Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1332064
6 PalletCentral • January-February 2021 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 2021 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 Vecoplan 812-923-4992 | vecoplan.com Viking Engineering & Development 800-328-2403 | vikingeng.com W e have just concluded a year that tested all of us: our businesses, our families, our friendships. The last few weeks of December gave us time to reflect and to say, "thank you." We are so grateful for all we have, all we can provide, and all we can do together. That's a great background for this article. The NWPCA and the Pallet Foundation recognize that our accomplishments result from the tremendous support of this industry. Sometimes we don't slow down and say 'thank you' enough or share our appreciation in meaningful ways. Thank you for the thousands of volunteer hours this industry spends every year. Thank you for the significant financial support you freely share. Thank you for your direct engagement in our advocacy and external outreach. And, thank you for your personal and professional commitment to our success. Ultimately, we are a family. While we aggressively compete to grow in this market, we also realize that we grow together. That is what trade associations do. They create an environment for industry to expand, fend off attacks from outside groups, counter misperceptions, and lead with research, public affairs, and best practices. Decades of investments and our commitments to multi-year initiatives gave our industry a lot to celebrate in 2020. These are a few examples. The Environmental Product Declaration helps us celebrate our carbon story. The release of multiple Pallet Design System™ versions includes cutting-edge science and engineering on unit load. We also expanded our international partnerships with new projects in Mexico and Canada. We also saw first-hand another reason why we do what we do. Every image and video of the COVID-19 vaccine I watched, included wooden pallets admirably performing their service. Trying times like these also show us how incredibly essential wooden pallets are to the nation, not just our supply chain. I'm incredibly thankful for the hard work that you and your teams do every day to support this country and this world. For 2021, we are excited to get back together with face-to-face events later this year where you'll also see the culmination of more than ten years of work with upcoming PDS unit load releases on barrels, pails, and other exciting features. Until then, we'll continue a stream of virtual events and look to elevate our voice even further throughout the supply chain and within the halls of Congress. Together we will learn, we will launch new programs, and we will win. Sincerely, Brent J. McClendon, CAE NWPCA President/CEO FROM THE PRESIDENT Giving Thanks. Growing Together.