After decades on the integrated side of the business, Don Simmons, left, and Hal Mottet joined forces to purchase Empire Container from the Eagle family. Five years ago, Don Simmons and Hal Mottet embarked on a journey familiar to many boxmaking entrepreneurs. After decades as employees of integrated firms, Simmons and Mottet purchased an independent and struck out on their own.

“I wanted to be a millionaire,” Simmons says with a chuckle. More seriously, he quickly adds, “I wanted to see how we could put our knowledge and experience to the test by running our own box company on the independent side of the business.”