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6 PalletCentral • January-February 2022 palletcentral.com 2022 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 you read our Year in Review in this edition, take note that all the accomplishments achieved are because of the outstanding work of staff, our external partners, and a committed and active group of volunteers. Time and expertise given by our volunteer leaders ensures that we remain properly aligned with the needs of our members and continue to drive the solutions needed to succeed. We thank you. In December, the NWPCA's Board of Directors and the Pallet Foundation's trustees met in person for a three-day strategic planning work session. What jumped out to me was the energy, enthusiasm, and clear unity of the mission. Specifically, I'll share two focus areas: sustainability and public affairs. e wood packaging sector is well-positioned to benefit from the growing emergence of ESG-focused business decisions. ESG, an abbreviation of "environmental, social, and governance," drives companies to reduce their carbon footprint, expand recycling and landfill avoidance practices, and reduce overall emissions. In reading that last sentence, you'll notice the critical work of the Pallet Foundation and NWPCA Board was well-timed. Our research, which developed a UL Certified Environmental Product Declaration, found a potential "net positive" carbon footprint for wooden pallets. We also funded a study that determined we have the highest recovery/recycling rate (95%) of any packaging product. For 2022, we will be taking this message to senior purchasing and sustainability officers to assure wood packaging is part of the conversations on ESG. A strong political voice is equally important in spreading our message. NWPCA is expanding our outreach to elected and regulatory leaders in Washington, DC, and working closely with our international partners to do the same globally. NWPCA's growing Political Action Committee is another example of where a clear, unified industry makes a difference. On a global level, wood packaging remains the dominant transport packaging product used worldwide. Whether for regulations like ISPM-15 or the Lacey Act, your need for an expanded international supplier base for lumber, or an increasingly global membership base, there is a lot of positive feedback for NWPCA to bring the international community closer together. We're accelerating, and it's just the beginning. Translating PDS into eight languages, expanding our commitment to the Global Wood Packaging Forum, signing exclusive PDS marketing agreements with four countries, and engaging a consultant to represent NWPCA in Mexico is just a start. You'll see more international activities in 2022 with a clear focus to help our members in the USA and provide service to our growing international members in 30 countries. ey say that the work we do always builds on the shoulders of those that came before us. I'm thankful for the outstanding work of our volunteer leaders that built our strategic plan, proud of the workers every day that make our fantastic product, and thrilled about all that's ahead for us in 2022. Sincerely, Brent J. McClendon, CAE NWPCA President/CEO 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 FROM THE PRESIDENT What's Next? Primed, Ready, and Rolling into 2022