Will Mies
Editorial Director
RISI

Will Mies is Editorial Director of RISI's newsletters, PPI Pulp & Paper Week and PPI Latin America, and related www.risi.com online news.

He coordinates a team of seven news editors in San Francisco and Sao Paulo, collecting news on the pulp and paper industry. In addition, he covers the containerboard and kraft paper market for PPI Pulp & Paper Week.

After joining Miller Freeman in 1974, he served as editor and publisher of Pulp & Paper Week for nearly 20 years from its launch in 1979. From 1996-2000 he served as vice president of Miller Freeman's paper publishing group. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and holds a M.A. in journalism from Stanford University.

Ken Waghorne
Vice President, Packaging
RISI

Ken has specialized in the paper packaging markets for RISI since 1983. He provides detailed monthly and quarterly analysis and forecasts of the North American paper packaging markets as well as single- and multi-client studies. He developed RISI's international containerboard model as well as the paper packaging models for the Latin American markets. He also produces the RISI end-use market analysis for the Paperboard Packaging Council’s Trends Report on the US folding carton industry. Ken also manages RISI's global packaging economic team, and directs the incorporation of the forecasts from North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America into RISI's global reports.

Ken holds a Master of Science degree in Forest Economics from Virginia Tech and his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from LSU

Randy Nebel
President
Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging

Randy J. Nebel was appointed president of Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc. in July 2009, having previously served as Vice President-Mill Operations and subsequently Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. From the time that he joined Longview in January 2008, Mr. Nebel has driven change as the company transforms into a performance-based organization. Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc. operates a pulp and paper mill at Longview, Wash., and a network of seven converting plants in the western United States. Currently, the company produces light-weight, multiwall and complimentary specialty kraft papers for an established domestic and global customer base. The company also produces containerboard and corrugated boxes. Mr. Nebel is based at corporate headquarters in Longview.

Prior to joining Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc., Mr. Nebel worked at such notable organizations as Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific and James River/Crown Zellerbach. His tenure with James River/Crown Zellerbach extended from 1978 until 1991, during which time he held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility, and was ultimately named Director of Paper Production. Between the years of 1991 and 1995, Mr. Nebel served as Production Manager of the Georgia Pacific, Brunswick mill. He held the Mill Manager roll for Antioch mil of Gaylord from 1995 to 1997. Mr. Nebel transitioned from this role to serving as the Operations Manager of the Springfield mill for Weyerhaeuser and then as Vice President/Mill Manager of the Springfield, Valliant and Pine Hills mills during the years of 1997 until 2007. He worked as an independent consultant from 2007 until joining Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc. in 2009. Throughout his career, which spans 31 years in the paper and packaging industry, Mr. Nebel has built a proven record of significant improvement in safety, quality, productivity and cost control.

Mr. Nebel is actively involved in the industry and serves on the boards of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the Cowlitz Economic Development Council. He received two Silver Key awards while with James River, one for reengineering the machine work system, the other for modifying the coating kitchen. In 2002, he received a Presidents award from Weyerhaeuser for Superior Leadership.

Mr. Nebel has a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Montana State University. He is an avid runner, bicyclist and deep sea diver.

Paul Busnardo
Vice-President
CellMark Inc., General Manager CellMark Packaging

Paul is the Senior Vice-President of CellMark, Inc. and the General Manager for CellMark Packaging, one of the four operational divisions in the CellMark global group. With a background in the logging and sawmilling industries, and following his degree in International Business Administration from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Paul worked as the Export Director for a sawmilling machinery manufacturer. He later joined the B.C. Trade Commission as an export development officer.

In 1989 he was named Export Manager at Eurocan Pulp & Paper, responsible for linerboard and kraft paper for Latin American and European markets. In 1993 he was transferred to Enso Gutzeit as Manager of the Containerboard Marketing Unit, responsible for EMEA region.

Paul joined Pacific Forest Resources / CellMark in 1996, and in 2000 was named General Manager for the global Packaging Division. Paul is based in Corte Madera, California, and directs business activities through key offices in Gothenburg, Sweden and Singapore, plus a network of sales offices in 20 countries.

