Appleton Coated Positions Itself for Future Growth with New Product and Innovation Roles

COMBINED LOCKS, Wis.—December 16, 2015—Appleton Coated’s senior vice president of marketing and customer service, Ann Whalen, announced the following new appointments, which are effective immediately:

John Mazuroski has been promoted to the new role of executive director, uncoated and specialty products. In this new position, he will lead the company’s marketing strategy and execution in the uncoated and specialty markets. Mazuroski began his career at Newton Falls in 1981 and transitioned to Appleton Coated (then part of Appleton Papers) in 1995 for the launch of Utopia. Mazuroski brings 34 years of business development, marketing, product development and sales experience to his role, most recently as manager of new product development at Appleton Coated. In his leadership role, Mazuroski also joins the Appleton Coated executive team. He reports to Ann Whalen.

Jim Bird will join Appleton Coated in the new position of product manager, uncoated and specialty products. Bird was previously employed by Appleton Coated as a sales representative in the Ohio market from 2002 until 2010. Bird rejoins Appleton Coated with 30+ years of experience in sales, distribution, product management, and business development experience in the uncoated and specialty market segments.His most recent experience was in sales with Boise and as business development manager of uncoated/specialty products with Finch Paper. He received a bachelor of science from Ball State University. Bird reports to John Mazuroski.

Amy Ambos has been promoted to the new position of product manager, inkjet products. She brings 26 years of experience to her role. In her most recent position—marketing specialist, publishing and inkjet—she played an important role in the company’s successful entrance into web inkjet paper while managing the role of inside sales and customer service for publishing customers. In the product manager position, Ambos will have responsibility for executing on the company’s growth plan for coated and uncoated inkjet products, including defining and promoting the segment’s product and service offering. She reports to John Mazuroski.

Jenni Birkholz has been appointed to the position of senior marketing specialist, publication papers and sustainability. She will serve as primary liaison for Appleton Coated book publishing customers and has responsibility for communications with customers regarding sustainability matters, as well as the coordination of the company’s important environmental certification programs. Birkholz brings 15 years of experience to her new role starting with Arjowiggins Fine Papers in 2000, joining Appleton Coated’s marketing team as the fine papers product specialist in 2009. In June 2015, she added the responsibilities for sustainability. In her dual roles, she reports to Mike Baker, director publishing and Ferko Goldinger, marketing manager.

Whalen commented, “The new roles and reporting structure directly reflect Appleton Coated’s commitment to product diversification and our successful growth in uncoated and specialty markets. These business segments, including the inkjet products, require dedicated resources to continue building on our accomplishments in these markets.”

Added Mazuroski, “We feel these latest organizational moves not only position Appleton Coated at full strength for continued growth in new and expanding markets, they reaffirm our strong commitment to growth and innovation in all areas of paper and substrate manufacturing.”

About Appleton Coated
The first North American coated paper mill to be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified (FSC C007796), Appleton Coated maintains ISO14001 certification. It is recognized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for its environmental transparency by participating in the WWF Environmental Paper Company Index (EPCI) which recognizes transparency and continual improvement of participants. It is an eight-year Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partner and 2015 SmartWay Excellence Award Winner. It is a member of the EPA Green Power Partnership since 2011 and named to the National Top 100 for 2015. It is also a Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Green Masters Winner for the last five years. Additionally, it is one of seven Green Tier II companies recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as having exceptional environmental management systems in place.

Appleton Coated is an American-owned manufacturer and distributor of coated, uncoated, specialty and technical papers sold under the Utopia and other brand names. The company’s products are used in high-end commercial printing, textbook publishing, label papers, transactional printing and a variety of specialty and custom applications. Selling through a chain of highly respected paper distributors, the company serves corporations, publishers, printers, converters, and graphic designers in North America. Since 1889, Appleton Coated has been headquartered in Combined Locks, Wisconsin.

Source: Appleton Coated.