Christopher DeLetto has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Christopher has played a key role in advancing the company’s acquisition strategy and supporting long-term growth initiatives. Christopher succeeds his father, Ralph DeLetto, with whom he worked closely over the last year, and who generously shared his knowledge and experience to help prepare Christopher for this important leadership role. With a background in investment banking and private equity, Christopher brings strong financial expertise and strategic insight to MIDLAND. In his new role as CFO, he will oversee all financial functions of the company and play a key role in shaping MIDLAND’s strategic direction and continued growth. “Christopher has quickly become an important part of our leadership team,” said Mike Graves, President and Chief Executive Officer of MIDLAND. “He knows our business, he brings great financial skills, and he has a deep connection to MIDLAND’s history. Jim (O’Toole) and I are confident he’ll do a terrific job in his new role.”

Ralph F. DeLetto, of Glenview, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on September 29th, 2025, the Feast Day of the Archangels. Ralph was a devoted and loving husband to Nancy (nee Menis). He was the proud father of Michael (Molly) and Christopher (Danae) DeLetto and adored PaPa to Rafaella, Ariana and Nikolas DeLetto. Ralph is preceded in death by his parents Ralph J. & Eleanor (nee Panelli) DeLetto. He is fondly remembered by his brother Frank (Maureen) DeLetto; his nieces and nephews, Erin (Dave) DeLetto Miranda, Ryann (Jamie) Urcioli, Elisa (Matt) Levy, Mark (Nicole) Menis; and, his great niece and nephew, Sofia DeLetto and Parker Miranda. He was a dear cousin and friend of many. Ralph grew up in Franklin Park, Illinois. His parents set Ralph up for success in life by rooting him in his Catholic faith. He attended St. Gertrude's School, Holy Cross High School and Dominican University. While at Dominican, Ralph met Nancy, the love of his life. They married at 24, started their family with Michael at 28, completed their family with Christopher at 31, built their dream home at 33 and tackled every turn of life hand in hand. Their fairy tale love story began 47 years ago and will be written into eternity. Despite Ralph’s demanding professional career, he was always present for his family and never missed an important life event or his sons’ games. Ralph counted his daughters-in-law, Danae and Molly, as his own and loved them as if they were. When he became a grandfather to Rafaella and Ariana, his love knew no boundaries. God sent Ralph one final gift, his grandson Nikolas, and his heart was complete. Ralph’s family was the center of his universe and a source of both great pride and strength. Together with his family, he knew all things were possible. Ralph started his career as a Certified Public Accountant at Arthur Young where his talents and astute attention to detail were quickly recognized. Ralph found himself in an exclusive group tasked with advising the firm’s clients on mergers and acquisitions. He loved new and exciting challenges; never settled for mediocracy; and had an uncanny ability to find a way forward regardless of the challenge at hand. Ralph became a CFO at 31 and ultimately found his professional calling in 2002 at MIDLAND. Over the last 22 years, Ralph and his two partners, Mike Graves and Jim O’Toole, have grown MIDLAND into one of the largest privately held companies in Illinois. Ralph loved MIDLAND and, most importantly, its 900+ team members, who he referred to as the “best team in the business”. Ralph was most proud knowing that his sons are going to carry forward his legacy and help MIDLAND reach new heights. Ralph was a force of nature that did not rest until he succeeded. He was loyal, committed and beyond moral reproach. He was a pillar of strength for many. He taught us to always look at the cup half full. He believed in living life to the fullest for tomorrow is not promised and each day is a blessing. We were blessed to have Ralph in our lives for the time that we did because he changed the trajectory of the lives of those that knew him for the better. Ralph will continue to live within our hearts and souls forever. Ralph believed deeply in the work of Northwestern’s Associate Board that screens and invests in next generation cancer research. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Ralph DeLetto to support the Associate Board of Lurie Cancer Center, c/o Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 E. Superior Street, Rubloff Building, 9th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, or click here to make an online donation: https://giving.nu/lccassociateboardfy25

Midland is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Ralph DeLetto, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and co-owner of the company. Ralph passed away Monday night following a long and courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. “Ralph was an extraordinary leader and a trusted partner whose vision and integrity helped shape Midland into the organization it is today,” said Mike Graves, President and Chief Executive Officer. “His contributions to our business and our people were immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to inspire us for many years to come.” Ralph is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his sons, Michael and Christopher, who are also valued colleagues at Midland.

