10 WESTERN PALLET
The most interesting part of the tour for me, was seeing how large the new pallet market is in that area. Out in our Western regions, we have such a large market for recycled GMA pallets, while much of what I saw in Houston, was custom sized new build. What I enjoyed most was seeing all of the lumber milling going on at the facilities visited.
To our WPA membership who weren’t able to make the trip: I think this is a huge benefit to our industry to see what other operations are doing, sharing ideas and finding ways that we can work as an industry to solve common issues. It is very refreshing to find new ways to do things and picking up efficiencies within your own operations.
Carolyn Beach:
#WPA2018 Annual Meeting Highlights: A Passion for Inclusion
The 2018 Annual Meeting provided a nice balance of business information, networking opportunities, ample occasions to connect with old friends. and, of course, some beautiful, sunny weather for golf. The business sessions featured practical business ideas that could be put into action by attendees right away when they return home, along with a look into the political landscape as well as what the future holds for wood technology and new products anticipated to emerge over the next decade.
Inclusiveness not only gains us valuable new members, but invaluable new ideas for the future.
The meeting began with remarks from Dave Uppal Jr., the outgoing WPA President and owner of Pioneer Pallet and Lumber. "After I joined the pallet business in 1984, I attended my first WPA meeting in the late 80s, at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara,California," Dave recalled. "I remember it fondly, because I was this kid from Canada, new to the business, not knowing what to expect. I received such a warm welcome that I kept coming back, watching our membership steadily grow, and seeing other new members welcomed like I was back in the day.
"At first, I attended our annual meetings here in Palm Springs because I enjoyed
spending time with old friends and colleagues, and because it was the only three rounds of golf I attempted to play all year. But over time, I’ve come to appreciate an even deeper value of our annual meeting: it is a time and a place for constant renewal, where members share new ideas, revitalize and we all leave better equipped to run our businesses.
"It is this passion for inclusion that has given our organization not only the motive to expand, but also to embrace change as our industry evolves. Inclusiveness not only gains us valuable new members, but invaluable new ideas for the future."
Dave expressed thanks to WPA's Immediate Past President, Kathleen Dietrich, for her many years of dedication to our Board and the association. "It was Kathleen who encouraged me to join the Board five years ago," Dave said. "Paying forward this warmth and enthusiasm, it is my turn to say to all of you: please, put your names forward, join the Board, and share with everyone your ideas for continuing to improve the Friendliest Association in the West.
"Next year’s young, dynamic Executive Team has made me very excited for the
WPA’s future. Our Incoming President, Lindsey Shean, has assembled an exciting lineup of speakers who will help forge new paths for us in everything from labor to lumber, and from technology to
politics. I am sure there will be topics of interest for everyone to help with their day to day business operations. Our Incoming Vice President, Annie Monty, is a third-generation pallet producer who has already begun ushering the WPA into the digital world of social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
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