Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1436421
6 PalletCentral • November-December 2021 palletcentral.com 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 A s we continue to manage the disruption of the pandemic and approach the holiday season, it is important to reflect on how a renewed sense of gratitude, optimism, and connection can bring us together. e wood pallet industry supports 173,000 jobs across this country. As many new willing and hardworking employees join our companies, our industry workforce remains incredibly diverse. Different backgrounds, beliefs, views, and experiences are what bring us together as humans. It is this connection and commitment to hard work that not only makes us better companies, but it has pushed us to evolve as an industry. Our willingness to listen more, adapt, change, and to be more innovative, are values we leverage to be the best we can be. Let's continue to place the value on what pushes us to be one of the most unique and critical industries on the national, and world, stage. roughout the challenges we have faced over the last 21 months, one thing that should stand out to all of us as a community is how incredibly valuable our workers are to our businesses, our customers, and to the nation. We should take the time to recognize the employees who have helped us not only survive the pandemic and these uncertain times, but emerge from it stronger, and more successful than ever. eir work in keeping American supply chains moving has appropriately elevated them as the workforce heroes they really are. From the saw line to the repair table to the conference table, employees in our industry continue to show up each day, keeping our businesses moving and support critical manufacturers, suppliers and retailers across this country. While many businesses continue to struggle to find employees, the dedication of those we employ should be celebrated. Let us all take the time this holiday season and beyond, to show our appreciation for each one of our unique employees who are on the front lines making things happen and ensuring that the country's supply chains continue to get the pallets and containers they need, when and where they need them. And, thanks to all of you in the wood pallet industry for the work you do each day to be forward thinkers, creative problem solvers, and amazing employers of an incredible workforce. Happy holidays to all of you and your families. Sincerely, Mike Hachtman, 48forty Solutions NWPCA Chairman Board Officers Chairman Mike Hachtman, 48forty Solutions Chairman-Elect Carolyn Beach, Westside Pallet Past Chair Frank Shean, PLA Holdings-Valley Pallet Secretary/Treasurer Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. Director at Large Kathleen Dietrich, Commercial Lumber & Pallet President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE Board of Directors Michelle Blizzard, Pallet Central Enterprises Henry Bowman, C&L Wood Products LeRoi Cochran, 48forty Solutions Dominick Davi, Greenway Products & Services David Grimes, Pallet Resources of NC Hinton Howell, Cottondale Wood Products Bernie Kamps, Kamps, Inc. Bryan Kesting, Madison County Wood Products Steve Mazza, S&B Pallet Joe O'Brien, Industrial Pallet Shane Thompson, WestWind Logistics Beatrice Vasquez, Oxnard Pallet Howe Wallace, PalletOne, Bartow, FL International Director Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Associate's Representative Randy Panko, Wood-Mizer International Director Emeritus Jan Fredell, Fredells Travaru AB FROM THE CHAIRMAN Our Workforces are the True Supply Chain Heroes.