Mohamed Azzam, Ph.D., P.Eng.
President
Containerboard, G.A. Paper International Inc.

Dr. Mohamed Azzam is a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario – Canada. He had his undergraduate engineering education in Egypt, and received a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from Cairo University. He continued his graduate studies in Canada, and received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 1975 from University of Waterloo, specializing in mathematical modelling and numerical simulation. He was awarded a National Research Council of Canada Post Doctoral Fellowship upon his graduation.

Before pursuing a career in the pulp and paper business, he held academic and teaching positions at universities in Canada and Saudi Arabia. He also held senior scientific and engineering positions at the research divisions of Petro-Canada, Gulf Oil, and Xerox. He joined G.A. Paper in 1986 as Vice-President and partner. He is now President – Containerboard division of the company.

Montri Mahaplerkpong
Managing Director
SCG Paper PLC

Mr. Montri Mahaplerkpong joined SCG in 1984, beginning his career with SCG in the Marketing Research department and later moved to many other areas. He joined SCG’s paper business four years ago and had been appointed to be a Marketing Director of SCG Paper PLC and also Managing Director of InfoZafe Co., Ltd. In 2009, he was promoted to be Managing Director of United Pulp and Paper Co., Inc. Currently, he is working as Managing Director – attached to the President’s Office of SCG Paper PLC

Montri received his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Chulalongkorn University in 1983 and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University in 1987. Also, he recently completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Married with three children and enjoys golf.

Dwight Schmidt
President
Fibre Box Association

Dwight spent the first 6 years of his career with Bristol-Myers in packaging, quality, market research and product management functions. He then joined Inland Paperboard and Packaging where he spent 27 years in technical, marketing, sales and operations management with his last position being Senior Vice President of Specialty Packaging. In early 2002 Dwight was recruited by the corrugated industry to be the Executive Director of the Corrugated Packaging Alliance, sponsored by the American Forest and Paper Association and the Fibre Box Association, where he coordinated industry-wide efforts to grow the use of corrugated packaging throughout North America. In February of 2006 he became President of the Fibre Box Association, a corrugated industry trade association whose members represent more than 90% of the corrugated converted in the U.S. He is also Vice President of the America’s for the International Corrugated Case Association.

Dwight is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Packaging. He also has an MBA from the University of Evansville and has completed The Executive Program at the University of Virginia’s, Darden School of Business.

Active at his alma mater he is a long standing member of the Michigan State University, School Of Packaging, Industry Advisory Board, a former board member and President of MSU School of Packaging Alumni Association. He has been recognized by his fellow packaging graduates by being elected to their Hall of Fame in 2000, and in 2002 he received Michigan State University's “Distinguished Alumni” award.

He is also a member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP), the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), a board member of the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) as well as past board member and chairman of the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF.) He also serves on the Industry Advisory Board of Virginia Tech’s School of Unit Load Design and their new packaging program. A patent holder and published, he is also a speaker at numerous regional, national and international industry forums and seminars.

Mike Harwood
Deputy CEO, Pratt Industries
Chairman, World Containerboard Organization

Mike Harwood began his career in the packaging industry, as a Marketing Trainee at International Paper. While at IP, he held numerous Sales, Marketing and General Management positions in the United States. He also held senior management positions with IP in the United Kingdom and Spain.

In 1985, Mike was named General Manager of IP's Containerboard Division and in 1990 he was elected an officer of the company. As a Vice-President, he managed the Containerboard, Kraft Paper, and Kraft Packaging businesses worldwide.

During 1989 – 1991, Harwood chaired the joint committee of API, AICC, and Fibre Box Association which negotiated revisions to Item 222 and Rule 41 which allowed boxmakers to substitute Edge Crush Testing (ECT) for the traditional mullen test to predict corrugated box performance. This breakthrough in packaging regulations, known today as “the Alternate Rules” was the precursor to Performance Packaging in North America.

