WVFA eNews Weekly

MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV) (NYSE: MWV) and Rock-Tenn Company (RockTenn) (NYSE: RKT) have announced the executive leadership team for the combined company following the completion of the transaction. Steve Voorhees will serve as the new company’s chief executive officer, and John Luke will be non-executive chairman of the board.

"The announcement of our executive leadership team marks an important milestone in the merging of our companies," said Voorhees, chief executive officer of RockTenn. "I am confident that this is the right team with the right expertise to execute our core strategies to succeed in paper and packaging markets and to create significant value for our shareholders."

"Together, MWV and RockTenn are creating the premier global packaging company, unrivaled in terms of capabilities, customers and reach," said Luke, chairman and chief executive officer of MWV. "We have drawn from the best talent of each company to build a leadership team that is unmatched in the industry, with the commercial, operational and financial expertise to drive our business forward and generate substantial shareholder value."

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=317260&issueID=41964 to view the full article online.

In May, legislators will begin to explore the state's tax structure. According to Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer), "The charge of this committee is to develop and propose legislation that will create a tax structure for West Virginia that is fair, simple and that will promote the economic growth of our state." House Speaker Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha) said the state's tax structure is "broken, it's burdensome and in many ways it's bewildering to people when they have it figure it out."

Both legislative leaders said they would be open to asking Governor Tomblin to call a special legislative session to tackle tax reform later in the year. The committee will be led by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Hall (R-Putnam) and House Finance Committee Chairman Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha).

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=317274&issueID=41964 to view the full article online.

Below is a link to the Federal Register PDF information about the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proposal for endangerment of crayfish located in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. These areas within the states are relatively small but host a number of human activities that will be significantly impacted by this proposal:

o Kentucky – Lawrence, Johnson, Martin, Floyd, Pike
o Virginia – Buchanan, Dickenson
o West Virginia – Mingo, Logan, Wyoming, and McDowell

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/Appalachian_Crayfish_ESA.pdf to view the full article online.

These young ladies are the new WV Timber & Wood Teen and Queen (L-R: Teen Courtney Lynne Trader & Queen Allie Cole). You are going to be very proud of their poise and intellect as they represent WVFA and our industry in the coming months.

Many, many thanks to Crystal Smith who once again handled the intricacies of the pageant and ALL that goes with it.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=317425&issueID=41964 to view the full article online.