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Pallet C e nt ral • May -Ju ne 2 0 26 1 5 networking against the backdrop of Fort Lauderdale's coastline, and hit the Jacaranda Country Club for a golf tournament that brought friendly competition and industry camaraderie together. Rounding out the trio of events, a lively auction, led by Foundation Trustee and auctioneer Bill MacCauley, kept the room energized and bidding generously. e auction raised over $200,000 to invest in the industry's future. On the leadership front, Board Chair Hinton Howell passed the torch to incoming Chair LeRoi Cochran of Relogistics. It was a transition that felt both earned and well-timed. Cochran, who brings two decades of industry experience to the role, stepped in with both humility and clear purpose. "is is more than an industry," he said. "It's a community." His vision for the association centers on listening, faithful representation, and forward momentum built on the relationships, credibility, and trust that define this membership. On the rebrand, Cochran was characteristically direct: changing a brand requires people to reconnect and find new stories to tell, but standing still doesn't protect trust, it erodes it. e strength of Woodpack Global, he was quick to note, isn't a logo. It's the people in it. During Howell's tenure, the association achieved significant milestones: launching the Woodpack Global name and identity, growing staff by 40%, and continuing to advocate for the industry on key regulatory challenges. President & CEO Brent McClendon welcomed Cochran to the role as the organization steps confidently into its next chapter. e conference also marked the announcement of three new board members: Sukhi Brar of Advance Lumber & Pallet, Carrie Collins of Collins Pallet, and Luke Gruber of Gruber Pallets. Meet Luisa López González Luisa López González steps in as Program Coordinator for Mexico & Latin America. Based in Chihuahua, Luisa brings valuable experience in administrative coordination, bilingual communications, and cross-border operations. Her career includes work with government institutions and international organizations in Mexico, as well as policy and event support on Capitol Hill during her time with Forward Global in Washington, DC. She will play a key role in supporting Woodpack Global's expanding regional presence across Latin America. Woodpack Global is growing, and the organization is thrilled to introduce two outstanding additions to the team, both of whom made their debut at ALC 2026 in Fort Lauderdale. Welcoming New Faces Meet Michelle Torelli Michelle Torelli joins as Director of Technology & Development, bringing a strong technical foundation in chemical and environmental engineering. Her background spans the energy sector, consulting, and innovative disciplines such as biochar, and she will be instrumental in strengthening the Pallet Design System™ (PDS) and Crate Design System™ (CDS) education programs while expanding the organization's technical expertise.

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