Joe Harris – Founder

Joe Harris started his working life as a young teen in the retail grocery business, working continuously through high school and college in various positions including store management and sales. As he was nearing the end of college, a friend invited Joe to tour Container Corporation of America in Fort Worth, Texas. This was his first time in a corrugated manufacturing facility, and he instantly fell in love with the industry. He entered CCA’s management trainee program after graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1967. He learned about box design, manufacturing, and sales during his time there.

In the early 1970’s, Joe made a move to Lone Star Container in Dallas, and was focused solely on sales. After many successful years, he decided to try brokering on his own, and in 1976, he started Harris Packaging Corporation in a small warehouse in Dallas. Within a short amount of time, Joe and his wife Joyce had the opportunity to purchase a sheet plant formerly owned by Green Bay Packaging in Haltom City. They were involved in every aspect of the business, even running the machines themselves on the weekends when needed. With many years of hard work and dedication, the company has grown to over 100 employees and 200,000 square feet of production and warehouse space. Further expansion came in 1992 when Joe chose to open a folding carton facility. This, of course, was American Carton Company.

Joe has passed his love of boxes and the paper industry to his daughters, and continues to guide them as he transitions the companies to the next generation.

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