Mr. Harwood joined Pratt Industries in 1995 and was named Deputy CEO for the American company in 1996.

Mike is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and the Executive College at Manchester University (UK). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of World Containerboard Organization, Fibre Box Association, ICCA, and is a past Board Member of International Corrugated Packaging Foundation.

Islem Yezza
Technical Director
Cascades-Sonoco

Islem Yezza is a Technical Director, Industrial Packaging at Cascades-Sonoco. Specialist in bioplastics and sustainable packaging for over five years, Islem Yezza has worked both in academic and private sectors, notably he occupied the position of R & D manager of an international flexible packaging Group.

He earned his PhD in bioprocess engineering from the national institute for scientific research (INRS, Quebec, Canada). After graduating, NSERC awarded him a post-doctoral fellowship at the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI-NRC, Montreal, Canada). One major achievement of his research is the development of an innovative process for the production of biopolymer using maple sap as feedstock.

Sherry Valenti
Strategic Sourcing Manager, Packaging
Cardinal Health

Sherry Valenti grew up in Taiwan, came to U.S. first time in 1993 as an MBA student in Southern Illinois University. She has 20 year purchasing experience with various industries. Her first 10 year experience involved mostly international sourcing and the next ten year both international and domestic.

Sherry joined Cardinal Health about a year ago as Strategic Sourcing Manger for Packaging. Cardinal is one of the largest distributors in the healthcare industry.

Robert B. Kinstrey
Director, Pulp and Paper Consultancy
Jacobs Engineering

Mr. Kinstrey has 43 years of consulting, operating and technical experience in the manufacture of pulp and paper. He has led and/or participated in over 165 domestic and international studies that has taken him to more than 20 countries. He has been an active participant and leader in TAPPI and PIMA. His background combines practical experience with formalized education in engineering and management sciences. He has over 75 presentations and publications that cover a wide range of subjects.

With Jacobs, Mr. Kinstrey is the Director, Pulp & Paper Consultancy managing pulp and paper business optimization activities. He provides leadership in process design, development of scope and estimates for major rebuilds, strategic and due diligence studies, and performs process optimization / cost reduction studies.

During the first half of his career he worked in mill operations as a Mill Technical Director, Paper Mill Superintendent, and Assistant Pulp Mill Superintendent for two major operating paper companies (Great Northern Nekoosa and Union Camp).

Florian Stockert
Member of the Management Board, Director of Sales
Mondi Packaging

Mr Florian Stockert (49 years) is a Doctor in Law of the Vienna University (1983).
In 1986,  he graduated from Bologna Center John’s Hopins University in Italy.
Since May 1986 to April 1998 he was involved in the sales of pulp and paper in the Frantschach Group in Austria and Italy (now the Mondi Group).

He joined the Świecie Mill in April 1998 as the Director of Sales. He became the Member of the Management Board on 30 August, 2000.

Furthermore, Mr Florian Stockert is in charge of corporate containerboard sales within the Mondi Group. He is the president of the management board of Mondi Sales GmbH and has board functions in following companies: Mondi Sales GmbH, Mondi  Packaging Paper Sales France SAS,  Mondi Packaging Services Italia s.r.l., Mondi  Packaging Paper Sales Iberica SL, Mondi Packaging Paper Sales GmbH, Mondi Sales UK Ltd, Mondi Sales Europe GmbH, Mondi Sales Benelux B.V.; which in the opinion of the Management Board of Mondi Świecie S.A.  shall not be deemed competitive activities to the Company.

Eduardo Gildemeister
Commercial Manager
CMPC Papeles Cordillera

Eduardo Gildemeister has worked for CMPC for 24 years. His experience has been in Sales and Marketing of Tissue, P&W and Containerboard. His specialty is opening new markets. He has been part of CMPC´s international growth process, first heading Marketing & Sales in Argentina in Tissue and Diapers for four years and then as Country Manager of Peru for two more. At present he is in charge of Containerboard sales in South America. He graduated in Business Administration from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Charles "Chuck" Klass
President
Klass Associates

Mr. Klass is recognized as an expert in development of coated and other value-added papers, processing and use of recycled fiber, and application of innovative technology to the paper industry. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in pulp and paper technology and received a master of business administration in marketing management from Pace University.

