Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1543788
8 Pallet C e nt ral • Ma rch -Ap r il 2 0 26 T his issue of PalletCentral holds special significance. It's our final publication under the NWPCA banner before we transition to Woodpack Global. If you've been following our journey, we hope you share our enthusiasm for this evolution. Many of you may have already seen the video on our YouTube channel highlighting our rich history and enduring legacy. Whether you're watching it for the first time or revisiting it, it's impossible not to feel inspired by the countless individuals who dedicated themselves to building this industry and our association. eir work has laid a foundation we're honored to build upon, and we remain committed to creating an impact that will echo for generations. You can watch the video here: youtube.com/ watch?v=zHidJfQYwNE. Our Core Remains Unchanged While our name is evolving, our fundamental values stand firm. We remain focused on what matters most to you: fostering an engaged community and facilitating meaningful personal and business connections. ese aren't just buzzwords. ey're the pillars supporting everything we do. at's why we're investing heavily in resources that help you forge lasting relationships and uncover new business opportunities. Expanding To Serve You Beer We've made significant investments in our team, adding four new staff members across critical areas: • Expanded Events Department • New Marketing Department • Enhanced PDS Technical Services Team • Strengthened Office and Operations Support ese additions aren't about growth for growth's sake. ey enable us to deliver more value by hosting additional events, elevating your experience at existing gatherings, and creating fresh opportunities for engagement in our committees, advocacy efforts, and standards development. Where We'll Be In 2026 Mark your calendars for these upcoming opportunities: March 25–27: Annual Leadership Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; April 17–18: Woodpack Global booth at Richmond Expo (plus PDS workshop); May 28–29: Woodpack Global represen- tation at CWPCA AGM, Quebec City, Canada; June 2–3: Washington Fly-In and Lobby Day; September 2–3: Mexico Conference, Mexico City; September 30–October 2: Woodpack Global booth at FEFPEB European Conference; plus Fall Plant Tour, PDS Workshops throughout the year, and our new Crate Design Workshop (launch coming soon!) Your Next Move Attending events accelerates relationship building, but committee involvement supercharges your engagement. Our committees meet regularly throughout the year. Some are bimonthly and membership is open to all. is is where connections deepen, where industry direction is shaped, and where future leaders emerge. In fact, most of our current board members began their leadership journey through active committee service. Ready to amplify your involvement? Join a committee today: woodpackglobal.org/Involved_ Advocacy. e future of our industry—and our association—is being written right now. We invite you to be part of that story. Together, we'll continue building community and creating opportunities that transform businesses and careers. Welcome to Woodpack Global. Let's build something remarkable together. Sincerely, Brent J. McClendon, CAE President & CEO Building Community. Creating Opportunity. A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT