Packaging: RPA announces 2014 Executive Committee and Board members

The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) announced its 2014 Executive Committee and Board members today. This is the association’s largest board ever and includes members from two end-user companies, The Kroger Company and Herman Miller. The RPA is the leading trade association dedicated to promoting the expansion and value of reusable packaging systems for greater supply chain efficiencies, increased environmental benefits, and reduced costs.

Robert Engle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otto Environmental Systems North America, will take on a second term as Chairman of the RPA Executive Committee. New members of the Executive Committee are Hillary Femal, Vice President Global Marketing, IFCO Systems, who will be Vice Chairman; and Norm Kukuk, Vice President Marketing & New Product Development, ORBIS Corporation, who is Secretary/Treasurer of the committee. Mike Hachtman, President and CEO of reLogistics Services, remains as immediate Past Chairman (ex officio), and Jerry Welcome will continue as RPA President and CEO (ex officio).

In 2014, members of the board and executive committee will drive new initiatives to strengthen the association’s three core objectives: Industry Promotion, Member Engagement and Membership Development, and Information, Data, and Education. Key tactics include strengthening the popular RPA Reusable Packaging Pavilion at PACK EXPO Chicago, placing renewed emphasis on attracting end users to the association, and creating more value for members.

Already, the association has almost sold out its largest ever Reusable Packaging Pavilion for PACK EXPO 2014 in Chicago. And in the first quarter, the RPA will announce its call for entries for its third annual Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award. The award is designed to recognize companies that have developed, supported, or implemented measurable and innovative reusable solutions in a business-to-business supply chain. Non-members as well as members of the RPA are encouraged to enter.

“The RPA has established itself as the cohesive and unified voice of the reusables industry, and continues to gain organizational strength,” said Engle. “Going forward, we will provide even more value for our members, and expand the number of end users participating in the association. We will also develop more learning tools for end users, and new educational programming that leads to greater acceptance and adoption of reusable packaging solutions.”

Members of the 2014 Board of Directors are:
Jim Cavezza, Vice President, Material Handling Sales, PendaForm
Jeff Euritt, Senior Vice President, Field Services, PECO Pallet
Phil Davis, Senior Perishables Supply Chain Manager, The Kroger Company
Jack Fillmore, Director of Engineering and New Product Development, Buckhorn Inc.
David Deal, Senior Director of Marketing, CHEP North America
Carl Glick, Vice President of Sales, Polymer Logistics
Cindy Doman, Senior Packaging Engineering, Herman Miller
Greg Gorski, Vice President Corporate Operations Tosca Ltd.
Willy Lai, Director of Asset Management, iGPS Logistics LLC
Drew Merrill, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, CHEP - Pallecon Solutions Automotive and Industrial Solutions
Dan Lafond, Sales Manager-Supply Chain Solutions Group, Rehrig Pacific Company
Binayak Mohapatra, Vice President Operations, Schoeller Allibert, USA
David R. McCulloch, Vice President & Managing Director, PSD, Schaefer Systems International, Inc.
Rick Sasse, Direc­tor of Cus­tom Trans­port Pack­ag­ing, TriEnda / Lexington Logistics
Craig S. Scott, Managing Director – International Sales, Polymer Solutions International Inc.

RPA 2014 Committee Chairpersons are:
Marketing/Communications: Lisa Nikkila, Senior Manager, Marketing, CAPS Container Solutions
Industry Development: Lane Pence, Director, Retail Supply Chain, CHEP USA
Membership: Samantha Goetz, Marketing Communications Manager, ORBIS Corporation.