Top Young Professionals are Ready to Make Their Mark

JAN BOTTIGLIERI and SAMANTHA GEIER

The next generation of industry leaders are not interested in “the way things were” for pulp, paper, and packaging producers. They’re interested in the opportunities ahead, and in how they can launch careers that take full advantage of those opportunities.

TAPPI’s Young Professionals Division paves the way forward for the industry by supporting those launching careers in pulp, paper, and packaging. Comprised of college undergraduates, recent graduates, and others beginning their professional lives, the division provides a wide range of products, services and educational opportunities, as well as a means for experiencing different professional areas, resources for career advancement and the chance to network with peers and industry professionals. YP Division involvement helps younger professionals develop leadership potential and become more personally involved in the industry.

Several new developments illustrate the group’s recent activities.

2017 Top Outstanding YPs
The Top Outstanding Young Professionals Award recognizes emerging leaders in the paper, packaging, and related industries. Selection criteria include career aspirations, project contributions, and community involvement. The Top Outstanding Young Professionals for 2017 are:

Jessica Carette
Innovation Manager, Cascade Tissue Group

Sarah Garchinsky
Scientist I, Solenis

Qiang Han
Sr. Research Associate, International Paper

Josh Haywood
Recovery/Recaust Superintendent, Domtar

Ana Meneses
Product Dev Innovation Lead, WestRock

Linea Olsson
Innovations Project Engineer, Greif

Kimberly Phillips
Front Line Leader - Paper, International Paper

Brantley West
Fiberline Process Engineer, Domtar

Tobias Wolfinger
Technical Director WFTE, Weidman

“At TAPPI, we’re great believers in what I call the Power of The Next Generation,” says TAPPI President Larry Montague. “No one exemplifies that power—and that potential—better than these outstanding young professionals.”

Winners are invited to attend their division-specific TAPPI conference during their award year to receive recognition; they also receive one year of free TAPPI membership. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Executive Council Energizes
Someone once said that youth is wasted on the young, but they never met the inspiring young professionals that form the new YP Division Executive Council (YPEC). This dedicated trio of professionals—Josh Reich, Greif Inc., YP division chair; Sudip Neupane, WestRock, division vice chair; and Matias Gonzalez, EDT, division secretary—channel their energy toward augmenting the future of the division and enriching the experience of its members.

“Being on the executive council has been a great experience where I’ve grown personally and professionally,” says Reich. “I’m fortunate to work with a group that is committed to making the YP Division better every day.”

Some of the initial plans for enhancing the division’s prominence and resources include the creation of a Young Professionals Division Manual, which will give all YP members an understanding of both the division and of TAPPI as a whole, as well as the introduction of the YP BaseCamp at TAPPI events. Additionally, the YPEC is conducting a survey of young professionals to assess member needs.

The TAPPI Young Professionals Division is an unparalleled resource for recent graduates and professionals under the age of 35 with up to 10 years of industry experience looking to enhance their careers in the global pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, converting, and related forest products industries. For more information, contact Tanya Hickson at thickson@tappi.org.

For a modest investment of $174, receive more than US$ 1000 in benefits in return.
Visit www.tappi.org/join for more details.