American Midwifery Certification Board. 

“Our nurse-midwifery program will offer high quality education and training that empowers nurses to provide compassionate, specialized care for families throughout every stage of pregnancy and childbirth,” says College of Nursing Dean Jeannette Andrews.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 40 percent increase in midwifery jobs over the next decade.

The college anticipates launching a Doctor of Nursing Practice program with a focus on midwifery in 2026. 

To support clinical training for midwifery students, USC has partnered with the School of Medicine Columbia, Prisma Health Baptist and the South Carolina affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.  

Ten midwifery practices across the state have committed to providing clinical education opportunities for students, including Columbia, Easley, Greenville, Greenwood, Hartsville, Manning and Orangeburg, with multiple locations in Charleston and Spartanburg.

ScanSource CEO Named 2025 Channel Influencer of the Year

Mike Baur, chair and CEO of ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC), a leading hybrid distributor connecting devices to the cloud, has been named 2025 Channel Influencer of the Year by Channel Futures.

Officials said the recognition honors executives who have distinguished themselves through their unwavering support of the partner community, forging deep and trusted relationships across the ecosystem.

Since 2018, the Channel Futures Channel Influencer Awards have recognized the 50 top-performing executives in the information technology and communications channel.

Among the 50 executives honored, Channel Futures recognizes two influencers from the list who they consider to be the year’s most influential.

“Channel Futures is proud to recognize Mike Baur as our Influencer of the Year,” said Craig Galbraith, Channel Futures editorial director. “Under his leadership, ScanSource created its own advisory practice that could have significant ramifications for the future of the model."

Galbraith added, "Of course, this could also be a lifetime achievement award, as ScanSource’s acquisition of Intelisys in 2016 has deeply shaped the technology advisor landscape for nearly a decade, with many investors following ScanSource into what was once a nascent market.”

“It is an honor to be recognized by Channel Futures as Channel Influencer of the Year and to be in the company of other successful leaders who are driving a positive impact in the technology channel,” said Baur. “At ScanSource, our goal is to help our channel partners grow their businesses by meeting the evolving technology needs of end customers.”

He added, “We strive to meet partners where they are, enabling them to deliver the devices, software and services that can help end customers be successful. I am proud of the hard-working and talented team of people we have, who make our partners’ success our North Star. This recognition from Channel Futures is a reflection of their commitment to the channel we serve.”

Led by an entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to fulfilling a need in the technology channel, Baur co-founded ScanSource in 1992, with a team of six people, and served as president from its inception until 2000, when he was named chief executive officer.

He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1995, serving as chair of the board since February 2019.

ScanSource enables channel partners to deliver solutions for their end customers to address changing buying and consumption patterns.

ScanSource uses multiple sales models to offer hybrid distribution solutions from leading suppliers of specialty technologies, connectivity and cloud.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, ScanSource was named one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in South Carolina and on FORTUNE magazine’s 2025 List of World’s Most Admired Companies.

ScanSource ranks #776 on the Fortune 1000.

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