The popular Paper Machine Operations Course is returning to the TAPPI Training Facility on May 21-23. This course has proven to be one of the best ways to get a good overview of the paper mill operations.

Led by Jim Atkins and a team of instructors, this course will provide participants with an improved understanding of the overall paper machine operation. Fundamental understanding of fiber properties and the way the mechanical components function on the paper machine will give the participant the tools needed to more quickly troubleshoot operational problems and improve paper machine operations and product quality.

Go to the course website to learn more and to reserve your space in this upcoming course.

This course in NOT intended for employees of tissue companies. Those interested in learning about tissue may be more interested in the TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course.

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Recyclers and brokers of recovered fiber in Europe, North America, and elsewhere are facing increased hurdles selling into their largest market in China.

In late winter and early spring, shippers of secondary commodities into China have slowly begun to learn about "Operation Green Fence," an effort by Chinese environmental and customs officials to more vigorously inspect (and more willingly reject) what they consider to be sub-par container loads.

Paper Recycling Conference Asia,  May 30-31 at the Hongta Hotel in Shanghai, represents an ideal opportunity for packers, merchants, and brokers to get on-the-scene insight into this emerging issue.

In each of the past years, North America alone has sent from 570,000 to 695,000 containers filled with scrap materials to China—with recovered fiber being the largest commodity by volume. Europe has sent a similarly large number of shipments to China. But carrying on with business as usual has not been an option for many in the recovered paper sector since Operation Green Fence was implemented in February 2013.

Numerous representatives from Chinese paper companies, government ministries, and trade associations are on the roster at Paper Recycling Conference Asia. Delegates will be able to find out from them—and have the opportunity to ask—details about the "Green Fence," what it is trying to keep out and how long it will last.

The event is being organized and co-hosted by the Recycling Today Media Group, Smithers Pira, and China TAPI. A full list of conference topics can be found on the webpage.

Register and reserve a hotel room to attend Paper Recycling Conference Asia.

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The TAPPI Best Practices on the Corrugator Course, June 25-27 at the TAPPI Training Center in Peachtree Corners, Ga., USA.

Last year's course sold out, so here's your chance to attend. If you work with a corrugator, this is your opportunity to learn how to:

What to Bring with You: Your questions and issues related to corrugator operations and samples of your defects.

What You'll Take Home: New ideas and operational methods to improve production.

Want to know more? Here's the Proposed Course Schedule.

Put June 25-27 on your calendar and register now to lock in your participation before seats fill.

Just one last note...

If you register by May 27, you can save up to $200 for this course. We look forward to seeing you here at the TAPPI Training Center.

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TAPPI's 2013 Introduction to Wet End Chemistry Course provides in-depth training on paper machine wet end chemistry that will bring both mill technicians and suppliers up to speed on this key area of papermaking. The three-day course, to be held June 11-13 in Peachtree Corners (Metro Atlanta), Ga., USA,, is the only course of its kind in the world.
 
"This course is ideal for engineers and other technical people who need a better understanding of wet end chemistry," notes Scott Springmier, Manager, Pulp and Paper for TAPPI. "The course not only covers the key technologies, chemical additives and terminology but it also delves into the use of papermaking additives to change paper properties, improve runnability and reduce costs."

The course is designed for anyone that is involved with wet end operations as well as anyone training staff working in this area. New engineers with a strong technical background but lacking papermaking process knowledge would also benefit. Instructors focus this 3-day interactive training on innovative wet end chemistry principals and the use of additives to change or create new paper products. Through case studies, break-out sessions and networking with others in the course, attendees will learn how to implement new technology to improve efficiency and product quality, reduce machine downtime and off-specification production, select and use of papermaking chemicals, and troubleshoot problems.

Topics covered include: basic water chemistry, fibers and fines, starch, dry and wet strength agents, alum chemistry, rosin sizing, synthetic sizes, dyes, fillers, retention systems and deposit and pitch control. The impact of recent regulatory developments and how changes in fiber quality are impacting wet end operations are also reviewed.

The three course instructors are respected experts in wet end chemistry. Martin A. Hubbe, Ph.D., is Professor, Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University. He began his career with American Cyanamid before joining International Paper Company as a research associate and later principal scientist.  Larry Anker, Ph.D., is Sizing and Wet Strength Applications Group Leader for Ashland Hercules Water Technologies. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics from Washington and Lee University and Ph.D. in Chemistry at Penn State University. Przem Pruszynski, Ph.D., is Global Technical Specialist for Nalco. He holds an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry and Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from University of Poznan, Poland, where he taught for 12 years. He's authored nearly 100 papers, holds several patents and has taught numerous technical courses.

