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10 Pallet C e nt ral • May -Ju ne 2 0 25 INSIDENWPCA NWPCA ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS NWPCA ALC 2025: Innova on Uncorked, Success In Napa T he 2025 NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference and Expo brought together over 700 industry leaders on March 26–28 at e Meritage in Napa, California. Under the theme "Innovation Uncorked: How AI, Automation, and Business Strategy Shape Our Future," the energy was palpable as attendees immersed themselves in thought-provoking discussions, cutting-edge presentations, and unparalleled networking opportunities. It was a conference to remember—where bold ideas flowed as freely as Napa's finest wines. Jeff Lewis, Atlanta Pallets & Services, NWPCA Board Chair, opened the conference with a warm welcome before officially passing the gavel to incoming Chair Hinton Howell, Hinton Lumber Products. Under Hinton's leadership, the association looks forward to strengthening the agenda related to the NWPCA Strategic Plan, specifically in two new goal areas: global positioning and membership engagement and education. e Pallet Foundation Auction proved to be another highlight. Our auctioneer extraordinaire, Bill MacCauley, led the auction activities, raising an impressive $238,000 to support research, education, and advocacy efforts for the wood packaging industry. In addition to the auction, a special fundraiser for the foundation, featuring a wine-pairing dinner experience with a curated selection of wines presented by Stu Lerner, former pallet manufacturer and owner of Lerner Project Winery, was a great success. And over 100 golfers attended the annual golf tournament at the nearby Silverado Resort. With a sold-out exhibit space and packed educational sessions, the halls buzzed with conversation about the impressive speaker lineup, which delivered critical insights on technology, economics, policy, and business strategies. NWPCA 2025/2026 Board of Directors Commi ee Chairs

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