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You Really Can Go Home Again!

Former Valmet executive Glenn Ostle shares insights on corporate loyalty and employee retention from an unexpected Executive Alumni reunion 20 years post-retirement. The industry veteran explores how forward-thinking companies like Valmet build lasting relationships with retired professionals through recognition programs that honor career contributions. His experience demonstrates the value of maintaining connections with experienced talent, showcasing best practices for executive alumni engagement and corporate legacy building. For senior industry professionals, this perspective highlights the importance of mutual respect, trust, and long-term relationship management in creating meaningful post-retirement connections that benefit both individuals and organizations in the pulp and paper sector.

Readiness Badges Help Heroes Find Their Place in Manufacturing

The Heroes MAKE America initiative addresses critical manufacturing workforce gaps by connecting military veterans with industry opportunities through innovative Manufacturing Readiness Badges. This program translates military skills into manufacturing competencies, helping operations managers and R&D leaders access a pipeline of uniquely qualified candidates. With nearly 400,000 open manufacturing jobs monthly and 200,000 annual military transitions, the digital credentialing system removes hiring guesswork while strengthening workforce diversity. Manufacturing leaders can partner with the initiative to recruit trained veterans, build veteran-friendly workplace cultures, and leverage skills-based hiring practices that deliver measurable ROI through reduced training costs and improved retention rates.

From Nuclear Tech to Tissue Exec: An Interview with Vince Reese, Cardinal Tissue

Cardinal Tissue CEO Vince Reese shares his inspiring journey from Navy nuclear technician to successful paper industry entrepreneur, offering valuable insights for career changers and early professionals entering manufacturing. His military experience taught him self-discipline and learning skills that translate perfectly to paper and packaging careers. Reese emphasizes the importance of qualification-based training programs, hands-on manufacturing experience, and long-term career thinking for newcomers to the industry. His vision includes developing certification programs that combine technical skills with practical manufacturing experience, creating pathways for veterans and career changers to find meaningful work in tissue, paper, and packaging manufacturing where products serve essential daily needs.

Creating a National Bipartisan Forest Products Workforce Council

Four industry veterans propose establishing a National Bipartisan Forest Products Workforce Council to address critical workforce challenges facing the $80 billion forest products industry. The collaborative initiative brings together CEOs, educational leaders, policymakers, and TAPPI representatives to tackle aging workforce demographics, skills gaps, and recruitment difficulties in rural manufacturing communities. The Council will focus on strengthening educational programs, integrating emerging technologies like AI, expanding apprenticeships, and developing targeted outreach to veterans and underutilized talent pools. With quarterly virtual meetings and dedicated leadership, this strategic workforce development initiative offers experienced professionals meaningful opportunities to shape industry standards, mentor next-generation talent, and ensure long-term sustainability of America's forest products manufacturing sector.

Summaries from TAPPI Journal June 2025 and July 2025 Issues

The latest TAPPI Journal research showcases critical advances in materials performance, sustainable packaging innovations, and industrial process optimization that senior industry professionals need to know. Key findings include corrosion-resistant alloy selection for hydrothermal liquefaction biorefineries, breakthrough chitosan biodegradable films with enhanced antimicrobial properties, and novel thermomechanical solutions for pharmaceutical blister packaging defects. The July flexible packaging issue highlights data-efficient thermoforming methods for post-consumer recyclate materials and water-based primer applications that enable sustainable packaging transitions without performance compromise. These peer-reviewed studies provide actionable insights for industry veterans mentoring next-generation engineers and establishing future technical standards.

You’re Not Too Busy—You’re Just Distracted

Maintenance leaders often struggle with reliability improvement initiatives that fail to deliver results despite extensive planning and documentation efforts. IDCON's experience at a New York paper mill reveals a critical insight: focusing solely on system documentation without prioritizing actual inspections and repairs leads to zero operational improvements. Successful maintenance improvement requires laser focus on two core goals, preventing equipment failures and enabling faster, safer, higher-quality repairs. The key lies in maintaining an unbroken chain connecting quality inspections, effective planning, proper scheduling, and skilled execution. For mid-career professionals managing teams while driving results, this approach ensures maintenance initiatives translate into measurable ROI and operational excellence rather than wasted consultant fees and missed opportunities.

2025 Fall Customer Alignment Meeting Program

TAPPI's 2025 Fall Customer Alignment initiative represents a strategic opportunity for mid-career professionals to advance their leadership capabilities and industry expertise. This comprehensive program addresses key challenges facing plant managers, R&D leads, and sales engineers by providing advanced technical insights, benchmarking opportunities, and leadership development resources. Participants gain access to specialized courses, executive briefings, and networking opportunities that demonstrate clear ROI to employers while building essential skills for division leadership roles. The alignment focuses on practical solutions for time-constrained professionals seeking to balance team management responsibilities with personal growth objectives, offering measurable impact through industry best practices and standards committee involvement.

Preventing Pulp and Paper Factory Fires with Essential Monitoring Equipment

Factory fires increased 38% in 2024, with pulp and paper mills facing heightened risks due to combustible dust, high-temperature equipment, and electrical faults. Plant managers can significantly reduce fire hazards through proactive equipment maintenance, comprehensive employee training, and advanced monitoring instruments like moisture meters and friction testers. Strategic implementation of detection systems enables early identification of dangerous conditions, preventing costly disruptions while protecting workforce safety and maintaining operational productivity. Proper safety protocols combined with reliable monitoring equipment deliver measurable ROI through reduced insurance costs and uninterrupted production.

Eupidio Scopel - My TAPPI Story

Graduate student shares how TAPPI's Nano Division transformed her career trajectory by combining her passion for nanotechnology with renewable materials research. Through mentorship from former student division members, she discovered networking opportunities and leadership development within the nanocellulose community. Now serving as vice co-chair of the student committee, she actively builds essential leadership skills while staying current with nano renewable materials trends. Her experience demonstrates how TAPPI membership provides young professionals with hands-on leadership roles, technical knowledge advancement, and meaningful industry connections that support career growth in emerging materials technology sectors.

I’m Rory Wolf. Here’s my TAPPI story.