Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1280561
6 PalletCentral • July-August 2020 palletcentral.com Board Officers Chairman Frank Shean, PLA Holdings – Valley Pallet Chairman-Elect Mike Hachtman, Relogistics Services. Past Chair Jordan Piland, Atlas Pallets/A Div. of Williamsburg Millwork Corp. Secretary/Treasurer Carolyn Beach-Skinner, Westside Pallet Director at Large Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE Board of Directors Peter Berry, Berry Industrial Michelle Blizzard, Pallet Central Enterprises Henry Bowman, C&L Wood Products 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 Steve Mazza, S&B Pallet Joe O'Brien, Industrial Pallet Shane Thompson, WestWind Logistics Howe Wallace, PalletOne International Director Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Associate's Representative Randy Panko, Wood-Mizer International Director Emeritus Jan Fredell, Fredells Travaru AB 2020 SEASON SPONSORS Kiln-Direct.com 910-259-9794 | kiln-direct.com Mid Continent Steel and Wire 800-867-6245 | magnumfasteners.com Pallet Machinery Group 540-644-9220 | palletmachinery.com Pendu Manufacturing 717-354-4348 | pendu.com Profile Technology 800-369-4242 | profiletech.com PRS Group 217-291-0009 | prsgroupinc.com Rotochopper 320-548-3586 | rotochopper.com Smart Products 800-401-0099 | smartproductsinc.com Smith Sawmill Service 800-598-6344 | smithsawmillservice.com Universal Fastener Outsourcing 800-352-0028 | 911-nails.com Viking Engineering & Development 800-328-2403 | vikingeng.com T hese past few months have been the most challenging times that many of us have ever seen. Yet it is also a time that we're doing our best work. When the nation seems to be growing apart, I'm proud to see our employees and our entire industry working closer together. Tough times can bring people together, and the culture we have built through NWPCA shows how true that statement can be. In just the past few months, 14 companies joined our association. From my view, the challenges of our customers, our lumber markets, our HR issues, and conducting direct sales in a 'sequestered' world has honed our operations to be the best in times of duress. We must remain flexible, pivot to opportunities, try new initiatives while learning, and leading full time. NWPCA emulates these characteristics that we are implementing in our businesses. The quick switch to virtual programming and virtual lobbying was very successful. The association continues to release PDS enhancements while finding creative solutions to ongoing research and development, and forging partnerships globally (most recently with Canada). NWPCA continues to deliver the products we need. Our ongoing work on fire codes and the upcoming release of an Environmental Product Declaration for Wood Pallets deserve extra attention. The translation of our association-developed Fire Code Compliance Manual into Spanish reflects our commitment towards expanding awareness and compliance of outdoor fire code storage to protect our employees, communities, and first responders. I'm impressed with how many members have downloaded the manual and are implementing these best practices. You can visit https://www.palletcentral.com/page/firecodesafety to receive your free copy. The association has been working on the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) with the U.S. Forest Products Lab and UL Environment for several years. The final 'certification' is an accomplishment to celebrate. This EPD is the first of its kind in the distribution packaging space. It provides transparent, certifiable information on the positive environmental attributes of wooden pallets. Soon to be available, we'll look forward to hearing how the publication benefits your company. Thank you for your ongoing support of NWPCA's mission. We are a strong, unified group of companies that are now recognized as essential to our supply chain and the world. We have the tools to expand awareness of how important we are in the fight against climate change. Leaders are born in these chaotic and challenging times, and I'm proud that we are leading together. Sincerely, Frank Shean, PLA Holdings – Valley Pallet NWPCA Chairman CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE Being Our Best in Times of Duress