palletcentral

8 Pallet C e nt ral • Janu a r y -Fe b r u a r y 2 0 25 T his year, your Board of Directors has concentrated significantly on strategy. Our current Strategic Plan, developed in 2014, has guided us effectively over the past decade, helping us achieve many of its goals. After several thoughtful meetings, we determined it was time to develop a new roadmap for the future. e new Strategic Plan centers around four key areas: 1. Pallet Design System™ (PDS) PDS continues to be a major focus of our Association. We are committed to expanding its functionality and ensuring it remains cutting-edge technology that leads the industry globally. In addition, we plan to broaden our live, onsite training for PDS users, no matter where they are located. 2. Public Affairs And Advocacy e new Plan emphasizes our advocacy efforts and messaging in the USA and abroad. We will also work to increase member awareness and participation in the NWPCA PAC. 3. Member Engagement And Educa on is is a new and important aspect of the Strategic Plan. We will develop new, engaging ways to bring our members closer through onboarding, expanded networking, and educational programming. 4. Global Posi on is is another new area of focus. While "international" and "global" are woven into all aspects of the Strategic Plan, this goal is designed to drive our international growth, engagement, and policy advocacy. I am very proud of the work and dedication your Board has put into developing this plan. I appreciate your assistance in helping us achieve these lofty goals. We will begin to see results of these changes in the near future. Now . . . a few observations from recent travels: I traveled to the NWPCA Mexican chapter annual meeting in Querétaro, Mexico, in early September. e chapter has grown very fast, and this meeting saw over 340 attendees from Mexico and several other Latin American countries. From Mexico, I traveled to Europe, joining staff in Brussels to advocate within several departments of the European Union Commission. With a lot of hard work on the part of our team and outside lobbying firms, we were able to block some provisions of the European proposed law that would have been very harmful to the interests of the global pallet industry. We then tied on a visit to the FEFPEB Congress in Belgium, a key European pallet industry event. I met many of our overseas members and listened as they outlined their hopes for NWPCA's expanding global role. I saw that our rapid international growth and impactful advocacy don't happen by chance. We have a very professional staff and active, engaged, and committed volunteers. Together, we are building something very special at NWPCA. Sincerely, Jeff Lewis Atlanta Pallets & Services NWPCA Board Chair A Strategic Focus For Growth And Impact A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR

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