 

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The launch of this successful conference series, produced by the Recycling Today and Smithers Pira, in co-operation with China TAPI, into Asia provides a unique opportunity for companies in North America, Europe, and the rest of the world to meet buyers in the Asian market.

The full program for Paper Recycling Conference Asia launching on May 30-31 has been announced. Highlights include the opening keynote address - The role of recyclables in China's Economic Resurgence, presented by Professor Wang, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China; An Overview of Macro-Economic Trends Impacting Asia's Recovered Paper Industry from Sally Sun, Deloitte China, and an exclusive One-on-One Interview with Ross Li, Lee & Man.

Save 20% on a ticket to attend by using the code CD20TAP!

Attendees will hear from other key speakers on the agenda, including; Randy Kim, Ekman Recycling; Henri Vermeulen, Smurfit Kappa Group; Niu Qingmin, Jiangsu Paper Association; Yoshimitsu Tanaka, Kaneko, and more, on recovered paper supply, infrastructure, and quality issues and challenges.

"We're excited about launching a Paper Recycling Conference in Asia, particularly as Asian demand continues to represent the major growth area for recovered paper. Since this inaugural event replicates the design of our existing events' list to attract merchants, brokers, suppliers of recovered fiber, and mills from around the globe, it's sure to represent a unique and powerful opportunity for the world's suppliers and consumers of recovered paper to meet," Jim Keefe, EVP and group publisher, Recycling Today, said.

More information about the inaugural Paper Recycling Conference is available online.

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Follow the University of Maine TAPPI Student Chapter to Finland

The University of Maine Student Chapter of NE TAPPI/PIMA is headed to Finland to explore papermaking, and papermaking technology. Nine students have left for an exciting 10 day tour. If you are interested in following them as they make the rounds of papermaking in Finland, please follow their blog at: http://umainetreetrip.blogspot.com/

This trip involves two universities, Maine and Aalto University, three paper companies (five mills), two equipment manufacturers (eight locations), two chemical suppliers, and one medical instrument company.  All of the companies except one are members of the University of Maine Pulp & Paper Foundation, an organization recruiting the best students for tomorrows engineers. Each year the foundation provides more than 80 scholarships to Pulp & Paper Engineering students. To make this trip possible, the students raised more than $20,000 in donations and gifts.

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RockTenn will roll out the TAPPISAFE Safety Orientation Program at it's West Point, Va., mill. TAPPISAFE, a service of TAPPI offered in partnership with Alliance Safety Council, provides a standardized safety orientation program for contractors and is the only safety orientation program specifically designed for the industry, by the industry. 

"The TAPPISAFE program provides RockTenn's West Point mill with a proven safety orientation system that will ensure all contractors working on our site have the same safety orientation," said John Spangler, safety manager. "The comprehensive program provides an easy means of tracking and verifying that each contractor has received the same safety orientation. And TAPPISAFE includes both a common, basic safety orientation session as well as a session on topics specific to our facility, which is a key in a large, complex facility such as West Point." 

Larry N. Montague, TAPPI President and CEO, added that "TAPPI is very pleased to announce that RockTenn has chosen to utilize the TAPPISAFE program at its West Point manufacturing facility. Safety is of utmost importance to our industry and the TAPPISAFE program ensures that a standard level of safety awareness has been reached before any contractor goes to a jobsite or mill. RockTenn's adoption of the program at this facility further demonstrates how the industry has embraced use of the TAPPISAFE program."

The TAPPISAFE program provides a solid foundation in safety by addressing OSHA required awareness level safety orientation for any supplier or contractors that works in a pulp, paper, or packaging facility. Key aspects of the program include standardized courses that help reduce redundant and potentially costly safety orientations, up-to-date OSHA compliance information, and instantly verifiable records.

RockTenn is one of North America's leading producers of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions. Based in Norcross, Ga., USA, RockTenn employs approximately 26,000 people and operates more than 240 facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and China. The West Point mill produces nearly 900,000 tons of linerboard and corrugating medium.

TAPPISAFE Programs also include PSM (process safety management), truck driver orientation, and employee orientation.

The Alliance Safety Council has more than 20 years of proven success in developing, delivering, and maintaining contractor safety orientations and has administered more than 1.2 million training units nationwide.

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Follow members of the NCSU TAPPI Student Chapter as they visit China's pulp and paper Industry. 
 
You can see a day-by-day account online. 
 
The North Caroline State University (NCSU) Paper International Experience (PIE) program allows engineering scholars to develop as well-rounded professionals ready to make significant contributions to industry, their community, and their world.