The first-ever American football game to be held in Ireland takes place Sept. 29, and Jameson Irish Whiskey is ready to commemorate the occasion. The brand has declared itself the "Unofficial Whiskey for Football Fans," and has created a slew of events both in the U.S. and across the pond, as well as online content in honor of the first game in Dublin. Bringing “a little Irish mischief, toasting the unexpected moments, and championing fans on their own turf,” the online campaign from Ogilvy runs on Jameson-owned channels and in paid media through Nov. 2. "Jameson has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the fans, and that's why we are excited … to finally celebrate American football in Dublin," says Valeria Catterini, senior brand director, Jameson at Pernod Ricard USA, in a release.  "We can't wait for fans to experience Irish hospitality firsthand as we toast to the game that the fans helped make happen."

On Friday, Sept. 5, downtown Lancaster City was abuzz as its annual Print Crawl returned to the streets to create an immersive print experience for the community. Located in Central Pennsylvania, the small city is not only known for its rich history and notable horse-and-buggy sightings – it’s also home to a thriving arts culture, myriad small businesses, and, of course, print. Now in its ninth year, the Print Crawl is a self-guided tour through Lancaster’s local print shops and creative spaces where participants create a printed, take-home poster. The crawl features a pay-what-you-can model where visitors receive a blank poster and set out on a one-mile loop. Each stop showcases a different style of printmaking – screen printing, letterpress, laser cut, 3D printing, and more – that adds a unique element to the poster. By the end of the crawl, the once-blank posters have transformed into a finished, collaborative piece of art. “Lancaster has always been a printing hub, both locally and even internationally,” Megan Zettlemoyer, owner of Lancaster-based Typothecary Letterpress, and the driving force behind the Crawl, notes. “We also have a great design community locally, between our colleges and universities, and design agencies that call Lancaster home. In a world where ‘print is dead’ has become a pretty common phrase, I felt we needed to let our community know that it is very much alive and well here at home.

Trucking activity in the United States increased again in August, pushing the level up to the highest point since December 2023. Specifically, truck freight tonnage rose 0.9% after gaining 1.1% in July, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.  “The good news is that truck freight volumes had a nice end of the summer,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “However, while I’d like to predict a strong rebound in freight levels through the upcoming holidays, I can’t. I believe traditional seasonal patterns are off this year as shippers adjust to tariffs. Plus, housing remains soft, the slowing labor market is likely to show up in consumer spending at some point, and most manufacturing metrics are either decelerating or declining.” Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.7% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024.*  Motor carriers collected $906 billion, or 76.9% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

Hats off to the drivers who get it done for the business every day. We especially want to acknowledge and honor the 105 drivers at MIDLAND. We could not be successful without your commitment to the work that you do. Thanks very much!

FedEx’s rate jump is an annual fixture in the parcel delivery world, and the upcoming hike mirrors the 5.9% increase it implemented in 2024 and 2025. Rival UPS levies similar price bumps each year, although the carrier hasn’t announced a 2026 increase as of Friday. The January price increase from FedEx comes as shippers grapple with heightened delivery costs due to surcharges and reduced discounting activity. The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index reported in July that per-package ground delivery rates reached a record high in Q2 and are expected to remain elevated. Although FedEx is hiking various surcharges, the bump for additional handling and oversized shipping fees is much lower than it was in 2025, parcel analyst and LPF Spend Management founder Nate Skiver said on LinkedIn. For example, a weight-based additional handling surcharge for a Zone 2 shipment increased by $9 to $43.50 in FedEx’s previous annual rate hike. That fee will increase by $2.50 to $46 in 2026.

For well over a year, virtually all of our economic indicators flashed “recession.” However, it didn’t happen, at least not yet. Now it’s looking more like a “jobless recovery” from an “almost recession.” The stock market is hitting record highs, gold set a new record high, corporate earnings are very good, consumer spending is solid, and inflation is subdued. In this context, the Small Business Optimism Index has managed to break out of its funk, running below 99 from October 2021 to October 2024, then rising to over 105 in December 2024. The current reading of 100.8, while lower than late last year, is above the 51-year average of 98. As good as all that sounds, that’s not the whole story. Hiring remains weak, and labor quality is the top business problem. Unfilled job openings are disappearing, but not because they are filled. Actual and planned capital spending remain weak, hopefully the new depreciation rules and permanent 20% small business deduction will stimulate some investment spending. Owners are optimistic about improving business conditions by year end, hopefully stronger sales and more favorable tax rules. For now, the economy is on a good footing, but small business owners are hoping that their “uncertainties” will be favorably resolved.

