WPA News
MARCH 2022
Membership Update
After an extremely successful decade heading up WPA’s membership efforts, Tyrone Konecny (Utah Lumber Co.) is handing over the reins to Nic Wilson (Big Sky Lumber).
One recent change that came into effect for the 2022 Annual Meeting is that the member recruitment prizes have been increased. Now, the person who sponsors the greatest number of new members wins $1,000, while everyone else who sponsors at least one new member is entered into a draw for an additional $1,000 prize.
As has become tradition, upon winning the top prize this year, Tyrone put the money back in the pot for the draw. When he won the draw as well, it was decided to play an impromptu game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with the four eligible people present, and the winner to take the combined $2,000 prize. In a fun-filled and exciting finale, the winner was longtime WPA member Dean Ponak.
According to Konecny, aside from valuable business information and networking opportunities, the Annual Meeting comes down to having fun.
“We have witnessed vast growth over the course last decade, and the one thing that has always been a focal point of the WPA is that we are the friendliest Association out there,” he told Western Pallet Magazine. “And we really want to focus on staying true to that.”
Another recent move to improve the first-time attendee experience has been the creation of an ice breaker event for new attendees at the start of the Annual Meeting. They are introduced to WPA Board and Executive members. According to Wilson, the spontaneous round of Rock, Paper, Scissors was was well received, and it is an approach that WPA will consider again in the future.
WPA Members Named to NWPCA Executive, Board
Congratulations to WPA members who have been recently named to the NWPCA Exeutive and Board, including Carolyn Beach-Skinner (Chair) as well as Justin Hegsted and Bruce Kennedy (Board).
“I am honored to be the board chair of the NWPCA this year and to build off the work of previous board chairs,” Beach Skinner (Westside Pallet) said in an email. “We have a long history of these leaders contributing to this organization’s success. The association has a strong strategic plan and it is my responsibility as board chair to advance our mission.
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organization’s success. The association has a strong strategic plan and it is my responsibility as board chair to advance our mission.
“For 2022, we are building off three trends that greatly benefit our industry. First, solving supply chain issues by expanding our work in the White House and other industries and expanding the work of our Political Action Committee. Second is the importance of sustainability and moving toward a carbon positive, circular economy. And third is the global expansion of the wood packaging sector. We are expanding our work with Mexico and leading initiatives like the Global Wood Packaging Forum to create unified global actions. I am looking forward to a fantastic year ahead.”
WPA Members Named to NWPCA Executive, Board
Congratulations to WPA members who have been recently named to the NWPCA Exeutive and Board, including Carolyn Beach-Skinner (Chair) as well as Justin Hegsted and Bruce Kennedy (Board).
“I am honored to be the board chair of the NWPCA this year and to build off the work of previous board chairs,” Beach Skinner (Westside Pallet) said in an email. “We have a long history of these leaders contributing to this organization’s success. The association has a strong strategic plan and it is my responsibility as board chair to advance our mission.
“For 2022, we are building off three trends that greatly benefit our industry. First, solving supply chain issues by expanding our work in the White House and other industries and expanding the work of our Political Action Committee. Second is the importance of sustainability and moving toward a carbon positive, circular economy. And third is the global expansion of the wood packaging sector. We are expanding our work with Mexico and leading initiatives like the Global Wood Packaging Forum to create unified global actions. I am looking forward to a fantastic year ahead.”
“We, Mid-Continent, have been a longtime supporter of both organizations and active as sponsors and exhibitors at their yearly events,” commented Bruce Kennedy (Mid-continent Steel and Wire), who was also voted to the WPA Board in addition to NWPCA..
“I’m very humbled to have been elected among my peers, especially as a supplier. Personally and professionally, it’s truly an honor to serve the industry that’s such an important part of our business. As manufacturers, we have a lot in common and I feel I can contribute on that level.”
“It is a huge honor to serve on the NWPCA board,” added Justin Hegsted (Challenger Pallet). “We have been members now for 30 years and my father, Tad Hegsted, also served on the board several years ago. Currently, I am also serving on the WPA board.
“Being a member of the NWPCA has allowed us the opportunity to have our voice heard regarding important issues that our industry faces on a daily basis. We appreciate the work done through the Pallet Foundation and Nature’s Packaging. A lot of great work is done through the committees which every company can participate in.”
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Membership Update
After an extremely successful decade heading up WPA’s membership efforts, Tyrone Konecny (Utah Lumber Co.) is handing over the reins to Nic Wilson (Big Sky Lumber).
One recent change that came into effect for the 2022 Annual Meeting is that the member recruitment prizes have been increased. Now, the person who sponsors the greatest number of new members wins $1,000, while everyone else who sponsors at least one new member is entered into a draw for an additional $1,000 prize.
As has become tradition, upon winning the top prize this year, Tyrone put the money back in the pot for the draw. When he won the draw as well, it was decided to play an impromptu game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with the four eligible people present, and the winner to take the combined $2,000 prize. In a fun-filled and exciting finale, the winner was longtime WPA member Dean Ponak.
According to Konecny, aside from valuable business information and networking opportunities, the Annual Meeting comes down to having fun.
“We have witnessed vast growth over the course last decade, and the one thing that has always been a focal point of the WPA is that we are the friendliest Association out there,” he told Western Pallet Magazine. “And we really want to focus on staying true to that.”
Another recent move to improve the first-time attendee experience has been the creation of an ice breaker event for new attendees at the start of the Annual Meeting. They are introduced to WPA Board and Executive members. According to Wilson, the spontaneous round of Rock, Paper, Scissors was was well received, and it is an approach that WPA will consider again in the future.
WPA Members Named to NWPCA Executive, Board
Congratulations to WPA members who have been recently named to the NWPCA Exeutive and Board, including Carolyn Beach-Skinner (Chair) as well as Justin Hegsted and Bruce Kennedy (Board).
“I am honored to be the board chair of the NWPCA this year and to build off the work of previous board chairs,” Beach Skinner (Westside Pallet) said in an email. “We have a long history of these leaders contributing to this organization’s success. The association has a strong strategic plan and it is my responsibility as board chair to advance our mission.
Cont'd on Page 22
organization’s success. The association has a strong strategic plan and it is my responsibility as board chair to advance our mission.
“For 2022, we are building off three trends that greatly benefit our industry. First, solving supply chain issues by expanding our work in the White House and other industries and expanding the work of our Political Action Committee. Second is the importance of sustainability and moving toward a carbon positive, circular economy. And third is the global expansion of the wood packaging sector. We are expanding our work with Mexico and leading initiatives like the Global Wood Packaging Forum to create unified global actions. I am looking forward to a fantastic year ahead.”