Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1503288
6 PalletCentral • May-June 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 Chair Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. Chair-Elect Jeff Lewis, Atlanta Pallets & Services Past Chair Carolyn Beach-Skinner, Westside Pallet Secretary/Treasurer Hinton Howell, Cottondale Wood Products Director at Large LeRoi Cochran, 48forty Solutions President/CEO Brent McClendon, CAE Board of Directors Michelle Blizzard, Pallet Central Enterprises Henry Bowman, C&L Wood Products Dominick Davi, Greenway Products & Services Kathleen Dietrich, Commercial Lumber & Pallet Justin Hegsted, Challenger Pallet & Supply Alex Jimenez, Jimenez Pallets Justin Kamps, Kamps, Inc. Bryan Kesting, Madison County Wood Products Kate Matz Ben Remmey, Remmey – The Pallet Company Lindsey Shean-Snowden, Pallet Logistics of America Beatrice Vasquez, Oxnard Pallet Company Scott Vipond, Girard Wood Products Associate's Representative Bruce Kennedy, Mid Continent Steel and Wire International Directors Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Fernando Lopez Bello, Losifra, S.A. de C.V. I want to begin with a sincere "thank you." It is an honor and privilege to serve as this year's Board Chair. In my remarks at our Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) in March, I mentioned coming to NWPCA events since I was a child. e people that make up this Association hold a very special place in my heart. From pivotal relationships to exceptional educational content and networking opportunities, our company's membership and participation have been game changers. I want to thank my dad for showing me and my brother the value of collaboration and engagement in our Association. At the ALC, we focused programming on one of our Association's core strategic objectives: "Building world-class leadership teams" that ultimately lead to world-class organizations. Not only is NWPCA helping its members achieve this through educational content offerings and speakers like Mike Paton, who dove into the core principles of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), but our amazing staff is out "walking the talk" every day. NWPCA is the leading authority on wood packaging and unit-load solutions. I am blown away by our ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the industry while advancing it, with a focus on monitoring workforce, automation, legislation, and other relevant issues. is year, I'm excited to continue the work of my outstanding predecessor, Carolyn Beach, as we expand our international chapter in Mexico, Capítulo Mexicano. I find inspiration from our friends in Mexico who joined us at this year's ALC, and I look forward to our 2nd Annual Meeting for this chapter in Guadalajara this September. I'm also eager to see colleagues worldwide at this year's Interpal conference in Montreal in October. NWPCA is honored to co-host the event with the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association. We're also doing some exciting work on PDS this year as we explore what "next" looks like for this incredible software. Having witnessed PDS' evolution from its humble beginnings as a drawing tool installed via "floppy disk" to what has now become a full suite of drawing, engineering, marketing, and unit-load analysis tools, is nothing short of remarkable. We now have our sights on stewarding this tool into the future by exploring what a "cloud-based" PDS could look like and expanding ERP/equipment integrations. We've got a great year and a bright future in front of us, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve our industry alongside you all! Sincerely, Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. NWPCA Chair FROM THE CHAIR Building World-Class Leadership Teams