On this biennial trip for junior and senior paper science and engineering scholars, students are immersed for 10 days in a different culture. During the most recent trip to Brazil, students were able to see, up close, four modern and amazing pulp and paper manufacturing operations, including cloning technology for production of fast-growth eucalyptus trees. They toured the Federal University at Vicosa that has a paper program and was amazingly similar to N.C. State.

Dr. Med Byrd said that "participants become more aware of the global community, and experience things they never had before. They understand their own pulp and paper industry better, in the context of the global market. They are better thinkers...better learners....and (we think) better engineers for having done this."

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Alabama Southern will host a one-day-only Operator Training Conference & Workshop. This complimentary event, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in conjunction with NPT2, will help HR professional and mill leaders add value to their existing operator training programs and provide practical advice on how to create a more competitive and better trained workforce.

Date: Friday, July 18
Location: Alabama Southern, Thomasville, Ala.
Time: 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m  CST

Discover new tools, learn best practices, and better equip your operator workforce. For more details or to register for the event, please contact Martha Wynn by email or by phone at 334.637.3194.

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TAPPI has joined a growing list of publishers, printers, and industry associations signing on with Layar for augmented reality and interactive print solutions. The announcement was made at the 2013 Paper Con Conference last week.

"TAPPI is excited about our partnership with Layar and the opportunity it provides our members and the industry to enhance print products with digital content," notes Larry N. Montague, TAPPI president and CEO. "Layar allows anyone to easily and quickly add digital content to print and tap into the explosion in online information consumption. It allows users to communicate in new and interactive ways and makes print products more effective and engaging."

TAPPI promoted this new partnership at PaperCon with posters, banners, and a full page ad in the event program. This partnership is another in a trend of industry leaders backing Layar as the interactive print provider of choice. It reaffirms the print industry's belief in the future of interactive print, and in Layar as the leading provider for all augmented reality needs.

TAPPI's commitment to Layar is also a sign of growing adoption of Layar in the U.S. TAPPI adds to the momentum in the U.S. where use of  the Layar App tops 7 million downloads.

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Nominations for the major TAPPI 2014 awards are due by August 1. The awards that may be presented in the upcoming year are:

Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award - The Association's highest technical honor may be presented annually to recognize an individual or individuals for preeminent scientific and engineering achievements of proven commercial benefit to the world's pulp, paper, board, and forest products industries and the other industries that TAPPI serves.

Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award - The Association's highest award for service may be presented annually to recognize leadership and service that have significantly and demonstrably contributed to the advancement of the Association.

Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award - The highest honor for Local Sections may be presented annually to recognize an individual for outstanding leadership and exceptional service to one or more Local Sections, which have resulted in significant and demonstrable benefits to the Local Section members.

TAPPI Fellow - TAPPI Fellows are individuals who have been members of TAPPI for not less than 10 years prior to the nomination, and who have contributed meritorious service to the Association and/or the paper and related industries. Retiring members of the TAPPI Board of Directors become Fellows automatically at the end of their term.

The TAPPI Awards and Honors page has links to these awards that will show the qualifications required and links to the nomination forms that must be completed. You may submit all nomination forms by email to standards@tappi.org, or you may fax them to the attention of the awards department at +1-770-446-6947, or send them by mail to TAPPI, Awards Department, 15 Technology Parkway South, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092, USA.

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The Christian Brothers University TAPPI Student Chapter has completed its first year. Below is a list of activities/involvements of the chapter during this academic year:

• Fall Fried Rice Fund Raising
• TAPPI-CBU Golf Fundraiser
• 2012 Healthcare Packaging Consortium Fall Meeting
• TAPPI Student Conference in North Carolina
• Spring Fried Rice Fundraiser
• 2013 Healthcare Packaging Consortium Spring Meeting.

The chapter held its last meeting for this academic year on Friday, April 26.  It elected officers for the 2013-14 academic year. The newly elected officers are:

• President - Mallory Harvey (civil engineering major and packaging minor)
• Vice-Presidentc - Phyo Thoon H. Aung (civil engineering major and packaging minor)
• Secretary - Griselda Matos Martinez (engineering management and packaging minor)
• Treasurer - Patrick Held (engineering management with packaging concentration)
• Past-President - Alvin Siow (chemical engineering and packaging minor)
• Siripong Malasri will continue to serve as the chapter's faculty advisor.

Dr. Malasri said that "on behalf of our student chapter, I would like to thank TAPPI for its support given to the chapter over the past year, including the golf event, TAPPI scholarship, and Student Summit."  

 
The photograph above shows the officers (l-r) who served in the 2012 – 2013 academic year: Dr. Pong Malasri, faculty advisor; Patrick Held, treasurer; Griselda Matos, secretary; Mallory Harvey, president; and Phyo Thoon Aung, vice president).

