April 2010 Miami of Ohio & TAPPI's Ohio Local Section

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As I am writing this I am looking over something that I am very proud to have in my possession.
It reads: The Ohio Local Section of TAPPI presents to Larry Montague this certificate of recognition for your contribution to the 2010 spring meeting of Ohio TAPPI. April 9, 2010 Miami University, Oxford, OH.(Printed on paper made by the students of the Paper and Chemical Engineering Department of Miami University using their pilot paper machine.)

What a great place to spend a couple of days in April. My first trip to Oxford, Ohio allowed me to visit one of the most impressive campuses that I have seen in some time. I am told that George Washington played a large role in MUOH being where it is today. His foresight to state that a great nation must have institutions of higher learning strategically located throughout the country, and not just on the coasts, was instrumental in the genesis of a land grant that preserved the land that MUOH now occupies.

My first afternoon and evening was spent getting to know the faculty and students who are tied in with the paper and chemical engineering departments of MUOH.

Two of those students are Elise Ryan TAPPI Student Chapter President, and Ryan Long, also a TAPPI student chapter member. By the way Elise has already lined up a job with IP and Ryan has one with Verso waiting for him after graduation.

As a side note many of those who graduate in this program have jobs waiting for them prior to graduation. Some of their reflections on "why TAPPI, why PAPER" are as follows: "Both my sister and her fiancé told me that I needed to consider Paper Science as a career path. Those suggestions, along with TAPPI and our foundation scholarships, made it happen for me. I stayed involved with the TAPPI Student Chapter because of the knowledge and networking opportunities. The student summit is a great way to meet our peers, learn about the industry, find co-ops and internships opportunities, as well as to interview for a job. I had an informal job offer after a summer internship 9-10 months before graduation."

"This allowed me to be a worry-free person going into my senior year. This was extremely important to me especially during this economy. It is a lot harder for those who are not TAPPI members, or associated with paper, to find internships. Some of my friends who majored in other areas are still looking for jobs a month before graduation. At MUOH we are very blessed to have such an active Paper Science & Engineering Foundation. They stepped in and told us about scholarships.  We are also very fortunate to have such a caring faculty. Dr. Keller and Dr. Coffin have been a major force in helping us. After freshman or sophomore year, people are intimidated to do an internship with a paper company, but our faculty and foundation will help you out. You learn more in the first month in the mill than you do in a research role simply due to the scale of the mill versus the lab."

"There are so many negative impressions of the paper industry to the uninformed. It is not a dying industry. Sure newsprint and magazines are challenged by the electronic media sources but look at tissue & towel or boxes and other packaging made from paper. People need to be educated that the water that comes out of mills is usually cleaner than when it entered a mill. We also need to tell them that we are not destroying the environment by harvesting trees. We are actually planting 3-4 trees in managed forest for each one that is harvested. Younger trees actually take on more carbon dioxide than older trees, so in fact our industry is actually good for the environment." Elise & Ryan, you just told them.

My next opportunity allowed me to spend some time with Professors Steve Keller, Doug Coffin,  and Shashi B. Lalvani (Dept. Chair), Todd W. Downey Executive Director, PS&E Foundation and Candace Crist, Business Coordinator PS&E Foundation.

What a wonderful group of people! They all have a very strong passion for their university, their foundation and for this industry. In 2006-2010 the student population in the department was as follows: 75, 116, 135, 164, and 200, in that order. Not a bad track record. And the payoff, an average starting salary of $64,000 for the 11 of the 12 graduates who walked out with jobs last December 2008 and May 2009.  Some more recent stats: December, 2009, -three graduates, two walked out with jobs, one is seeking employment.

May 2010, five graduates, three with jobs, one will attend graduate school and one is seeking employment. Please let me know if you would like to see any of these students' résumés.
Dr. Keller informed me that their students are very well rounded with the curriculum that MUOH offers, with emphasis on Chemical, Paper Science, Environmental and Bio Chemical Engineering. Their students learn more than just pulping; they also learn topics from harvesting and the fiber line, through papermaking, and on down the line including coatings and converting.

And last but not least, I was asked to give the Key Note address at the rebirth of the Ohio TAPPI Location Section's spring meeting. Talk about a great meeting. There were approximately 135 attendees which included 30 vendor companies who participated with tabletops. They had five technical sessions which included: Upgrades and Modernization of Stock Prep Systems, Doctor Blade Setting, Paper Machine Water Management for the Fourdrinier, Automation for Color Control, Air Systems: Air Dryers, Heat Recovery, How CD Moisture Actuators Can Save Energy,  and a vendor showcase. My hat goes off to the Ohio TAPPI officers and members for pulling off such a great event and to Doug Coffin and Steve Keller for such a great job in communicating with the group prior to the meeting.

For more information please see below:
PSE Foundation
Miami University
TAPPI

There are two types of people in this industry, TAPPI Members and those who should be.
Until next time............Larry