This November, get to know TAPPI member Richard "Dick" Target as he stars in the Member Spotlight . Dick is currently owner of On Target Consultants  which serves the paper and converting industries and also develops new technology for box plants around the world.

He has written several technical articles for Board Converting News and Corrugated Today, along with several Technical Manuals for TAPPI's Lean Manufacturing Course. He has served as a volunteer on multiple Production and Printing Committees and also serves as an instructor, as well as attends, numerous TAPPI classes, courses and conferences throughout the year.

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff. If you would like to nominate a member (or even yourself!) just send their name (or names) to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. We will forward a Spotlight Questionnaire to fill out and return.

We look forward to seeing you in the Spotlight!

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The 2011 Student Summit will take place January 15-17 in Kingsport, Tenn. It will draw students from around the country to focus on "New Directions" and promising developments in the pulp and paper industry.

Attending students can meet with experienced industry professionals, interview for jobs, participate in a fun engineering competition and get to know fellow students. The event will include a range of valuable experiences including:

•  a mill tour of Domtar
• a presentation on Biofuels
• a Mill Manager Roundtable and
• focused sessions on a variety of important topics.

Learn more about the 2011 Student Summit.

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The Technologically Advanced Workforce initiative (TAW) was created to help improve profitability related to human performance in the pulp, paper and allied industries. TAPPI began governing the TAW in 2009 at the request of the Agenda 2020 Chief Technology Officers Committee. This new advisory board has been formed to address general guidelines for the purpose, mission and strategic direction of the TAW initiative and NPT2.

Members of the newly created TAW Executive Advisory Board represent leadership from industry, union and government sectors. The Board held its first meeting in late September and industry representatives attending included: John Donahue, SAPPI Fine Paper N.A.; Lyle Fellows, Verso Paper; Curtis Sears, MWV; Ellsworth Townsend, Packaging Corp. of America; and Cindy Reinhart, Metso. Andrea Harper, Georgia Department of Labor, represented government and Keith Romig, United Steelworkers, was the union representative. T.J. Murphy represented National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training (NPT2) and TAPPI staff members were Larry N. Montague, Mary Beth Cornell and David Bell.

"A Jaakko Pöyry study on the pulp and paper industry has shown that at least 30 percent of the variability in profitability can be explained by performance of people in the workforce," Murphy said. "The TAW's mission is to be a catalyst for collaborations among industry, government, associations, workers, educators, trainers, community and technical college systems, and economic development organizations. These collaborations will be nurtured to attract and develop a technically superior workforce to operate, maintain and manage the new and advanced technologies essential to a globally competitive U.S. forest products industry. It has been forecasted that if successful, TAW could increase industry's profitability by 25 percent, as measured by return on capital employed (ROCE)."

TAW is one of the key focus areas of Agenda 2020 and was first envisioned at the Technology Summit in May 2001.

The NPT2 was established in 2004 as a national network of community colleges that produces technicians specifically skilled in the pulp, paper and allied industries. The objective of this initiative is to provide training and education to ensure that the technologies chosen to create the forest products industry of the future are continued. 

One of the goals of the TAW is to attract new employees to the industry. The National Association of Manufacturers reports that America will face a shortage of 13 million skilled industrial workers by 2020.
With this in mind, TAPPI and its partners have also developed a website: www.careersinpaper.org. This website hosts a speaker's kit that includes a video, brochure and PowerPoint presentation that people can present at their local schools. The video "5 Reasons to be a Paper Engineer" can also be seen on YouTube.

Co-chairs of the TAW Advisory Board are Larry N. Montague, TAPPI's President and CEO and T. J. Murphy, Director of NPT2. For more information about the TAW please contact David Bell.

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PIMA, the Management Division of TAPPI, has issued a call for nominations for its 2011 awards. The recipients will be honored at the 2011 PaperCon on May 3, 2011, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center near Cincinnati, Ohio. The deadline for nominations is November 30, 2010.

Here are the awards and brief descriptions:

PIMA'S Executive of the Year --The Executive of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed by PIMA, traditionally presented to senior-level executives in the pulp, paper or converting industries for excellence in management and outstanding contributions to the industry as a whole.

Mill Manager of the Year --The Mill Manager of the Year Award recognizes the mill manager who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility for which he or she is responsible. Nominees for this award are judged on four criteria: skill in people development; application of best management practices; effective use of external resources; and change management.

The Brookshire Moore Superintendent of the Year -- Recognizes the mill superintendent who has shown high personal standards and professional management qualities that contribute to the betterment of those under their management and in their company.

