May 2026
3. What are you currently working on at the Association level?
Serving on the Board, and now as President this year, has given me real insight into what goes on behind the scenes of an Association. As a Board, we worked on updating the WPA's Strategic Plan, a process that forced us to think hard about where the industry is headed and what our members will need five or ten years from now. Part of that discussion included the formation of the WPA's own 501(c)(3): The Pallet Supply Chain Initiative.
I'm really excited about the possibilities of this project, as it will allow us the opportunity to raise more funds to develop educational programs for our industry, such as the Pallet University. It's the kind of long-term investment in people that I think will pay dividends for the whole industry.
4. What advice would you give to new members of the WPA?
The biggest thing new members can do to find value is to get involved; join a committee, sign up for a webinar, expand your network by reaching out to other members.
Don't just show up to the annual meeting and sit in the back of the room. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and be willing to give as much as you get. The relationships you build here tend to pay off in ways you don't expect right away, but they add up over time.
Follow Justin Hegsted on LinkedIn.
July 2026
Justin Hegsted of Challenger Pallet & Supply, Inc., is currently President of the Western Pallet Association as well as President of WPA's Pallet & Supply Chain Initiative.