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8 PalletCentral • May-June 2022 palletcentral.com INSIDENWPCA NWPCA Announcements and Upcoming Events NWPCA Welcomes Hallie Fuchs as Manager, Public Affairs N WPCA welcomes Hallie Fuchs as its public affairs manager, and she hit the ground running at the start of the ALC in March. Hallie plays an integral role in growing the impact of NWPCA's communications, social media campaigns, and federal advocacy program. Before joining NWPCA, Hallie was a marketing manager at a leading recycling company. She designed and implemented strategic communication plans in the construction and labor industries, guiding public opinion through storytelling and relationship building. "NWPCA represents an indispensable segment of the supply chain and innovative members whose product makes the world run. I'm ready to effect change on behalf of the industry," said Hallie. We are excited to have Hallie's experience, ideas, and energy as a part of our growing public affairs team. Contact Hallie at 703-519-6104 or hfuchs@palletcentral.com. NAPPO Releases Document Affecting the Trade of Forest Products T he North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) has recently released "Science and Technology Document 08 – Contaminating organisms affecting the trade of forestry commodities." e document will help North American plant protection organizations better understand contaminating organisms (otherwise known as "hitchhikers") and promote a better understanding of these organisms, and facilitate the trade of forest commodities. is document is important to the wood packaging industry because hitchhikers can be confused with wood-boring pests regulated by ISPM 15. e presence of hitchhikers, such as the Spotted Lanternfly, has been inaccurately attributed to a failure of the ISPM 15 program. NWPCA Vice President of Science & Technology, Dr. Brad Gething, is a standing contributor of the NAPPO Expert Working Group that developed the document. Document 08 is available from https://bit.ly/3xSyU5I in the NAPPO Newsroom. NWPCA's Brent McClendon Appointed to Key U.S. Trade Advisory Committee on Forest Products and Building Materials P resident & CEO Brent McClendon has been appointed to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Forest Products and Building Materials (ITAC 8) as a representative from the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association. As a member of the Committee, Brent will represent the U.S. wood packaging industry. His expertise and advice will be helpful to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative in developing trade policy that benefits U.S. businesses, workers, and the economy as a whole. Brent serves on the Committee through February 2026. Public Affairs Mini-Road Trip and Congressional Meetings I n March, NWPCA staff Jason Ortega, vice president of public affairs, spent time on the road visiting NWPCA members in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. As part of his efforts to learn firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing member companies, Jason was graciously hosted for tours by Allegheny Recycled Products, Just Wood Pallets, and Greenway Products & Services. Jason was joined by Hallie Fuchs, manager of public affairs, for the Association's first in-person meetings on Capitol Hill since early 2020. Because of the pandemic, the halls of Congress were closed to non-staff. We were thrilled to renew in-person meetings with the offices of key members of Congress on the Agriculture Committees in the House and Senate. During those meetings, staff highlighted the industry-leading sustainability of wooden pallets and how pallets serve as the backbone of the supply chain. NWPCA Fall Plant Tours Site Visit N WPCA staff Mimi Sullivan, vice president of events and operations, and Mark Barford, senior director of business partnerships, visited two member plants in preparation for our Fall Plant Tours, scheduled for October 18-19 in Augusta, Georgia. Our generous tour hosts, Tommy Battle and Rob Swan of Battle Lumber Company and Josh and Merri Stephens, and David Hammons of Heart Wood Products, welcomed staff to tour the facilities and start the logistics planning process. Learn more about our tour hosts from: www.palletcentral.com/RecyclersConference. Watch your email for registration announce- ments in May/June. Registration will be limited to 300 people. Check out the event ad on page 39 of this issue.

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