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The TAPPI Centennial Celebration will be a multi-year long series of outreach events and educational offerings showcasing the proud history and promising future of the global pulp, paper, packaging, and related industries. This once-in-a-lifetime event will expand public awareness, foster further connection, and provide outstanding opportunities for collaboration, growth, and investment in our future for all of those involved. Goals for the TAPPI Centennial Celebration are:

• To honor TAPPI's 100 years of connection, education, and advancement as a foundation for the sustainable success of our members, our industries, and the world we share
• To recognize the achievements of those who built our industry and to inspire those who seek to build its future
• To celebrate the contributions and innovations of the global pulp, paper, and packaging industries to human culture, commerce, health, and social advancement
• To sustain the industry and support its growth, vitality, and future through the TAPPI Foundation.

We invite you to be a part of this momentous event. The sooner you join us the more opportunities there are for recognition of your company, its products, and key innovations. Keep in mind that an early commitment allows you to spread your investment over multiple years' budgets.

For more information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities please contact dbell@tappi.org.

The sponsorship prospectus can be downloaded online.

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Do you have a history book gathering dust on your shelf? TAPPI's 100th year is coming soon and we are looking for donations to the TAPPI Library. Specifically, we are interested in histories of companies and mills in the paper and packaging industry (both producers and suppliers). Each donated book will have a bookplate in the front cover recognizing the donor. For more information please contact David Bell.

Please send books to:
c\o David Bell
TAPPI
15 Technology Parkway, South
Suite 115
Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092

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The only conference that focuses exclusively on renewable and sustainable nanomaterials, showcasing the latest applications and discoveries using cellulose, chitosan-derived, and other nanomaterials....

In its eighth year, TAPPI's 2013 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials to be held June 24-27 in Stockholm, Sweden, features the largest program to date, with more than 80 technical presentations.


KTH Royal Institute of Technology Campus - Stockholm, Sweden

Register online and also reserve your hotel room at the Elite Hotel Arcadia, the preferred conference hotel. 

Your conference registration also includes a tour of either Innventia AB or the Wallenberg Wood Science Center beginning at 16:00 on Monday, June 24. Space is limited on both tours. Both will end by 18:30 so that you can attend the welcome reception. More details will be available soon, but allow for an early arrival time so you don't miss out.

This conference is your opportunity to learn about composite foams made with modified nanofibrillated cellulose from pulp mill waste streams, eco-friendly membranes, and high-strength, thin, and flexible films made from cellulose nanomaterials. Presentations also address material characterization, self-assembly behavior, rheology and processing of nanomaterials, novel medical applications, characterization techniques, and health and safety issues. A Standards Workshop is also scheduled to help advance the development of standards for cellulose nanomaterials.

With the two pre-conference tours, five keynote presentations, a poster session plus Student Poster Competition, it will be a packed three days in Stockholm.  Register today, and see what solutions are available to support tomorrow's bioeconomy.

The 8th Annual International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials is hosted by TAPPI's International Nanotechnology Division, which strives to collectively advance the responsible and sustainable production and use of renewable nanomaterials.

Learn more about the Nanotechnology Division.

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The Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) will host its 70th Annual Safety and Health Conference - "The Human Element of Safety," June 9-12, in Williamsburg, Va., USA.

At the conference, presenters will address how human behavior will proactively help prevent, detect, and control events before they occur. Professionals from across the country know the importance of safety and attendees will hear from 18 speakers who will show the impact of addressing the human impact on safety. The conference will feature updates from OSHA, member company case studies, and PPSA's popular legal update.

Among the confirmed speakers are representatives from MeadWestvaco, Weyerhaeuser Co., Domtar, Safe Start, International Paper, REM Safety Consulting, Michael Best & Friedrich Law Firm, Training Logic, Change Management Consulting, and BushCo.

PPSA is a non-profit, non-political, international organization, devoted to the countinuous improvement of safety throughout all aspects of the paper industry. From forest products to paper mills, to converting plants, to recycle collections centers, our membership is grouped by category to ensure a fair and appropriate basis for comparison.

Registration is currently open for this event.  More information is available online.

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The Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has launched its first-ever Best Place to Work Award. The award is open to all companies in the forest products industry and will look not only at corporate life but also look at how employees feel about their work environments.

In conjunction with Majority Opinion Research Group, PPMA has started taking nominations for this award and will continue to accept nominations through July 1.

