Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/819351
8 PalletCentral • March-April 2017 palletcentral.com INSIDE NWPCA N W P C A A N N O U N C E M E N T S A N D U P C O M I N G E V E N T S NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference T he 2017 NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) is in the books. Nearly 580 members, exhibitors and spouses joined us this March at the Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. The buzz was electrifying with such great enthusiasm from 2015's ALC in Tucson, that the entire hotel was sold out to only NWPCA attendees. Chairman Steve Mazza (Bettaway Pallet Systems) kicked off the general session in front of a packed ballroom before passing on his duties and responsibilities to the NWPCA 2017-2018 Chair Shane Thompson (WestWind Logistics, LLC). The new Board of Directors took their oath and are recognized on page 6. "Born to Be Wild" could be heard blaring throughout the ballroom as ALC keynote speaker, former Director of Communications of Harley-Davidson Motor Company Ken Schmidt, took center stage. Ken played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history and entertained and educated the audience with insights about the industry, and their surprising competitor – golf! His advice on how to dominate the marketplace by building a vocal customer base, creating a passionately loyal corporate culture, and developing leaders who inspire and motivate are shared on page 18. Crowded rooms could be seen throughout the two+ day conference. Sessions covered forest sector collaboration, branding and our future, global insights, the economy and the Trump administration. There were also full business breakout sessions on OSHA, insurance industry trends, and the new USDA BioPreferred® Program for PDS-designed pallets and what that means for the industry.