Bemis Company, Inc. has announced that Jeffrey H. Curler, executive chairman and chairman of the board of Bemis Company, Inc., has received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for the Upper Midwest region from professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. Curler was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at a gala event on June 11, 2009 in Milwaukee.

The Lifetime Achievement award is presented to those whose extraordinary achievements, creativity, leadership, and vision have set them apart as an outstanding caliber of entrepreneurs. According to Ernst & Young, the Lifetime Achievement winner is "recognized as a pillar of the community, and the benchmark that other business men and women strive to emulate. The award is presented as an honorary designation and is without compare."

"It is an honor to accept this prestigious award," said Curler. "The journey of building and growing a company requires commitment and support from many people. It has been rewarding and personally fulfilling to be a part of Bemis' success for the past 36 years and to lead an organization that has embraced innovation, progress, and integrity."

Headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, Bemis is a $3.8 billion global supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials. Curler joined Bemis in 1973 as a chemical engineer eight years after Bemis acquired Curwood, a flexible packaging company co-founded by Curler's father in New London, Wisconsin.

Throughout his career at Bemis, Curler has consistently inspired his colleagues with his unwavering vision for growth, expansion, and innovation. He has promoted product development using material science and unique process technologies that have given the company a competitive advantage in the industry.

Curler has been a director of Bemis since his election in 1992. He has been executive chairman since 2008 and chairman of the board since 2005. He was elected chief executive officer in 2000 and president in 1996. He was chief operating officer from 1998 to 2000. Since joining Bemis in 1973, Curler has held several positions in research, product development, and engineering. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in chemical engineering.

Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing, and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national, and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Bemis Company is a major supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials used by leading food, consumer products, manufacturing, and other companies worldwide. Founded in 1858, the company reported 2008 net sales of $3.8 billion. The company's flexible packaging business has a strong technical base in polymer chemistry, film extrusion, coating and laminating, printing, and converting. The company's pressure sensitive materials business specializes in adhesive technologies. For more information, visit www.bemis.com.