Do you know that feeling you get when you first meet an individual, or tour a facility or office, and you sense that this is a great person or this is a great company, etc? I know I have witnessed this many times over the past three-plus years while I have been working with TAPPI. TAPPI members make a definite difference in their companies.

Can you name a company that touches lives with commercial ships, recreational water craft, cars, lubricants, paper and packaging, and alternative energy resource solutions? The company I am thinking of likes to say, "based in chemistry, born in the imaginations of our associates. Our ideas and innovations result in performances to provide a brighter future."

I would like to tell you about a company and some of their people I had the privilege of getting to know better on a recent visit to Ohio. That company, who refers to its employees as associates, is ASHLAND. One of those people is Tim Harman, who holds the position of Sr. Staffing Specialist, College Relations, Talent Acquisition & Diversity, in Human Resources. I first met Tim in January at TAPPI's Student Summit in Charleston, SC. He and Nicole Hacet were very supportive and played key roles in the success of TAPPI's 13th annual Student Summit. Tim has a missionary zeal when he talks about Ashland.

Tim hosted Eric Fletty and me for a visit and tour of Ashland's campus in Dublin, Ohio. He also set up a visit for us to tour Appleton's paper mill in West Carrolton, Ohio. Two Ashland associates, Nicole Hartley – Technical Sales Representative and Philip Keegan – Sales Team Leader, facilitated a tour and meeting at the mill.

Appleton's employees who took us on the tour and attended our meeting included, Jim Fuller – Quality Manager, Bill Levenderis – Process Engineer, and Thomas Maleike – Manager- Utilities, Process Control, Technical. We enjoyed the meeting and our mill tour. By the way, the cleanliness of this mill was incredible!

Ashland was founded in 1924, operates in 100 countries, employs approximately 15,000, and had FY08 operating revenues of $10.7 billion dollars. They also have some very impressive facts to share:

• 30% of their employees work outside of the United States
• Approximately 25% of earnings are derived from renewably sourced materials
• Wind energy investments expanded in 2009 with the launch of new metal casting products, resins and structural additives from Ashland Performance Metals
• Key markets they serve: paper & packaging, personal care, pharmaceutical, construction, transportation
• Ashland employees pledged $420,000 for charitable giving in 2008
• Annually, employees volunteer thousands of hours addressing community needs
• Ashland is a Responsible Care company committed to goals of zero-incident performance, 100 percent compliance and reducing environmental impact
• Active patents worldwide: Approximately 2,600
• Ashland employees are in every continent except Antarctica
• In 2008, Ashland acquired Hercules Incorporated, a specialty chemicals company with a 96-year history and two major businesses in paper technologies and functional ingredients

Ashland has five major commercial units: Ashland Distribution, Ashland Consumer Markets, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, and Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients.

Ashland and Tim realize that it takes great people to make great companies. He is constantly on the lookout for the best and brightest students coming out of colleges and universities. Ashland participates in many school and community programs to encourage, educate and recruit students to become more involved with the idea of working in our industry.

Ashland, it's that feeling.

For more information on Ashland please go to www.ashland.com.

For more information on TAPPI please go to www.tappi.org.

There are two types of people in our industry, TAPPI members and those who should be.

Until next time-Larry

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What's high in the middle and round on the ends? Well, Ohio of course, and TAPPI's Ohio Local Section is high on planning for their next meeting (April 9, 2010 at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio). Ok, bad joke – but no where near a bad meeting!

Recently, Larry Montague and Eric Fletty had the pleasure of visiting Appleton's West Carrollton Mill and not only saw TAPPI members (from both Appleton and Ashland – Hercules) in action but discussed plans for the upcoming Ohio TAPPI Local Section Meeting. The Local Section has undergone a reinvention of itself and has a great event planned. For just $10, (register by March 26th for this early bird rate) you get:

• 9:00 AM - Upgrades and modernization of stock prep systems - J. Kerr, ANDRITZ
• 10:00 AM - Doctor blade setting - S. Cockerham, KADANT
• 11:00 AM - Paper machine water management for the Fourdrinier -S. Stewart, JOHNSON FOILS
• Lunch (provided)
• 2:00 PM - Automation: Color control & air systems, air dryers, heat recovery -T. Betteridge & M. Harrison, METSO
• 3:00 PM - How CD moisture actuators can save energy - J. Spachman, ABB

Registration couldn't be easier – just e-mail Prof. Doug Coffin at Prof. Doug Coffin at coffindw@muohio.edu. Additional information can be found at this link.

Pictured (Left to Right): Tom Maleike, Manager – Utilities, Process Control, Technical, Appleton
Jim Fuller, Quality Manager, Appleton
Bill Levenderis, Process Control Engineer, Appleton
Larry N. Montague, President & CEO, TAPPI
Nicole Hartley, Technical Sales Representative, Ashland-Hercules
Philip B. Keegan, Sales Team Leader, Ashland-Hercules
Eric Fletty, Vice President Operations, TAPPI

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Nominations are being accepted for induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame. The deadline for nominations to be considered for 2010 is March 31st. The 16th induction ceremony will be held September 23rd in Appleton, Wisconsin.

The 2010 nomination form is available at www.paperhall.org. Contact Dave Lee, executive director, for further information at 920-380-7491 or dave@paperdiscoverycenter.org.

