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16 Industry Thought Leaders from the Past, Present & Future Make Predictions for 2016 The ghosts from A Christmas Carol painted a story of what was, could be, or might be. Yes, Ebenezer Scrooge encountered some grim scenes, but also positive predictions. At PalletCentral, we think 2016 will end like the story — on a positive note. But there are important lessons and opportunities to be learned as we'll hear from pallet industry leaders of past, present and future to tell us their story. I N S I D E V O L . 1 5 | N O . 6 FINANCE 40 Three Reasons to Outsource Large corporations have departments and staff to handle just about every aspect of their businesses, from accounting, to human resources, to marketing. Small businesses, with their limited number of employees, have to seek assistance from sources outside of their companies. Read three reasons where outsourcing makes sense. By Barbara Weltman PALLET DESIGN SYSTEM™ 42 PDS New Release Version 5.2 On last year's wish list, many PDS users requested the enhancement of the user interface to more easily locate pallet components during the design process. The latest version of PDS addresses this issue and is now available to PDS users. DEPARTMENTS Chairman's Message ........................................6 Inside NWPCA ..................................................8 Nature's Packaging: Historical Pallet ................13 The Pallet Foundation ....................................15 Capitol Hill Corner ..........................................39 Advertisers ....................................................44 SAFETY 22 OSHA: What's Ahead for 2016? Crystal ball gazing, especially when it comes to an election year like 2016, can be a risky business. But when it comes to OSHA enforcement, rulemaking and initiatives, there are enough indicators to help prepare for the last hurrah of the Obama Administration. So, fasten your seatbelts: you'll have a lot of things to deal with when it comes to occupational safety and health. By Adele L. Abrams, Esq., CMSP MARKETS 26 Low-Grade Hardwood Markets Amply Supplied Manufacturers that had faced raw material shortages in 2014 were flush with lumber by the summer of 2015. Read about recent supply and demand trends for each of the major low-grade sectors. By Andy Johnson POLITICAL INSIGHT 30 The 2016 Presidential Election, Is Conventional Wisdom Dead? The 2016 Presidential election is quickly becoming an event unlike any other in recent political history. It appears that the Republican and Democratic parties have never been further apart, leading to one of the most hostile political climates in recent memory. One thing for certain, come next November, the outcome of this election is guaranteed to be "yuge!" By Paul Kanitra BUSINESS BLOG 34 How Pallet Collars Changed Business in 2015 One pallet manufacturer shares how offering a product, such as pallet collars, has impacted the way supply chain management is addressed, while adding to the company bottom line. Guest blog by Aleksejs Volvenkovs Published six times annually by the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association, 1421 Prince Street, Suite 340, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 703-519-6104; info@palletcentral.com. Subscriptions to PalletCentral are complimentary, however you need to subscribe: PalletCentral.com>>Subscribe. Changes and Renewals: Current subscribers may sign-in at PalletCentral.com>>Edit Bio (look for "Additional Information" to manage your subscription and edit your mailing address. Or fax changes to: 703-519-4720.The NWPCA does not sell our mailing list; data collected from PalletCentral subscribers is solely used for tracking our readership. Connect with NWPCA FEATURES Pallet Central 4 PalletCentral • November-December 2015 palletcentral.com iStockPhoto.com/Kichigin Cover image: iStockPhoto.com/Imagesbystefan