Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1475336
6 PalletCentral • July-August 2022 palletcentral.com I 'm excited that the floodgates of meetings, events, and travel are swinging open while travel restrictions are ending. We can freely move internationally (assuming the airlines allow), and what perfect timing it is! With upcoming meetings in Mexico and Italy, and strong international interest in our plant tours this October in Georgia, we certainly have many opportunities to re-connect with old friends while making new ones. During a recent Global Wood Packaging Forum meeting, participants from Brazil, Europe, the UK, and Mexico spoke about several factors bringing our international community closer together. Whether our customers are increasingly globally focused or the policy issues in front of us in one country have impacts in other regions, there is an urgency for closer collaboration with our global partners. e global push is one of the reasons you have seen a lot from NWPCA regarding our work forming an NWPCA Mexico Chapter and expanding our permanent footprint there. e "near-shoring" we are witnessing, and resultant expanded business connections between the U.S. and Mexico make it necessary we build this solid bridge today. We are very grateful for all the hard work of our members in Mexico to help set the stage. As a result, membership and PDS licenses are rapidly expanding, and the inaugural meeting of our Mexico Chapter is nearly sold-out. e meeting takes place September 7-8 in Monterrey, Mexico. You will also see a delegation from NWPCA this September at the FEFPEB (the European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers) meeting in Florence, Italy, as we build Interpal 2023 in Montreal next year with the CWCPA. Both meetings reflect the strength and value of working together internationally, and we're proud to help in these efforts. We have much to share and to learn from each other. Fostering collaboration is one of the hallmarks of a strong association. I look forward to seeing many of you in October in Augusta, Georgia, at our popular fall plant tours, where information sharing and networking are front-and-center. en we'll catch up again next March 1-3, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas, at our Annual Leadership Conference. Growing together as a global community includes meeting together as a global community. ere are plenty of opportunities coming up. Grab one! Sincerely, Brent J. McClendon, CAE NWPCA President/CEO 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 Board Officers Chairman Carolyn Beach, Westside Pallet Chairman-Elect Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp Past Chair Mike Hachtman, 48forty Solutions Secretary/Treasurer Jeff Lewis, Atlanta Pallet & Services. Director at Large Hinton Howell, Cottondale Wood Products 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 Kathleen Dietrich, Commercial Lumber & Pallet Justin Hegsted, Challenger Pallet & Supply Alex Jimenez, Jimenez Pallets Bernie Kamps, Kamps, Inc. Bryan Kesting, Madison County Wood Products Kate Matz, Allegheny Recycled Products Steve Mazza, S&B Pallet Lindsey Shean-Snowden, Pallet Logistics of America Beatrice Vasquez, Oxnard Pallet International Director Fernando López Bello, Losifra Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Associate's Representative Bruce Kennedy, Mid Continent Steel and Wire Growing Together as a Global Community FROM THE PRESIDENT