AF&PA Board Elects New Chairman and Officers, Hosts Congressional Leaders at February Meeting
WASHINGTON — February 12, 2016 — The American Forest & Paper Assoc. (AF&PA) has announced the election of Packaging Corp. of America (PCA) Chairman and CEO Mark Kowlzan as the new AF&PA Board chairman along with the 2016 slate of AF&PA Board officers.
“I am honored to work with such a capable group of board members to achieve the priorities we set for 2016 and look forward to our work together,” stated Kowlzan. “Our industry has an aggressive advocacy agenda this year, which we will pursue to ensure that our industry’s perspective on issues such as regulatory overreach, energy, transportation, tax and trade are heard by national and state political leaders.”
Kowlzan is a 35-year industry veteran and has been with PCA since 1996 where he has held a variety of operational, managerial and executive positions. He has served as PCA’s CEO since 2010 and assumed his role as PCA board chairman in January.
Also elected as officers are Clearwater Paper President and CEO Linda Massman (first vice chair) and Evergreen Packaging President and CEO John Rooney (second vice chair). Sappi North America President and CEO Mark Gardner will serve as the immediate past chairman.
Beginning new terms as AF&PA board members in 2016 are Richard Garneau, Resolute Forest Products; Michael Grimm, American Eagle Paper Mills; William (“Bill”) Johnson Jr., Johnson Timber; and Dante Parrini, Glatfelter.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) along with Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) joined AF&PA members during the association political action committee breakfast as well. Board members spoke about several top issues affecting the industry, including biomass carbon neutrality, clean water issues, regulatory reform and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The AF&PA board of directors currently consists of 21 top industry leaders representing the broad spectrum of the paper and wood products manufacturing sector.
About American Forest & Paper Assoc.
The American Forest & Paper Assoc. (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.
Source: American Forest & Paper Assoc.
