Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1161332
clarification on EPA's stance and reasoning on a major NWPCA initiative – the regulation which restricts the use of wood pallets in wood pellet fuel. The agency responded quickly to the Congressman's inquiry, which helps in our ongoing effort to change this federal regulation. PDS Training Down Under Dr. Brad Gething, PhD, traveled to Melbourne, Australia to present a two-day PDS training course to attendees from across Australia, New Zealand and East Asia on August 22-23, 2019. The program was a comprehensive class on wood pallets and pallet design, featuring how PDS can be used as a tool to optimize pallet design for performance and efficiency. The well-attended international course highlights the growing global interest in PDS. Earlier this year, NWPCA exhibited and presented PDS at the LIGNA show in Germany, exposing a wide international audience to the Pallet Design System™ (PDS). Later this year, NWPCA will release V6.0 of PDS, which will include a unit load analysis for corrugated boxes. After extensive research and development funded by The Pallet Foundation, this exciting new feature will provide users with the ability to design pallets specifically for these unique loads. PDS users can then help customers optimize the design of corrugated boxes, with significant potential for overall savings and improved unit load performance. On the Road NWPCA activities over the summer continue as staff builds coalitions and strengthens relationships within the forest products sector. Senior Director of Business Partnerships Mark Barford attended the annual meeting of the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA) Annual Conference from July 17-20 in Boca Raton, FL. The conference allows staff to stay connected to wood suppliers and pallet producers, and to members. It also emphasizes the importance of government affairs, marketing and management, and solutions to various operational issues. Vice President of Communications Annette Ferri participated in the National Council of Forestry Association Executives (NCFAE) Conference from July 29-August 1 in Union, WA. The NWPCA is a member of NCFAE. The conference allows forestry executives that run state and national trade associations to share information on best practices, HR, strategic planning, and to report on national public policy issues happening around the states. Executive Director of the NWPCA PAC Patrick Atagi attended the National Conference of State Legislatures from August 5-8 in Nashville, TN. This event brings together lawmakers from every state to discuss various issues and strategies, many relevant to the forest products industry. NWPCA CEO and NAM Council of Manufacturing Associations board member Brent McClendon participated in the NAM CMA 2019 Summer Leadership Conference from August 7-10 in Charleston, SC. This conference provides high-level content for association CEOs focused on emerging industry, business, technology and association management trends. While in Charleston, he participated in a board meeting, engaged in professional development, while he continues to help ensure that manufacturers have a strong voice in national policy. PC 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 NWPCA STAFF President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE, brent@palletcentral.com Vice President, Advocacy and External Affairs Patrick S. Atagi, patagi@palletcentral.com Senior Director, Business Partnerships Mark A. Barford, CAE, mbarford@palletcentral.com Membership Services Manager Mishelle Cavanagh, mcavanagh@palletcentral.com PDS and Membership Services Manager Susan Cheney, scheney@palletcentral.com PDS Structural Engineer Kristen DeLack PE, kdelack@palletcentral.com Vice President, Communications Annette Ferri, aferri@palletcentral.com Director of Science and Technology Integration Brad Gething, PhD, bgething@palletcentral.com Advisor to the President John A. McLeod III, jmcleod@palletcentral.com PDS Software Engineer Kevin Richey, krichey@palletcentral.com PDS Finite Element Analyst Farhad Shahabi, PhD, fshahabi@palletcentral.com Vice President, Operations and Events Isabel ("Mimi") Sullivan, msullivan@palletcentral.com PalletCentral Design & Production: Driven By Design LLC Art Director: Caryn Smith, palletdesign@comcast.net Advertising: To advertise in PalletCentral, contact Mark Barford at 703-519-0186 or mbarford@palletcentral.com. Address changes and subscriptions: To update your mailing address or to subscribe to PalletCentral, call 703-519-6104 or email info@palletcentral.com. Reprints and back issues: To order article reprints or request reprint permission, please e-mail info@palletcentral.com. Order back issues by calling 703-519-6104. PALLETCENTRAL, Volume 19, Number 4. © Copyright 2019 by NWPCA. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all articles, editorials and advertisements appearing in PalletCentral are solely those of the author and advertiser, respectively, and do not necessarily represent the views of NWPCA. NWPCA palletcentral.com PalletCentral • July-August 2019 9