"This award is an exciting opportunity for PPMA to honor great companies. As an association that serves HR professionals, we know the value of the making your company a great place to work," said PPMA President Joe Thibaudeau, employee relations manager - Procter & Gamble - Green Bay, Wis., USA.

The award will be presented to the winner at the annual PPMA conference on October 23-25, 2013, in Milwaukee, Wis., USA. The winner will have the chance to speak with conference attendees about what makes his or her company the "Best Place to Work."

PPMA is a nonprofit association built around a community comprised of executives, managers, and human resource professionals from the pulp and paper industry. For its members, PPMA serves as a primary source of information on labor settlements and current human resource issues, governmenta,l and related operational issues.

To nominate your company for the Best Place to Work Award, use the online form.

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The existence of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils has been known for several decades, yet recent advances in science, particularly in the field of nanotechnology, have revealed that these materials contain unique physical properties, particularly high strength properties. Researchers have been studying how these materials can improve paper properties and will present their latest finding this June 24-27 in Stockholm, Sweden, at TAPPI's 8th Annual International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials at the KTH Royal Institute of Stockholm.

The program for this year's event has been released, and one session will focus on using cellulose nanofibers for improving retention and increasing strength in paper. Researchers from Aalto University in Finland will report on improved flocculation of both precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and kaolin with the addition of certain cellulose nanomaterials. Researchers from Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) in Heidenau, Germany, will report on the importance of adding fillers, celluloses, and compounding agents in the right order to achieve the best results. Researchers from VTT in Finland will report on ways to increase the strength of paper by using filler particles coated with nanoscale calcium silicate hydrate (CS) structures. 

New reports at the conference will present some exciting advances for both within the pulp and paper industry and beyond. The technical program features cellulose nanomaterials in a variety of applications, including:

• Unique and Thin-Film Composites
• Filler and Coating Applications for Different Paper Grades
• Improved Barrier Properties for Packaging Applications
• Cellulose Nanomaterials as Films and Carriers in Medical Applications
• Nanopaper and Iridescent Colored Cellulose Films.

With more than 80 technical presentations, five keynote presentations, and 50 poster presentations, this year's conference is packed with the latest applications of renewable nanomaterials.

Watch for additional updates from TAPPI on how nanotechnology, and cellulose nanomaterials in particular, can be a transformative technology for the pulp and paper industry.

The 8th Annual International Conference on Nanotechnolgy for Renewable Materials is hosted by TAPPI's International Nanotechnology Division, which strives to collectively advance the responsible and sustainable production and use of renewable nanomaterials. More information is available online.

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Are you ready to go further, faster in your safety career? The Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) class can take you there.

The COSS Class is Unique
Not only will you learn how to read and understand the OSHA 1910 and 1926 CFRs and help your company avoid OSHA citations that cost millions of dollars, but more importantly, by learning how to work safely on a job site, you can teach your company how to lower fatalities and near misses. Almost 47% of COSS graduates responding to our survey indicate that, since taking COSS, their company's injury rate and/or OSHA recordables have decreased by as much as 25% and others attest to as much as a 100% decrease!

Request a Course Outline & Syllabus for more information.

The class also addresses the psychology of safety, the true cost of an accident, hazard recognition, how to start up a health and safety program, behavior based safety, system safety, and much more!

What Will You Receive?
Upon successfully completing the class, you will obtain your national Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) designation, your OSHA 10-hr. card of completion in construction, and your OSHA 10-hr. card of completion in general industry.

National Program Recognitions
COSS is currently one of only 37 programs in the world recongnized and accredited by the American Petroleum Institute (API). In addition, the certifying body for construction education for colleges, universties and technical/trade schools, American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), has also recongnized our program. COSS is the only non-degree program to receive this national endorsement. Lastly, COSS has been established as a mandatory course for students in the Construction Management Program at Louisiana State University.

Program Content
The program consists of 40 hr. of hands on, face-to-face learning, which is delivered by an Authorized OSHA outreach trainer in both construction and general industry. Case studies and workshops are used extensively to bring learning objectives into focus. Guest speaker from areas such as OSHA and other governmental agencies are used to enhance the learning experience. Student presentations, daily quizzes, practical reviews, and a comprehensive final exam will allow you to demonstrate your competency.

Prerequisites
The only prerequisite for the COSS class is you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. In each class, we tend to have a mix of non-experienced, first time safety persons, as well as safety professionals who have been in the safety field for 20+ years. But, we have learned that regardless of the numbers of years of experience you have in safety, everyone leaves the COSS class with a wealth of knowledge!

Visit the COSS website for FAQs, testimonials and a list of clients that have taken COSS.

Register now.

If you would like more information on the COSS program, contact Beth Gordon at 877-610-2677.

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