Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1482881
6 PalletCentral • September-October 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 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 M any of you may know that I am passionate about NWPCA's advocacy program. I will travel to every NWPCA Congressional Fly-In in Washington, D.C., contribute to our PalletPAC and participate in our Government Affairs Committee. I always enjoy our fly-ins because I connect with others from around the country who feel the same way as me, and we carry our voice to Capitol Hill. During this time, I had the pleasure of getting to know Congresswoman U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski. She truly believed in us, and NWPCA even awarded her with "Champion of the Wood Packaging Industry" during a fly-in. She spoke at our 2018 ALC conference in Arizona, quite far from her home district in Indiana, and spent time learning about our businesses and issues. erefore, I was saddened to hear of her recent passing. Her passion, generosity, trust, and mental toughness are all characteristics that make a true champion. Both parties respected her for her work on the House Ways and Means Committee on which she served. Although we lost one industry champion, it's critical to keep nurturing our lawmakers so that more become future champions of our industry. e wood packaging sector has been affected by the political changes over the years, so engaging members of the House and the Senate is an ongoing job. I commend our staff and advocacy team for facilitating the dialogues, meetings, and fly-ins where together, we provide our representatives with information about our industry. By sharing our experiences as small to medium, family-owned businesses that manufacture in primarily rural areas, we are advocating for legislation that will allow us to continue growing our business and creating thriving, healthy communities. Beyond our fly-ins, I encourage you to invite your congressman or senator to your facility. Several years ago, I did this in my district, and the experience was mutually beneficial. en-Congressman Jeff Denham toured Westside Pallet and took the time to listen, ask questions, and craft thoughtful responses. We can call several Congressional leaders and Senators champions of our industry: Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. Representatives Ron Wittman (R-VA), Glenn "GT" ompson (R-PA), and Kat Cammack (R-FL), to name a few. More importantly, I consider each member of NWPCA a champion of the wood packaging industry. We are facing several challenges (labor, supply chain, lumber supply), but we have a great history of advocacy and working together to strengthen our industry. I encourage all of you to get involved in the association. Please get in touch with staff to learn more. Sincerely, Carolyn Beach, Westside Pallet NWPCA Board Chair FROM THE CHAIR Championing the Industry