Advocacy Is Not Optional
Dear WPA members and friends,
Glenn
Glenn Meeks
Executive Vice President
Western Pallet Association
June 2025
In our industry, advocacy isn’t optional - it’s critical. From softwood lumber tariffs to state-level environmental mandates, regulatory pressure is changing, and the cost of non-compliance is rising fast.
This issue of WPA Magazine focuses squarely on advocacy and regulations - what’s changing, why it matters, and how WPA is helping members stay ahead. Emily Clark outlines how global trade policies are impacting material costs and business margins. Kat Vasquez explains how data privacy and AI regulations are quietly reshaping daily operations, especially for companies exploring automation. Brint Walker zeroes in on compliance risks, liability exposures, and the growing complexity of state-by-state rules. And Kevan Grinwis offers a timely reminder: through it all, values-driven leadership still matters.
Here’s where the WPA fits in, we’re not just watching these developments - we’re on the ground, engaging members and lawmakers, developing advocacy tools, and collaborating with other industry organizations to further the cause.
Our Advocacy & Insights Committee is building momentum, but the real impact happens when members get involved, whether that’s sharing feedback, joining a working committee, or answering a survey to help us define how legislation and policy affects your business.
The pallet industry doesn’t need more spectators. It needs voices that are clear, grounded, and informed. That’s what we’re building at WPA.
Join the WPA and join the Advocacy & Insights Committee to keep the progress going. Together, we don’t just follow the rules, we help write the ones that work.