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TAPPI Divisions Offer Career Growth and Connection

In today’s perpetual state of busyness, the idea of adding one more meeting to your calendar might feel overwhelming. But what if that meeting connected you with people who shared your interests, helped you grow professionally, and gave you access to a wealth of knowledge and support?

 

That’s what it's like to volunteer with one of TAPPI's 14 Divisions. In the latest issue of Tissue360° magazine, readers learned more about the experience.

 

 

A Tissue 'Think Tank'

 

For Division Chair Alfredo Sarli and former Division Co-Chair Jessica Carette, volunteering with TAPPI's Tissue Division has been a career-defining experience.

 

The division serves as a "think tank" where tissue professionals can exchange peer-reviewed, non-commercial technical information while also building their network. Alfredo Sarli, an air systems applications specialist with Valmet, initially questioned whether he had the time to get involved. That quickly changed. Sarli says, "There were friendships to develop with people who like to work together—like-minded folks who are interested in the same topic. They want to share and have a passion for sharing information. And that is fun."

 

Sarli started his volunteer journey working on TAPPI Technical Information Papers (TIPs) and quickly became passionate about other topics and projects the division was working on to support the industry. He noticed that his knowledge was fast-tracked by learning from his peers and experts who also volunteer.

 

 

Accepting Challenges

 

That volunteer experience led to Sarli’s next role with the Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Committee (YDSRC), which he joined in 2005 out of curiosity about what was being discussed across the industry. He took a leadership role in 2020 when the YDSRC launched its Dust Mitigation Subcommittee.

 

"I accepted the challenge because it seemed interesting, and it really fell in line with what I was doing. I saw a lot of value in that," says Sarli. "It has been a great experience. I can’t express how much I have learned from all these various subject matter experts over the last five years since the committee formed."

 

When Sarli was approached for the division leadership role, he admitted to feeling anxious. "But I looked back at the experience I had starting up the Dust Mitigation Committee and remembered that it was well worth launching myself into it because what I got out of it far outweighed what I put into it."

 

Jessica Carette, R&D project manager at Cascades and the Tissue division’s former co-chair, believes the division offers something valuable for tissue professionals at every level. "With all of its connected subcommittees and opportunities for learning, including Standards and TIPs, webinars, and courses, the division is just a wealth of knowledge," she says.

 

"You get direct access to the people who are writing that content and putting together the courses, and you have the opportunity to pick their brains," Carette adds. "You’re with like-minded professionals who have the same challenges as you, and they are very open to discussing issues, especially things that have to do with health and safety and the particularities of the tissue manufacturing process."

 

 

Connection and Growth

 

Carette’s involvement began with TAPPI as a student and then as a young professional by reviewing tissue Standards for the Process and Product Quality Division. Her mentor encouraged her to get involved with the Tissue Division and provided guidance in navigating the Division Council pathway.

 

Both Carette and Sarli agree that young professionals have the most to gain by getting involved with the division. "You may just be starting out and sometimes you do not know who to turn to for information. Maybe you come from a small- or medium-sized company that doesn’t have the resources, or a company that just doesn’t have the formality of mentorship where you can go and find the answers you’re looking for. The division can help," says Carette.

 

"When I first started out, I thought I had nothing to provide and that was a mistake," says Sarli. "It is truly a symbiotic relationship. Everyone’s experience is unique, and you never know what you can teach someone else—old or young."

 

"If you have content you think could be of value to members, you could volunteer to put on a webinar with lots of support from the TAPPI staff and other divisional members," said Carette. "There are opportunities to teach at the tissue courses, present or help put together the content for TAPPICon, or opportunities to be on the council like I was, which is great for developing your leadership skills and your network. There are all sorts of ways you can get involved, whether you want to be backstage or on stage; it’s up to you."

 

According to Carette and Sarli, the Tissue Division is a go-to resource for industry professionals looking to find like-minded people exploring volunteer opportunities and career building. "Our members want to be involved," says Sarli. "They abide by the antitrust and commercialism guidelines because they want to continue having the discussions and learning from one another. It really is something special."

 

To learn more about the Tissue Division and how you can get involved, visit www.TAPPI.org/tissue or contact Division Manager Robert Davis at rdavis@tappi.org. Learn more about any of TAPPI's thirteen other divisions or how to become a TAPPI Member by visiting tappi.org.