Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1493464
6 PalletCentral • January-February 2023 palletcentral.com 2023 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 Universal Fastener Outsourcing 800-352-0028 | nailscrews.com Vecoplan 336-861-6070 | vecoplanllc.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 T hank you for a fantastic year! In March 2023, I wrap up my time as Chair of NWPCA and pass the gavel to Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corporation. It's been an honor to serve this industry, and I thank our Board, Committee Chairs and staff for their trust and support during my term. Before I step down as your Board Chair, I'd like to share some milestones and other notables over the year.. ere is a new milestone in membership. NWPCA now stands at 720+ member companies in 38 countries. is is the largest number in our history, with growth in numbers and geographic diversity of new members joining us. I was proud to participate in officially bringing Capítulo Mexicano into the fold by welcoming them as the first international chapter of NWPCA. is expansion allows us to grow our network and share information and resources beyond our backyard. e presence of those who attended the first-ever (and sold-out) Mexico 2022 Conference made the event such an unforgettable experience. Staff is planning the next Mexico Conference in Guadalajara for September 2023. It was also an honor to represent NWPCA and the U.S. wood packaging industry in Florence, Italy at the FEFPEB (the European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers) Congress. ese opportunities come once every few years, and I was fortunate to participate during my term. Meetings with European industry leaders to improve our global supply chains and make them more sustainable and responsible through better practices are invaluable. We continue to deliver programs and events that exceed our members' expectations, including conferences and plant tours, which are consistently sold out with attendees worldwide. Our committees also work hard year-round for the industry and our businesses. Our committee meetings are open to all and I encourage you to join us. Our Pallet Foundation also had a milestone year. Our budget of supporting nearly $700,000 in projects in 2023 is nearly three times larger than 2021! It is my honor to serve as a Foundation Trustee. I support their projects because it matters to my pallet business. e research behind projects such as the environmental product declaration and landfill avoidance helps our customers understand how important wooden pallets are in the supply chain and our planet. ese are just a few highlights. Inside this edition, you can read more in our annual Year in Review. Together, we look forward to more successes in the coming years. ank you again for allowing me to serve you. Sincerely, Carolyn Beach, Westside Pallet NWPCA Board Chair FROM THE CHAIR Milestones, Highlights & Expansions