Douglas Lipp, global expert on customer service, to kick-off Transport Symposium 17

NEW YORK, July 9, 2007 - The International Forest Products Transport Association (IFPTA) and RISI announced today the inclusion of Mr. Doug Lipp, an internationally acclaimed expert on customer service, to provide the keynote address at Transport Symposium 17, the Association's biennial conference. An accomplished corporate leader and author, Mr. Lipp will present "How to Increase Your Competitive Advantage in a Global Environment," exploring specifically the topics of global and domestic customer service, leadership and cultural diversity with respect to the forest products logistics industry. Following his presentation, Mr. Lipp will be available for a brief period of Q&A.

Mr. Lipp's keynote address will mark the first time Transport Symposium has chosen a guest speaker to open the Symposium, in part because of his unique experience in improving corporate culture. Mr. Lipp has spent over 25 years working from the front lines to the boardrooms of corporations around the world. As former head of training at Disney Studio's Walt Disney University, he provided the well-known "Traditions" orientation program and other leadership courses. Pivotal to Mr. Lipp's career was his experience with Disney in changing the existing corporate culture to the progressive powerhouse corporation it remains today.

Transport Symposium attendees will enjoy Mr. Lipp's entertaining and insightful journey behind the scenes to discover the secret of Disney's remarkable success. His presentation will focus on how this message transcends all business types and on how corporations can overcome the spectacular challenges facing today's global business environment.

Mr. Lipp is the author of six books including his most recent, The Changing Face of Today's Customer, which proclaims the use of "cultural sense" in addition to common sense is key when dealing with the modern-day customer. Prestigious business leader, Peter Ueberroth and One Minute Manager co-author, Ken Blanchard, have endorsed the book. He is also the author of Even Monkeys Fall From Trees, about the balance of art and science when providing outstanding customer service.

About Transport Symposium

Transport Symposium is the industry leading biennial conference and exhibition focused exclusively on the trends, innovations and issues surrounding the materials handling, transport, warehousing and communication systems of forest products logistics. Organized by RISI and the International Forest Products Transport Association (IFPTA), Transport Symposium 17 will offer a full conference program, an associated exhibition, and a tour of the Port of Mobile. For more information, visit www.transportsymposium.com.

About RISI

RISI (formerly Paperloop) is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. They work with clients in the pulp and paper, wood products, tissue and nonwovens industries to help them make better decisions. Headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, RISI operates offices in Brussels, Belgium; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Singapore; and Charlottesville, Virginia. For more information, visit www.risiinfo.com.

About IFPTA

The International Forest Products Transport Association (IFPTA) was established in 1982 as an organization for professionals within the global forest products industry. Foresters, mill managers, chemical and clay producers, traffic and logistics managers, must all talk to and work with rail and trucking representatives, marine transporters, stevedores, port and terminal operators, and manufacturers of handling equipment. The IFPTA enables them to learn from one another and cooperate for mutual benefit across the entire industry. For more information, visit www.ifpta.org.