palletcentral

6 PalletCentral • September-October 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 H eraclitus, the Greek philosopher, probably wasn't thinking about 2020 when he reportedly wrote those words. But if nothing else, 2020 has certainly come to embody that sentiment. We have built our businesses, and this association, around being flexible, nimble, data driven and open for change. But none of us envisioned #2020. A close association CEO-colleague of mine said we are all "building this plane while flying," and I think that is a pretty apt description. So, what do we do? NWPCA is taking advantage of these massively dynamic times to launch innovative new products, evaluate the breadth of our membership-engagement model, and use our new "virtual" reality to further raise our profile and reach global audiences in ways we had never previously contemplated. Let me provide an example. NWPCA staff has always traveled extensively, attending meetings and events, speaking at large gatherings, and sharing the Pallets Move the World® message throughout the supply chain. On our plate for September was the large Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) Annual Conference where I was asked to present on wood pallets' role in a sustainable supply chain. That meeting was canceled like all the others, and is now virtual, and our presentation will be pre-recorded. This change now allows us to share our message with a much larger group than we would have reached, and the timelessness of the message allows us to share the video globally, with many other groups, for many years. NWPCA has learned a lot from our members this year. You openly answered membership surveys and called us with your concerns and your needs – for 2020, 2021 and beyond. What we have heard is that you appreciate our advocacy success in the classification of "Wood Packaging" as an essential industry. You welcome relevant webinars and Zoom conference calls, but at the same time are approaching so-called Zoom fatigue in this "conferencing all the time" world we now live in. You are also looking forward to face-to-face gatherings again when conditions allow, maybe even more so than before. What has not changed are our core values as an organization. • Wood as a sustainable and highly-valued resource • Exemplary service to members • High ethical standards and integrity • Building collaboration and community We remain committed to you, our members. That will never change. Sincerely, Brent J. McClendon, CAE President/CEO FROM THE PRESIDENT #2020: The Only Constant is Change

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