Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1115386
A s I flew home from our Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) in San Diego, I could not help but think about the wonderful job done by our team in creating another great educational and networking opportunity for members. Networking opportunities, which play such an important role in all our meetings has never been at a higher level. It is a privilege to begin my term at ALC as the 2019 Board Chair of NWPCA. I look forward to another exciting year. I would also like to thank Larry Howell, our previous Board Chair, for the job he did in maintaining the forward momentum of the Association and successfully attaining many of our goals. The NWPCA's year ahead is already packed with opportunities for our members. On the international front, we will send a team to represent the Pallet Design System™ (PDS) at the Ligna Fair in Hanover, Germany. This Fair is the largest equipment show for the forest, woodworking and pallet industry in the world and furthers PDS' expansion as the leading pallet software in the world. Later this fall, our President/CEO Brent McClendon, staff and U.S. representatives will attend the FEFPEB meeting in Hamburg, Germany. FEFPEB is the European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers. The meeting provides a great opportunity to connect with wood packaging leaders from all over the world. In the U.S. we'll hold our Congressional Fly-in on June 19th and 20th in Washington, DC. Join us and take a tour of the Capital, meet your representatives, and get a flavor for how Washington works. In October the NWPCA, in conjunction with the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association, will host plant tours from October 1-2 in Toronto. Yet again another networking opportunity to share information and learn from your peers. Although the NWPCA is working on many new and interesting projects, one that needs immediate member focus and help is the EPD or environmental production declaration. By participating in the survey, you will help prove that "wood wins" and that the wooden pallet is the most environmentally-friendly shipping platform available on the market! The survey can be found at palletcentral.com/lcasurvey. Please do your part and participate. Encourage your industry peers to do the same. As I look ahead to an exciting year, I would like to close with one thought: the success of our organization comes from the participation of the membership as well. Our future success is fueled by new energy and new perspectives. Over the 35 years that I have been involved in the NWPCA, I have participated on various committees and task forces. The personal and business benefits are well worth the effort. Get involved, you will not regret it! Sincerely, P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N A T I O N A L W O O D E N P A L L E T & C O N T A I N E R A S S O C I A T I O N BOARD OFFICERS Chairman Jordan Piland, Atlas Pallets/ A Div. of Williamsburg Millwork Corp Chairman-Elect Frank Shean, Valley Pallet. Past Chair Larry Howell, Cottondale Wood Products Secretary/Treasurer Mike Hachtman, Relogistics Services Director at Large Carolyn Beach-Skinner, Westside Pallet President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Peter Berry, Berry Industrial Dominick Davi, Greenway Products & Services Kathleen Dietrich, Commercial Lumber & Pallet David Grimes, Pallet Resources of NC Bernie Kamps, Kamps, Inc. Bryan Kesting, Madison County Wood Products Jeff Lewis, Atlanta Pallets & Services Joe O'Brien, Industrial Pallet Shane Thompson, WestWind Logistics Howe Wallace, PalletOne Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. International Director Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Associate's Representative Randy Panko, Wood-Mizer International Director Emeritus Jan Fredell, Fredells Travaru AB NWPCA 6 PalletCentral • March-April 2019 palletcentral.com 2019 SEASON SPONSORS Kiln-Direct.com tel: 910-259-9794 | kiln-direct.com Mid Continent Steel and Wire Corporation tel: 800-867-6245 | mcswusa.com Pallet Machinery Group tel: 540-644-9220 | palletmachinery.com Pendu Manufacturing, Inc. tel: 717-354-4348 | pendu.com Profile Technology Inc. tel: 800-369-4242 | profiletech.com Rotochopper, Inc. tel: 320-548-3586 | rotochopper.com Smart Products tel: 800-401-0099 | smartproductsinc.com Smith Sawmill Service tel: 800-598-6344 | smithsawmillservice.com Universal Fastener Outsourcing tel: 800-352-0028 | 911-nails.com Viking Engineering & Development tel: 800-328-2403 | vikingeng.com MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Success by Networking Jordan Piland, Atlas Pallets/ A Div. of Williamsburg Millwork Corp. NWPCA Chairman