Longtime Finch Paper Chairman Richard J. Carota Dies at 73

Mr. Carota's leadership was widely credited for keeping the Finch mill operating during the late 1990s and early 2000s as dozens of other American paper mills were forced to close due to troublesome economic conditions. Among his most significant career accomplishments at Finch, Mr. Carota: expanded the company's market presence and product mix, developing a nationwide network of Finch Paper merchants; spearheaded the company's entrance into the premium text and cover paper market, with the introductions of the Finch Fine and Finch Premium Blend products; and championed Finch's receipt of the coveted Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) green certifications for the company's forestry practices and its products. He also oversaw a $20-million modernization of the company's largest and most productive paper machine; the development of a $25-million cogeneration plant that has made the company largely energy-independent; and the company's $10-million conversion to an elemental chlorine-free pulp bleaching process to protect the environment.