Pinnacle packing success with full-service shipping, logistics

Chris Rugowski

Contributor

April 13, 2026

FRIENDSHIP – Pinnacle Packaging is getting a boost from the Adams County Economic Development Business Plan Grant, providing crucial start-up funding just over a year after the company set up shop in the county.

Expanding to Wisconsin in 2025, Owner and President Nicole DeJoris said the grant will help the Lombard, Illinois-based supplier of high-quality packaging solutions further expand Adams County operations and create growth opportunities, while bringing added value to the local business community.

More on Pinnacle Packaging

Supplying companies throughout North America, DeJoris said Pinnacle Packaging has spent more than 20 years specializing in custom boxes, corrugated packaging, protective materials and sustainable solutions.

With its expansion into Wisconsin last year, the company incorporated an Amazon Hub partnership, DeJoris said, creating a three-pronged approach: packaging, logistics and marketing through design.

Custom packaging – such as corrugated boxes printed with company branding – she said, represents Pinnacle’s primary source of revenue.

“If you think about anything that has a logo on it that is used to ship or hold something, that’s custom packaging,” she said. “Now more than ever, it’s important to stand out, especially with the world of shipping online and buying online.”

Noticing a shortage of packaging suppliers in Adams County, DeJoris said she saw a chance to fill an underserved market.

At the same time, she said the post-COVID instability in the packaging industry prompted her to expand beyond a single revenue stream.

“For more than 20 years, we’ve been focused on packaging,” she said, “but the market shift reinforced the importance of diversifying.”

DeJoris said that diversification took shape with the addition of logistics and design services, creating a more comprehensive, integrated offering for customers.

This strategy, she said, included the launch of a logistics division through an Amazon Small Business Hub in Adams County, making the company one of the first local businesses to participate in last-mile delivery.

“Packaging, logistics and design all work together,” she said. “This wasn’t about starting over – it was about expanding what we already do, in a way that makes the business stronger and more resilient.”

Diversifying for the future

Before becoming president of Pinnacle Packaging in 2019, following her brother’s unexpected death, DeJoris said she worked independently as a CFO and business organizational consultant before moving into a corporate role.

When she took the reins of the company, DeJoris said she moved the business from Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood to Lombard, Illinois, where she was based.

Though a sudden change, she said stepping away from her tech career to lead Pinnacle Packaging after her brother’s death was an easy decision and has given her the flexibility to rethink and shape the business in new ways.

“It’s given me the freedom to think differently about the business,” she said. “My brother had deep expertise in packaging, while my experience spans multiple industries, including the tech sector. Bringing those perspectives together has allowed us to expand into logistics, Amazon and digital marketing – key drivers of our future growth.”

DeJoris said Pinnacle’s marketing and graphic design services are designed for small- to mid-sized businesses, with industry tools enabling her to deliver affordable, tailored solutions without sacrificing creativity.

“I can create logos for people,” she said. “I can create all the specs they need to brand a box if they’d like me to come up with packaging custom printed designs.”

Through the Amazon logistics partnership, DeJoris said Pinnacle can expand its footprint, market its services more effectively and build a robust delivery network to meet the demand for custom packaging.

“Maybe I will buy a cargo van in another year, and this allows me to do my deliveries between farms and manufacturing companies,” she said. “All in all, these new sectors open up a lot of possibilities. I am looking forward to that.”

DeJoris said the Pinnacle team prides itself on the personal relationships it offers in a competitive packaging market.

Keeping the company small, she said, ensures clients always have a human connection – a factor that helped retain a major client even when a global distributor entered the picture, maintaining a 20-year relationship.

“They knew my brother – we’re like a giant family,” she said.

DeJoris said the key to success comes down to fostering and maintaining relationships – what she sees as the true differentiator for any business.

Though quality work is equally important, she said she believes strong customer relationships often outweigh the lure of lower prices, which frequently come at the cost of impersonal interactions.

That personal touch, DeJoris said, is especially meaningful for long-term clients.

“My customers come up and stay with me here in Wisconsin – but that’s how we are, we’re like family,” she said. “I’ve been to their kids’ weddings and holiday celebrations.”

Building connections

DeJoris said operating in rural Wisconsin has provided opportunities that larger cities can’t match.

While packaging sales are still emerging, she said she is concentrating on building strong, meaningful relationships that could translate into long-term growth for her business and the community.

“My main goal was not just to bring the packaging business here and make money,” she said, “but to enter the community as a business owner to help improve the community by being a leader.”

Describing it as “meaningful,” DeJoris said receiving the $1,500 Adams County Economic Development Business Plan Grant is a tangible recognition that hard work pays off, noting that every dollar earned reflects effort and dedication.

The grant, she said, helped cover start-up costs for the company’s Amazon operations and new marketing materials, providing a significant boost as the business expanded.

DeJoris said Daric Smith, executive director at Adams County Economic Development, was easy to work with and made the process very approachable.

She said she believes small business success goes hand in hand with relationship building through chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.

To that end, she has sponsored local fundraisers, served as treasurer for the Adams County Chamber of Commerce and remains actively involved in the Lombard Area Chamber.

“Being involved in your local chamber is one of the most valuable things a business owner can do,” she said. “It’s not just about networking – it’s about building relationships, understanding the needs of your community and positioning your business as a trusted, engaged local partner.”

By sharing her experience and guidance, DeJoris said she aims to help fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges, grow their businesses and gain the confidence to pursue opportunities she has successfully navigated herself.

Though writing a business plan can be daunting for newcomers, she said she’s completed many over the years and enjoys helping others navigate the process.

“I started to befriend other business owners in the area, and they asked me to help write them a business plan because they’re interested in getting a grant from the Adams County Economic Development,” she said. “They were curious how I went about doing that.”

DeJoris said helping other businesses allows her to build meaningful relationships that can benefit both her company and the broader community.

She said she sees those connections as opportunities to support growth that could ultimately lead to job creation.

“A shop I’m [currently] helping is an asset to this community, providing space for artists and bakers who are small and working out of their homes with a place to sell their retail,” she said. “So, they’re not only making money for themselves and hiring people, but they’re also helping others by showcasing community items.”

Future expansions

DeJoris said receiving the business grant gave her a firsthand look at how Adams County supports local businesses – highlighting the value of building relationships with the right contacts.

She said it will be especially useful as the business grows and eventually considers larger investments, like purchasing a building.

“Now that I’ve had this very nice experience with Daric and the department, I feel no qualms about going back when I’m ready to take the next steps,” she said. “And they’ll be more likely to work with me, because they already know me, and they want to see me succeed, too.”

Learn more about Pinnacle Packaging at pinnaclepackaging.net.