Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/801657
P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N A T I O N A L W O O D E N P A L L E T & C O N T A I N E R A S S O C I A T I O N NWPCA STAFF President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE, brent@palletcentral.com @NWPCA Vice President, Advocacy and External Affairs Patrick S. Atagi, patagi@palletcentral.com @NWPCA_Policy Senior Director, Business Partnerships Mark A. Barford, CAE, mbarford@palletcentral.com @MarkaBarford Membership Services Manager Mishelle Cavanagh, mcavanagh@palletcentral.com PDS and Membership Services Manager Susan Cheney, scheney@palletcentral.com PDS Structural Engineer Kristen DeLack, kdelack@palletcentral.com Communication and Education Director Annette Ferri, aferri@palletcentral.com @PalletCentral Director of Science and Technology Integration Brad Gething, PhD, bgething@palletcentral.com @NWPCATech Director of The Pallet Design System™ John A. McLeod III, jmcleod@palletcentral.com Vice President of Operations and Events Isabel ("Mimi") Sullivan, msullivan@palletcentral.com PDS Software Engineer Curtis Wilkes, cwilkes@palletcentral.com Advertising: To advertise in PalletCentral, contact Annette Ferri at 703-519-6104 or aferri@palletcentral.com Address changes and subscriptions: To update your mailing address or to subscribe to PalletCentral, call 703-519-6104 or email info@palletcentral.com. Reprints and back issues: To order article reprints or request reprint permission, please e-mail info@palletcentral.com. Order back issues by calling 703-519-6104. PALLETCENTRAL, Volume 17, Number 1. © Copyright 2017 by NWPCA. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all articles, editorials and advertisements appearing in PalletCentral are solely those of the author and advertiser, respectively, and do not necessarily represent the views of NWPCA. NWPCA palletcentral.com PalletCentral • January-February 2017 9 NWPCA Hosts PDS Training Session O n December 6-7, 2016, NWPCA held a two-day educational training session at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Attendees from across the country received hands-on and interactive training with Dr. Brad Gething. The attendees came away with the tools and knowledge to help their respective companies be competitive in the marketplace. Gething commented, "We not only teach you how to use software, but also on the different aspects of pallet design so that you can provide your customers with clearly communicated, cost-effective pallet designs for their purchasing decisions." The session also included an informal discussion on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred® program whose technical certification is linked to PDS. Learn more about PDS and BioPreferred at PalletCentral.com/biopreferred. NWPCA Representing the Wooden Pallet and Container Industry S taff at NWPCA represent your interests in Washington, DC and beyond. We are driven by the NWPCA strategic core mission: "To provide an environment for our members to succeed while promoting the wood pallet and wood packaging industry." We accomplish this through three strategic objectives: (1) Increase dialogue with strategic entities on relevant issues (2) Increase effectiveness of members in communicating legislative and regulatory issues and the effects on business with government officials and (3) Improve member engagement with strategic entities. The following is outreach for January/February. Patrick Atagi attended the United Fresh Produce Association Mid-Winter Leadership Forum in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 10-12, 2017. Atagi represents NWPCA on the United Fresh Supply Chain Logistics (SLC) Committee. United Fresh members represent the full breadth of the produce supply chain, from small family businesses to large international corporations. Patrick Atagi was featured speaker at the Western Pallet Association Annual (WPA) Meeting in Rancho Mirage, California, January 13-17, 2017. Brent McClendon was a featured speaker and panelist during the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Council of Manufacturing Associations Leadership Conference in Annapolis, Maryland, January 16-18, 2017. Brent addressed sustainability in wood packaging. Dr. Brad Gething participated in the NAPPO Systems Approach Meeting in Beltsville, Maryland, January 24-25, 2017. The North American Plant Protection Organization is the phytosanitary standard setting organization recognized by the North American Free Trade Agreement (US, Mexico, and Canada). Brent McClendon attended the Industrial Truck Foundation Trustee Meeting in Sarasota, Florida, February 8-9, 2017. The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) is the leading organization of industrial truck manufacturers and suppliers of component parts and accessories that conduct business in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. NWPCA is a partner association with ITA, and McClendon is on their Board. Dr. Brad Gething participated in the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and Industrial Truck Committee Meeting in Sarasota, Florida February, 8-9, 2017. The IoPP is operated by individuals who operate under a standard of ethical conduct. The Institute of Packaging Professionals creates networking and educational opportunities for product packaging professionals. PC