Go Pack Go!

The Phoenix Challenge Foundation announces that flexographic printing has officially been added to the Scouts of America’s Graphic Arts Merit Badge requirements — a milestone that will introduce thousands of youth to one of the most innovative and essential printing technologies in the world. Flexographic printing, the prominent process used for packaging, labels, medical and countless everyday products, is a vital part of the global consumer-products supply chain. By incorporating this process into the merit badge curriculum, Scouts across the nation will gain hands-on experience and exposure to career paths that blends creativity, evolving technology, and precision manufacturing. The Graphic Arts Merit Badge has long covered processes such as offset, screen, and lithographic printing. Adding flexography modernizes the program, ensuring it reflects industry advancements and prepares youth for future opportunities.

The global toilet-paper market was valued at US$41.04 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$42.88 billion this year, further expanding to US$46.83 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2033, says a new study via Business Research Insights. Toilet paper is a key part of the hygiene and personal-care market, mostly because people use it every day, and there is growing attention on the need for sanitation. Strong retail services and a desire to use premium, environmentally sustainable and thicker papers give North America and Europe dominance in this market. At the same time, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa are showing steady growth because of cities becoming bigger, living standards increasing. New methods for sustainable manufacturing such as using bamboo for toilet paper and other recycled-paper options, are growing in popularity due to people’s concern for the environment.

HOBOKEN, NJ—New Wiley survey results point to a growing risk of change fatigue for employees continuously navigating the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) at work. The report suggests the combination of constant change and rising stress levels threatens to create a “cascade crisis,” where employees are repeatedly battered by new disruptions before they’ve had a chance to recover from previous ones. Recent Wiley research has revealed significant and growing levels of stress in the workforce caused by recurring changes in organizations, including the rapid ascension and use of AI. In the newest Wiley Workplace Intelligence report, “Navigating the AI Era: Five Key Insights for Managing Change,” two-thirds (67%) of respondents say they expect more change in near future, with more than a third (35%) reporting severe stress levels. “When employees are perpetually in reactive mode, there’s a growing risk of change fatigue setting in, impacting their ability to adapt, innovate, and perform and hurting productivity,” said Wiley researcher Dr. Tracey Carney, who headed the study. “To address these issues, it’s important for organizations to develop clear policies around AI, offer effective training, and build a change-resilient culture, moving from reactive management to proactive change leadership.”

The United States and European Union have penned a framework agreement on transatlantic trade in which they agree US commodities including cattle, soy and wood pose zero deforestation risk. The US has been assigned a "low risk" status along with EU states. A new "neglibible status" is being discussed in Europe. If this status come in to being than the US would seek this status. A product is considered "neglible risk" when due diligence processes find there is no cause for deforestation concern.

As the U.S. Postal Service proudly marks its 250th Anniversary, an often-overlooked yet iconic element of the organization’s rich history takes center stage: the evolution of the letter carrier’s hat. From the earliest days of mail delivery to the modern era, these hats have been more than just headwear — they represent protection, authority, and the unwavering dedication of postal workers across two and a half centuries. Since its establishment on July 26, 1775, the American Postal System has adapted to the changing needs of a growing nation, and the uniforms of its carriers reflect this dynamic journey. Early postal carriers, often operating on foot or horseback, wore hats that were more reflective of civilian attire of the late 1700s. Practicality was paramount, with headwear designed primarily for protection against the elements as carriers traversed diverse landscapes to deliver vital correspondence. As the organization grew and formalized through the 1800s, so too did the demand for a more standardized and identifiable uniform. Hats began to serve not only as protection but also as a clear symbol of official authority. Influences from military uniforms of the era could be seen in some designs, establishing a sense of professionalism and immediate recognition for the carrier. The evolution of materials and manufacturing also allowed for more durable and uniformly produced hats, solidifying the carrier’s distinct image. For a broader look at the history and the evolution of postal uniforms over 250 years, visit our historical photo gallery.