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MARKETS 34 The Softwood Supply Picture U.S. softwood lumber production increased throughout most of 2015. Will this rise cause a shift from hardwood to softwood usage for pallet manufacturers? Get the full picture when you read about recent supply and demand trends for softwood lumber. By Andy Johnson PALLET DESIGN SYSTEM™ 42 Industry Thought Leaders Find Customer Solutions with PDS We caught up with industry leaders and collected comments on successes and challenges associated with PDS. Read how some PDS Users are using this engineering tool to solve a customer challenge, and observe new ideas on how PDS surprised even its users. 18 Wood Packaging Solutions: The Business, The People, The Products – All In One Place The top-notch education program is just one segment of the NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference (ALC). Hear from expert speakers on industry's most relevant and timely topics. Network with hundreds of pallet industry leaders who will be in Orlando (March 2-4), and see the products and service providers featured in the Exhibitor Showcase (pages 22-23). Throughout this edition of Pallet Central, we bring you a sampling of wood packaging solutions – the business, the people and the products – all coming together this March. I NSI DE V O L . 1 6 | N O . 1 DEPARTMENTS President's Message ........................................6 Inside NWPCA ..................................................8 Capitol Hill Corner ..........................................16 Nature's Packaging: Pickathon Festival ............38 Advertisers ....................................................44 BUSINESS BLOG 10 Crisis Management: Responding at the Speed of Social Media Today, news no longer breaks; it tweets. Crisis news moves faster than ever, shortening the timeframe that companies have to respond. By Patrick Atagi INDUSTRY 12 Outdoor Pallet Storage: Protecting Against Fire in your Facilities As fire code proposals progress through the review process, this article offers an update on the work and collaboration between all interested parties, including NWPCA and the fire code development organizations, National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council. By Dr. Brad Gething SAFETY 24 OSHA & DOJ Step Up Criminal Enforcement The federal government is taking aim at occupational safety and health violations from a different perspective: criminal prosecution. Workplace violations may be prosecuted creatively by using other statutes, including environmental acts that could impose stiffer penalties. By Adele L. Abrams, Esq., CMSP ECONOMY 30 Stuck in 2nd Gear The U.S. economy has not been able to get the momentum going. While consumers continue to do their part by spending more, there are two major segments dragging overall growth down: federal government spending and net exports. As pallets are used to move manufactured goods, gain insight into all areas impacting the economy that your business should care about. By Lynn Michaelis 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 • January-February 2016 palletcentral.com Cover background image: iStock.com/Songquan Deng