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Early discounted registration is now open for the 2010 BioPro Expo™ and Conference, slated for August 24-26 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Providing program content and comprehensive exhibits created with multiple industries in mind, BioPro Expo™ explores practical methods for transitioning a variety of biomass feedstocks into energy and biofuel. This unique event will bring together diverse communities ranging from forest, agriculture, and biorefinery operations to power companies and technology suppliers – offering the Southeast's most powerful educational and professional networking experience in the bioenergy arena.

BioPro Expo will include in-depth case studies and technical sessions from experts in a variety of industries. In addition, there will be a comprehensive tradeshow and hands-on technology interaction. Additional input from governmental agencies will supplement this experience with perspective on the rapidly changing regulatory and funding environment impacting renewable energy efforts.

Registration fees are $485 for TAPPI members and $746 for non-members, if confirmed by July 2, 2010. Onsite registration is $735 for TAPPI members and $1,125 for non-members. Registration information is available at www.bioproexpo.org.

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Offered for the first time in years, TAPPI is pleased to unroll the Tissue Runnability Course, April 19-21, 2010 – an essential program for paper professionals at TAPPI's Atlanta headquarters. This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the tissue making process at many levels that can be applied immediately on the job. Instructional topics are focused on helping attendees improve the quality of their products, diminish waste and poor output and reduce frustrating down-time. The course material is designed with the objective of helping participants thrust production into high gear.

The Tissue Runnability Course is designed expressly for engineers, machine supervisors, technical resources, lead operators and technical personnel in tissue and towel mills. The three-day event covers the impact of recycled furnishes on paper characteristics, the principles of wet-end chemistry with machine operation, cleaning and conditioning of felts and wires, causes of tissue runnability problems in the press/Yankee/hood drying systems, identifying improvement opportunities on the dry-end of the paper machine, and pinpointing problems with the Yankee dryer steam, coating, and hood systems to increase machine productivity. The course schedule is led by industry-recognized instructors.

Tissue Runnability is limited to 30 participants, so prompt registration is encouraged for this course. Early bird registration ends March 19, 2010.

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The 2010 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC) is now an important conference component of BioProExpo™. IBBC will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address the production of biofuels and bioproducts through: the use of forest and agricultural biomass resources; biorefining technology; feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass; and leveraging forest products manufacturing infrastructure.

Presentations are being sought in the following topic areas:

Technology Track: Seeking strong technical papers with a focus on presenting new findings in Biomass Supply & Demand, Biomass Harvesting & Preparation, Advances in Conversion Pathways and Advances in Bioproducts.

Deployment Track: Seeking case studies and updates from pilot scale, commercial, and pre-commercial operations in Biorefineries, Repurposing the Traditional Pulp and Paper Mill, Harvesting and Preparation, Technical Economic Analyses, Commercial Collaborations for Enabling Technologies and Project Deployment Issues.

For more information on the IBBC Call for Papers, visit http://www.bioproexpo.org/ibbc_call.asp.

Abstract Requirements: Abstracts should be no more than 200 words.
Submission Deadline: March 22, 2010
Presentations Deadline: August 2, 2010
Submit Abstracts to: IBBC@tappi.org
Event Website: www.bioproexpo.org

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Date(s):
Spring 2010 -- April 12-14
Fall 2010 -- October 4-6
Spring 2011 -- April 4-6
Fall 2011 -- October 3-5

Location:
Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

The Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Advisory Committee (BLRBAC) guides the safe installation and operation of recovery boilers at kraft paper mills. Their meetings draw attendees from all over the world, from the operating mills, the manufacturers of recovery boilers and associated equipment, to engineers from the insuring companies. Many members of BLRBAC are also TAPPI members that serve on the Steam and Power Committee.

Visit www.blrbac.org for registration information and additional details or contact David Parrish at david.parrish@fmglobal.com.

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Date: March 15-19, 2010
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Need to know more about pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting to do your job better? Gain an excellent overall view of the basic concepts in pulp and paper manufacturing while increasing your understanding through hands-on laboratory exercises.

Using a combination of balanced lectures and laboratories, this workshop will provide you with an easy-to-learn and lasting introduction to pulp and paper technology, operations, and markets, including:

• Overview knowledge of the entire pulping and papermaking process
• How different processes affect paper properties
• Hands-on lab experiments to enhance your understanding of process
• Run a pilot plant paper machine
• Close interaction with Pulp and Paper Professors in small groups

Learn more about the course, and register to attend, here. You can also download the complete course brochure.

CEUs available. This course will also be held June 7-10, 2010; and October 4-8, 2010.

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A Call for Presentations/Posters has been issued for the 2010 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, 27-29 September, 2010, in Espoo, Finland. This annual, internationally recognized event brings together leading researchers, industry experts, government representatives, and other stakeholders to share  advances and perspectives on nanotechnology-based products for the forest products and related industries.

To leverage research advances and offer participants new opportunities for knowledge sharing, the 2010 Technical Program Committee invites contributions from participants working with nano-enabled bio-materials, products, and their processing. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for forest products that are based on nanotechnology are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. The organizers also  encourage submissions on other aspects of nanotech products including law, policy, economics and environmental health and safety. View the Call for Papers.

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