Technologist of the Year -- The Technologist of the Year Award recognizes a member of a technology or IT team from a paper or paper converting company who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility or enterprise for which he or she is responsible. Nominees for this award are judged on five criteria: effective application of technology, skill in people development; application of best management practices; effective use of external resources; and change management. This award is only available to employees of a paper company.

Ray H. Cross Community Service Award -- This award pays tribute to pulp and paper industry persons who have rendered outstanding service to their communities by involvement in the activities of local business, educational, civic and philanthropic organizations.

Delano L. "Del" Boutin Local Section Service Award -- The Del Boutin Division Service Award is presented to pulp and paper or affiliate members for devoted service to a PIMA Local Section. The award recognizes long-term dedication of PIMA members at the local division level.

Thomas F. Sheerin Sr. Service Award -- The Thomas F. Sheerin Sr. Service Award is presented to a supplier for outstanding contributions to the pulp and paper industry and/or the community.

IT Service Award -- This award is presented to an IT affiliate/supplier for outstanding contributions to the pulp and paper industry and/or the community.

Kenneth H. Phillips Specialist Group Award -- The Kenneth G. Phillips Specialist Group Award is presented to pulp and paper or affiliate members in recognition of outstanding service as a member of one of PIMA's Professional Specialist Group committees.

Student of the Year Award -- This award recognizes and supports outstanding students enrolled in paper science programs.

Nomination forms may be downloaded, completed and e-mailed to standards@tappi.org. There is also a downloadable PDF version that can be completed and mailed to TAPPI, PIMA Nominations, 15 Technology Parkway, Norcross, GA 30092. It may also be faxed to +1 770 446-6947.

TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging and converting industries and publisher of Paper360°and TAPPI JOURNAL. Through information exchange, events, trusted content, and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that lead to better, faster, and more cost-effective ways of doing business. As the Management Division of TAPPI, PIMA helps management professionals address relevant industry issues and develop their management and leadership skills. To join TAPPI & PIMA, go to www.tappi.org/join. For more information, visit www.tappi.org or www.pimaweb.org.

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Registration is now open for TAPPI's popular course, Best Practices on the Corrugator, taking place February 15-18, 2011, at TAPPI's new training facility in Norcross, Ga. It's not too early to act. Your registration now will cost less than putting off the decision. And, this course has filled to capacity in the past with a sell-out limit at 25 participants for optimum interaction among knowledgeable instructors.

Operators of corrugators, production managers, box plant supervisors and engineers can all benefit from the content offered during this short course. Take a look at the Preliminary Course Schedule to see what's planned.

You can learn how to increase productivity, improve quality and minimize waste. Take home new ideas and operational methods to improve production. And, share your specific problems and issues with the experts who'll be onsite to answer them.

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what participants wrote in evaluations from the 2010 course:

• "The instructors were very knowledgeable and class participants were not all of an entry level. Great interaction."
  
• "I have a much better understanding of what's happening in all aspects of the operation."
  
• "Great networking; very intelligent instructors who really know their stuff!"
  
• "This course covers all aspects of the corrugating industry from paper to end products."
  

Register before January 14 to take advantage of your savings opportunity and the 2.4 CEUs offered for this 3.5-day course.

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There are some things that you can count on. For example, January begins the calendar year and each January brings two popular TAPPI courses.

The first is the TAPPI Intro to Pulp & Paper Technology Course, January 10-13, 2011. Led by Dr. Mike Kocurek, one of the industry's leading instructors, this course is ideal for anyone new to the pulp and paper industry. It delivers a comprehensive overview of the entire pulping and papermaking process. Historically, the course has been designed to meet the needs of pulp and paper company employees as well as chemical and equipment suppliers. Visit online to learn more about reasons to attend and what can be expected after completing the course.

Occurring at the same time is another perennial favorite, the 2011 TAPPI Kraft Recovery Course. The course chair is the venerable Honghi Tran, who also serves as Professor and Director of the P&P Centre at the University of Toronto. The course aims to meet the needs of pulp mill operations professionals. Assisting Professor Tran are a faculty of 14 field and veteran instructors. More information appears online.

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Daniel O. Adams recently passed away. He joined TAPPI in 1941 and was actively involved in the Southeastern Local Section and the Alkaline Pulping Committee of the Pulp Manufacture Division. In 1978 he was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors for TAPPI and in 1981 was named a TAPPI Fellow. He also was an active leader in other paper industry associations.

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