The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) begins 2017 with a new team to lead the association. Norm Kukuk, executive vice president of marketing for ORBIS Corporation, takes the helm as chairman of the Board of Directors after serving as the association’s vice chairman in 2016. Hillary Femal, vice president of global marketing for IFCO Systems, completes her 2015-2016 term as chairperson and will now serve on the RPA Executive Committee as immediate past chair.

“Thanks to Hillary Femal’s leadership, RPA is well positioned to impact the business of reusable packaging, support the growth of the industry, and provide valued programs and services to participating members,” says Kukuk. “It’s an honor to receive the gavel from Hillary and to continue on this exciting course for the association and the reusable packaging industry.”

With nearly 20 years in the reusable packaging industry, Kukuk has developed and shared reusable packaging expertise with leading industrial, consumer goods, food, and beverage companies. With a focus on helping world-class companies understand the value of reusable packaging, he has first- hand experience with planning and implementing reusable packaging programs that yield financial, operational and environmental benefits. With this background, he brings to the association a great deal of industry experience that brings value to member companies and end-users alike Additionally, his international experience offers broader insight to the RPA.

Joining the RPA Executive Committee is Rick Sasse, director of custom transport packaging for TriEnda Holdings LLC, who will serve as vice chairman of the association. Returning in the role of secretary-treasurer is Jack Fillmore, director of engineering and new product development for Buckhorn.

RPA recently completed its election of directors for the two-year term 2017-2018. Nominated by membership, the newly-elected directors are:

  • Mr. Stuart Lindemann, Director Sales and Marketing, CABKA North America
  • Mr. Drew Merrill, General Manager and Vice President, CHEP Pallecon Solutions
  • Mr. John McCurdy, Marketing Director, Coroplast LLC
  • Mr. Michael Chiado, President of the Americas, Georg Utz, Inc
  • Mr. Ben Stoller, Executive Managing Director, Paxxal Inc
  • Mr. David McCulloch, CEO Packaging Systems Division, Schaefer Systems International, Inc
  • Mr. Bob Albright, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Schoeller Allibert, USA

Directors on the Board who are serving the second of their two-year 2016 - 2017 term are:

  • Ms. Beth Cline, Senior Analyst, Reverse Logistics, Anheuser-Busch InBev
  • Mr. John McGill, Director, Business Development, CHEP
  • Ms. Cindy Doman, Senior Packaging Engineer, Herman Miller
  • Mr. Dan Lafond, National Sales Director, Rehrig Pacific Company
  • Mr. David Kalan, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, RM2
  • Mr. David Rodgers, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Tosca Ltd.

In addition to the Board roles, two committee chair appointments were made to provide leadership in support of key areas of focus for the association: operations and logistics, and the food and beverage market. Michael Wasson, vice president of supply chain and operations for Tosca, was named chair of the RPA Operations and Logistics Committee, whose charter is to facilitate knowledge and the development of industry standards for common processes seeking the efficient movement, handling, visibility and return of reusable packaging products.

Paul Pederson, director of food safety and regulatory compliance for IFCO Systems, was appointed chair of the RPA Food and Beverage Committee. The Food and Beverage Committee positions and validates reusable transport packaging as the preferred system for delivering safe and high-quality foods through the most sustainable, protective, and efficient means.