Chuck's four decades of paper industry experience include technical and operating positions with Hamilton Paper, Oxford Paper, Union Camp, and Westvaco; editorial experience with Paper Trade Journal; sales/marketing management positions with Merck Chemical, Lockport Felt, Asten Group, and Inventing/BTG Coating Systems. In 1986 he became a consultant to the paper industry specializing in development of value-added and coated paper grades and marketing of innovative products and technology to the paper industry. His project experience includes clients worldwide. He also provides expert testimony in litigation related to the paper and allied industries.

Mr. Klass is a Fellow of TAPPI, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and has served on the association's Board of Directors. He is Adjunct Professor of Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging at Western Michigan University. Other professional affiliations include the Paper Industry Management Association, the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada, and the American Society for Testing and Materials.

He has numerous publications on paper technology and marketing management. He wrote the textbook for, developed, and teaches the annual TAPPI short course, "How to Market Effectively to the Pulp and Paper Industry." He has also served as chairman and chief instructor for the TAPPI short courses, "Introduction to Pigmented Coating Processes" and "Blade Coating." He serves on the Editorial Board of Solutions!. He has seven patents.

Mr. Klass has also been honored with the TAPPI Distinguished Service Award, the TAPPI Paper and Board Division Silver Medal Award, the Harris O. Ware Prize for outstanding contributions to paper manufacturing technology, and the TAPPI Coating and Graphic Arts Division Leadership and Service Award.

Mike Jones
Director, Cost Benchmarking Packaging and Tissue
RISI

Mike Jones has worked for RISI for eight years. Prior to that he worked eight years for Jacobs Consultancy (Jacobs-Sirrine Consultants) until RISI acquired the benchmarking group in 2002. He focuses on benchmarking competitive cost studies for linerboard, corrugating medium, kraft packaging, bleached board, and retail and commercial tissue. He has a total of sixteen years benchmarking experience in a range of grades and geographies. Prior to that, Mike worked fifteen years for International Paper. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mark Wilde
Managing Director
Deutsche Bank Securities

Mark Wilde (aka, Dr Paper) is DB's senior analyst on the Paper, Packaging & Forest Products sector. Over the last decade, he has repeatedly been recognized as one of the sector's best stock pickers. In 2010, he placed #2 in the Wall Street Journal's "Best on the Street" ranking for the general industrial sector. He was ranked #1 in the 2010 Reuters/Financial Times survey for paper & forest products and #2 in containers & packaging. He has been a regular member of Institutional Investor's All-America Research Team. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, RISI identified Mark as one of the most globally influential persons in the sector - the top Wall Street executive on the list. At Bankers Trust, Mark served as Director of U.S. Equity Research and was a partner. Before joining BT in 1988, Mark was employed as a senior economist by Wharton Econometrics (WEFA Group) in Philadelphia.

Serge Desgagnes
Vice President
Kruger

Specialist in white top linerboard, Serge Desgagnes has worked in the pulp and paper industry for over 30 years including the last 15 years at the Kruger's white top linerboard mill in Montreal, Canada. Serge has been involved in several graphics and packaging associations and currently represents the Canadian containerboard mills on the Paper Packaging Canada's Board of Direction.

Serge hols a bachelor's degree in sales and marketing from the University of Montreal.

Randy Phares ("Dr. Box")
President
Paperboard Packaging Group

Randy "Dr. Box" Phares is a globally renowned expert in the packaging field. He is the Founder and President of the Paperboard Packaging Group (over 3500 members), Dr. Box Consulting and Packaging Recruiters.

Randy was the winner of the “Best Achievement in Organizational Improvement in Manufacturing” award presented by the Global Six Sigma and Business Improvement Awards 2009. He has led the best financial turnaround in all of Temple-Inland in 2009 with an improvement in ROI of over 90%.

