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Better Together: 2026 Student Summit

Better Together: Mike Kocurek

Join Dr. Michael J. Kosiorek, professor emeritus at NC State and renowned pulp and paper educator, as he shares insights from 45 years of teaching TAPPI's oldest short course on pulp and paper technology. This conversation explores career opportunities for young professionals in paper, packaging, and advanced materials industries, featuring practical advice on building technical knowledge, professional networking, and transitioning from academic learning to industry success. Dr. Kosiorek discusses innovative e-learning approaches, the importance of mentorship in mill operations, and how TAPPI's educational resources support early-career development and skill building for the next generation of industry leaders.

Better Together: Chris Czyryca & TAPPI Standards

Industry veteran Chris Sarica shares how TAPPI standards participation accelerates career development for mid-career professionals in pulp, paper, and packaging. With 26 years leading Collaborative Testing Services, Sarica demonstrates how joining Standard Specific Interest Groups (SSIGs) provides advanced technical insights, peer networking, and leadership opportunities that drive measurable ROI. Learn practical steps to volunteer for standards development, contribute to industry-wide quality assurance protocols, and leverage TAPPI's consensus-based process to solve real laboratory challenges. This episode reveals why standards work serves as a career-long professional development platform, offering benchmarking opportunities and executive visibility that translate directly to advancement in plant operations, R&D leadership, and sales engineering roles.

Better Together: Karen Dillon "Market-Creating Innovation"

Karen Dillon, former Harvard Business Review editor and co-author of The Prosperity Paradox, explores market-creating innovation that transforms struggling communities into thriving economies. Drawing from 30 years of business leadership expertise, Dillon reveals how identifying customer struggles, rather than adding product features, unlocks breakthrough growth opportunities. For mid-career professionals in pulp and paper manufacturing, this approach offers strategies to move beyond efficiency improvements toward game-changing innovations that create entirely new markets. Learn how companies like Intuit revolutionized small business accounting and how sustainability demands present unprecedented innovation opportunities for industry leaders seeking competitive advantages and ROI-driven growth initiatives.

Better Together: 2021 SuperCorrExpo LIVE! Part 1

Industry veterans Jan O'Leary interviews four corrugated packaging innovators at Super Core Expo 2021, exploring breakthrough technologies that optimize costs and maximize efficiency. Featured guests discuss Quantum Inc's customer-obsessed ink systems, Mitsubishi's augmented reality training solutions, Tilia Labs' AI-powered production optimization software, and PCA's Dr. Ben Frank shares research insights that earned him the prestigious Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal. This episode delivers advanced technical insights, benchmarking opportunities, and leadership development perspectives essential for mid-career professionals seeking to stay competitive in the evolving corrugated industry while proving ROI to stakeholders.

Better Together: 2021 SuperCorrExpo LIVE! Part 2

Discover cutting-edge innovations transforming corrugated packaging operations through exclusive interviews from Super Core Expo 2021. Industry leaders discuss machine learning platforms for predictive maintenance, six-color digital inkjet technology enabling sustainable packaging design, and large format digital printing solutions that reduce lead times from weeks to days. Learn how diversity drives innovation, advanced manufacturing processes optimize efficiency, and digital transformation creates new market opportunities. Essential insights for plant managers, R&D leads, and operations professionals seeking competitive advantages in packaging technology, equipment optimization, and leadership development within the evolving corrugated industry landscape.

Better Together: 2021 TAPPICon LIVE! Part 1

Explore cutting-edge pulp and paper industry innovations through exclusive interviews from TAPPI Con 2021. Mid-career professionals discover advanced automation technologies, digital transformation strategies, and resilience-building approaches that drive operational excellence. Featured experts from Valmet, Casasco, and Proco demonstrate how smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and corrosion monitoring protect critical assets while maximizing productivity. Learn proven techniques for avoiding catastrophic equipment failures, optimizing water and energy consumption, and implementing data-driven decision making. Essential insights for plant managers, R&D leaders, and operations professionals seeking competitive advantages in modern manufacturing environments.

Better Together: 2021 TAPPICon LIVE! Part 2

Join TAPPI's Better Together podcast for exclusive live interviews from TAPPIcon 2021, featuring industry leaders discussing cutting-edge technologies transforming pulp and paper manufacturing. Learn about TAPPI's mentor match program connecting young professionals with experienced industry veterans, advanced condition monitoring solutions preventing costly equipment failures, innovative molded fiber products replacing single-use plastics, and ABB's digital transformation tools including augmented reality for mill operations. Perfect for process engineers, analysts, and students seeking technical skill development, networking opportunities, and insights into emerging career paths in the sustainable packaging and paper industry.

Better Together: Olli-Pekka Riippa, AFT

AFT Finland's product manager Olli-pekka discusses how the company developed innovative Max Edge refining technology during the pandemic using global virtual collaboration across Canada, Finland, and Japan. This advanced refiner integrates proven FineBar segment technology to deliver remarkable energy savings, with one Scandinavian mill achieving 50% energy reduction while maintaining pulp quality. The discussion covers customized refining solutions for different fiber types, sustainability trends driving mill operations, and AFT's new IoT platform providing 24/7 remote monitoring and optimization services. Industry professionals learn how refined segment design directly impacts paper strength, formation, and drainage characteristics for tissue, packaging, and emerging sustainable products replacing single-use plastics.

Better Together: ForestBioFacts

Forest Biofacts represents a groundbreaking digital transformation of the pulp and paper industry's most comprehensive educational resource. This advanced learning platform extends the renowned 20-volume book series from Finland's Forest Products Engineers Association into an interactive digital environment featuring 1500 articles, virtual mill tours, and real-time content updates. Mid-career professionals gain access to cutting-edge technical insights across 16 specialized themes, from traditional papermaking to emerging wood-based textiles and nanomaterials. The platform supports leadership development through expert-authored content from over 100 industry contributors, while enabling companies to benchmark operations and demonstrate training ROI. With English-language accessibility and corporate licensing options, Forest Biofacts delivers the advanced technical knowledge and industry-wide perspective essential for career advancement in today's rapidly evolving forest products landscape.