After seven decades, JLS’ commitments remain steadfast

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After seven decades, JLS’ commitments remain steadfast

20 Aug 2026

Joanie Spencer

Since 2008, Joanie Spencer has covered the retail and wholesale sides of the baking industry.
Serving associations such as the American Society of Baking (ASB) and BEMA, Joanie is also in demand as an industry presenter on bakery operations and trends. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Rockhurst University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

When she’s not running or playing soccer, Joanie spends her time with her husband and 11-year-old son.

YORK, PA — Celebrating 71 years of business and 250 years of America, employees, family, friends and dignitaries gathered at JLS Automation’s annual Founder’s Day event. The celebration included a facility tour and equipment demonstrations, a welcome from CEO Craig Souser, and a keynote address from US Paralympic athlete and retired US Navy Officer Brad Snyder.

“While our country enjoys the time of celebrating the 250th anniversary, I felt it was appropriate to invite someone from the military to speak,” Souser said. “I have grown up admiring the Navy, and that was a big part of the equation. The other part is that the word that has resonated with JLS for the past year and a half is adversity. We wanted someone who could represent the US Navy and speak to adversity.”

In closing his keynote speech — which chronicled his award-winning athletic journey before and since losing his sight from an improvised explosive device during combat in Afghanistan — Snyder reminded the JLS community of the value in commitment to not only patriotism but also integrity. It stood as a reminder to all of how adversity, in any form, can be overcome.

“I challenge myself every day to be the best version of myself in every moment, so that I might be worthy of the sacrifices that have been made on my behalf,” Snyder said. “I believe wholeheartedly that if I do that, it’s the best way for me to bring out the best in other people. And you can imagine the magnitude if that dynamic rippled across our community. By being the best version of yourself, you make us all better.”

Reflecting on recent challenges — economic conditions, tariffs, trade relations — Souser commended the JLS workforce for its resilience.

“That’s another word we’ve used a lot,” he said. “These issues we’ve faced made it very difficult for our company, but we have remained resilient. We invented new products that addressed the markets where there were opportunities.”

While traditional markets, including the bakery sector, have softened over the past year, JLS identified needs in snacking and developed packaging automation to meet demand for snack-stick products.

Specializing in hygienic robotic packaging solutions, including primary product handling, case packing and cartoning, JLS demonstrated its Peregrine cartoning solution, Osprey case packers and more.

Souser also took time to celebrate JLS’ commitment to its guiding principles, which serve as a north star for how the company treats people, serves its customers and contributes to the community. Some of the JLS core values include integrity, trust and passion, and as Souser mentioned, it’s about standing up for diversity, even when it’s the road less traveled.

“We like to say that DEI is alive and well at JLS,” Souser said. “We celebrate diversity here. We don’t hide it, we don’t run from it. We know it makes us better, and it’s an important part of what we do.”

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