Randy is known industry wide as “Dr. Box” for his extensive knowledge of packaging, branding, machinery, operations, sales, integration and Safety. He is a master at plant turnarounds, shutdowns, consolidations, mergers, acquisitions, and performance management. Randy has run independent Sheet Plants as well as Integrated Box Plants and is one of the most connected people in the Paperboard Packaging Industry.

He was nominated for the Chairman’s Award and Project XV Value Added Sales Award for Stone Container and won Employee of the Year at the Glendale, AZ plant. He was trained by Bain Capital and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (SSCC) in Merger Integration and was a member of their Merger Mobilization Team for consolidating operations with a goal of saving $50 million annually. He formerly held regional responsibilities for both Safety and Quality.

He was part of the team that was runner up for the Governor’s Pioneer Award for Quality while with Gaylord Container for World Class Quality Leadership based on the Malcolm Baldridge National Award Criteria. That same team won the ‘Best Performing Plant’ award 4 years in a row during his tenure out of 23 plants. He has run Folding Carton, Corrugated and Distribution facilities and managed multiple plants for most of his career. Randy ran the Edinburg Box Plant and the Gaylord de Mexico operations in Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico for Temple-Inland.

He has spoken at many national conferences and been quoted and published in many national and local publications. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Quality – Customer Supplier Division, Tucson Transatlantic Trade Holding Group, United Way of South Texas and President of the board for the South Texas Manufacturers Association. He is also currently on the Advisory board for Paperboard Packaging Magazine.

Ralph Young
Principal
Alternative Paper Solutions and Technical Advisor
Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC )

Ralph serves as the Technical Advisor to the AICC and is involved in the ASKRALPH membership service. He spent his entire corporate career in the forest products industry investing the last 27 years in the paper and corrugated packaging segment. He has worked in woodlands, primary manufacturing, sales and sales management, marketing, business planning and communications, and three different assignments in product development. He was there when the industry moved to ECT from Mullen. His companies have included Champion International-twice, Georgia-Pacific (Great Southern Paper), International Paper and Mead Containerboard.

known speaker and expert on the technical aspects of corrugated packaging and box engineering. He is also an often requested writer for trade publications. His current consulting company has taken him into the areas of technical expertise in legal cases, economic research, product placements for foreign manufactures, mergers and acquisitions, developing process improvement programs, and connecting with non-profit organizations.

He earned a BS in Forest Management and an MBA. He consumes life with his wife of forty-three years in Roswell, GA where together they invest in the lives of their four grandchildren, and he ministers as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church of America.

Thomas "Tad" Steen
Purchases Group Manager, NA Corrugated Box & Global Fiberboard Purchases
The Procter & Gamble Corporation

Thomas Steen, or "Tad" as he is known by friends, was born in Newport Rhode Island in April 1970. At age 5, his family moved to Maine where he grew up in Bowdoinham (~2000 people) and attended local schools. Following graduation from high school he attended the University of Maine (Orono) and earned a degree in Natural Resources with concentrations in Hazardous Waste Management and Agribusiness Economics.

Following graduation I was commissioned in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. I served for 6 years at Ft Leonard Wood (MO), Ft. Bragg (NC) and Ft. Belvoir (VA) in a variety of roles (Platoon Leader, Executive Officer & Joint Mobile Training Instructor). He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne, Sapper, Ranger and Jumpmaster schools.

He left the service in 1999 and joined P&G at their Al-bany, GA Family Care manufacturing site where he worked mostly in the Shipping and Finished Product Handling departments. After 3 years there, he relocated to Cincinnati with a new role in Baby Care Purchases. He spent 5 years in Nonwoven Material Purchases before taking over the Global Fastening Group (hooks, loops and tapes).

In February of this year, he replaced Mr. Matt Unger as the Group Manager for NA Corrugated Boxes group and is excited to be part of this industry.

