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FINANCE 36 Expanding Your Workforce: 5 Tax Tips Expanding your staff in 2017 may be a key move in growing your business. Be sure to factor in tax costs and other federal law responsibilities to determine the real cost of hiring before you move ahead. By Barbara Weltman PALLET DESIGN SYSTEM™ 38 Ensuring that the Pallets of Tomorrow Exceed the Pallets of Today We caught up with the two newest additions to the PDS team – both of whom are structural engineers – to gain insight into the latest developments of NWPCA's PDS software program, and how NWPCA is working today to ensure that PDS remains cutting edge technology and the leading unit load design system of tomorrow. BUSINESS BLOG 40 Leased Employees Hurt on the Job… Am I Covered Leasing employees has become an increasingly popular option among medium and small businesses that are looking at innovative ways for handling personnel matters, including payroll and benefits, and overall reducing costs. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Business Blog By Dennis Bilancia and Molly Green 12 Innovating, Branding and Marketing at NWPCA 2017 Annual Leadership Conference The top-notch education program is just one segment of its NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference (ALC). Hear from industry professionals on relevant and timely topics, and gain ideas on innovative approaches to marketing and branding taken by expert speakers. Network with hundreds of pallet industry leaders who will be in Tucson (March 8-10), and see the products and service providers featured in the Exhibitor Showcase (pages 16-17). Throughout this edition of PalletCentral, we bring you a sampling of the feature presentations you'll see at ALC. V O L . 1 7 | N O .1 DEPARTMENTS President's Message ........................................6 Inside NWPCA ..................................................8 Capitol Hill Corner ..........................................10 Nature's Packaging ........................................45 Advertisers ....................................................44 MARKETS 18 Industrial Markets Overview The hardwood industry has lost market share in the pallet and upholstered furniture sectors. Contractions in these and other industrial markets are the main reason that U.S. hardwood lumber production is down. Get the full picture when you read about recent supply and demand trends for industrial hardwood lumber. By Hardwood Market Report ECONOMY 22 A New Policy Era Begins The stunning victory by Donald Trump and the policies he is expected to pursue will create some dramatic changes in the overall business climate, particularly for labor laws, environmental rules and taxes. By Lynn Michaelis ADVOCACY 26 Legislation Moving in 2017 Now that the dust has settled a bit from the recent Presidential election, Washington will brace itself for an unprecedented new political climate. So what does the outlook for the 115th Congress look like with a GOP White House and Congress? Here is what NWPCA members might expect to see in the coming months. By Ashley Delgado SAFETY 30 OSHA's New Fall Protection Offers Flexibility – But Will It Last? The general industry walking-working surfaces and fall protection standards were recently modified by OSHA. The standards cover everything in worksites: office areas, warehouse space, manufacturing areas, loading areas in the work or truck yard, and even routine maintenance work on HVAC systems or other roofing issues. By Adele L. Abrams, Esq., CMSP 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 2017 palletcentral.com Cover photos: iStockphoto.com/pilgrims49; MarkSkalny; DCorn; Tonda; Miroslav1 I N S I D E