Alex He
Economist, Asian Paper Packaging
RISI

Alex He joined RISI as an analyst in summer of 2004 in Boston office. In 2005, Alex was promoted to Economist - Asian Packaging Service covering mainly Asian containerboard and boxboard market. In March 2006, Alex was relocated to Shanghai, China to open and run RISI China Representative Office. Alex has been based in Shanghai since then. Alex writes RISI’s Asian packaging paper monthly reports and quarterly forecasts, which covers supply, demand, trade, price etc for Asia’s major 12 nations.

Alex received his MBA degree in International Economics from Brandeis University in 2004 and also held a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Trade from Soochow University, China in 1993

Sarilee Norton
President
Norton Associates

Sarilee Norton, President of Norton Associates, has over 30 years of experience in the paper and packaging industries. Sarilee was Vice President of Corporate Strategy for the Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) division of Tenneco, Inc. At PCA she directed the company's business planning and analysis activities and strategic transaction opportunities prior to the restructuring of the company into PCA, the containerboard and corrugated business, and Pactiv, the leading consumer and food service packaging company. She has also held sales, marketing and general management positions at Union Camp Corporation and Temple-Inland.

Sarilee's consulting practice has been focused in paper, plastics and related packaging industries. Her clients have included Mead/Westvaco, Temple-Inland, Packaging Corporation of America, Rock-Tenn, Acme Corrugated Box, Duro, Exopack, and others. She has also worked with major private equity firms to evaluate investment opportunities. Sarilee is the co-author of a recently published RISI multi-client study, The Future of Lightweight Containerboard in North America. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School and an M.B.A. degree from Columbia University. Sarilee currently serves as a board director for Caraustar Industries.

Lynn Michaelis
President
Strategic Economic Analysis
RISI Contributor

As Vice President of Marketing and Economic Research at Weyerhaeuser, Lynn worked closely with senior management on strategy development. As a result, he was a participant in the annual strategic reviews of each business. Lynn was also seen as an effective communicator for the company: speaking on industry issues to both the investment community and to customers. The role also included market research and competitor analysis.

While at Weyerhaeuser, he introduced new and creative ways to help the executive team think about the future (such as the scenario thinking process) when it was crucial to major decisions.

He also managed the composite panels business for several years and led the initial scoping for entry into the Oriented Strand Board (OSB) business. He led several special planning teams, including an Oregon sawmill optimization effort and scenario assessment of fine paper business.

Hannah Zhao
Economist, Recovered Paper
RISI

Hannah Zhao Joined RISI in 2009 as an economist. Her responsibilities at RISI are focused on the area of world recovered paper and Chinese pulp market. She is in the process of taking over responsibilities of recovered paper analysis of RISI. She contributes to the monthly commentary, quarterly forecast and long-term forecast on the world recovered paper market.

Hannah holds a Master of Science degree in Resource Economics from University of Rhode Island, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from Beijing Normal University, China.

William Perritt
Executive Editor, Wood Biomass Market Report
RISI

William is an analyst, writer and editor for RISI, contributing to International Woodfiber Report, Wood Biomass Market Report, and the Timber & Wood Biomass News Service. He has written for International Woodfiber Report since its first issue in 1995, and in 2008, personally inspired the launch of Wood Biomass Market Report, to which he serves as Executive Editor.

During his time at RISI, William speaks regularly with industry sources and constructs real-world North American monthly market reviews in the pulpwood and wood biomass realms. He also analyzes price trends and market drivers for those raw materials.

William is a graduate of Emory & Henry College with a degree in print journalism. He is a member of both the Forest Resources Association and the West Virginia Forestry Association.

Tony Yetzer
Purchasing Specialist - Packaging - Raw Materials
Kohler Company Plumbing Americas

Tony Yetzer is a Purchasing Specialist for Packaging for Kohler Company headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. He has 14 years of purchasing experience ranging from consumables to packaging, with the last 6 years focused on flexible and fiber packaging. Tony’s responsibilities currently include Corrugated, Honeycomb and Foam packaging for Kohler’s NA manufacturing facilities and distribution centers.