WASHINGTON –The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced the election of Graphic Packaging President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Scheible as the new AF&PA board chairman, along with the 2013 slate of board officers.
“I am honored to serve as chairman of the AF&PA board of directors and look forward to meeting head-on the challenges and opportunities on the horizon this year,” said Scheible. “The association continues to demonstrate its credibility as the organization for our industry’s public policy and advocacy initiatives, sustainability, and environmental regulation. Our industry has a good story to tell, and I look forward to helping share it more broadly with the business community and Capitol Hill alike.”
Scheible has served as Graphic Packaging’s president and CEO since 2007. Since being elected to AF&PA’s board of directors, he has served in various leadership roles, including as chairman of CEO Task Force on Biomass and the Recycled Paperboard sector.
Scheible holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Industrial Administration in Finance, both from Purdue University.
“David is a proven leader both within his own organization and with AF&PA, and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the AF&PA board on the issues affecting our industry,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “Our Immediate Past Chairman Alexander Toeldte saw us through a busy 2012 in Washington, and I know that our new chairman and officers will continue his good work to advance policies and initiatives that will support the health of our industry for years to come.”
Also elected to officer positions by the AF&PA Board are: First Vice Chairman – John Williams, president and CEO of Domtar and Second Vice Chairman – Mark Gardner, president and CEO of Sappi Fine Paper North America. Alexander Toeldte, president and CEO of Boise Inc., will serve as the Immediate Past Chairman.
Beginning terms as members of the AF&PA Board of Directors in 2013 are: John Crowe, Buckeye Technologies Inc.; Ray Dillon, Deltic Timber Corporation; Mike Fiterman, Liberty Diversified International; James Morgan, Interstate Resources, Inc.; and Mark Staton, PaperWorks Industries Inc.
In one of the board’s first actions of 2013, the group launched its advocacy on AF&PA’s key policy initiatives for the year. These include a focus on sustainability, air and greenhouse gas regulations, carbon neutrality of biomass, recycling, access to paper-based communications, U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, products fees, postal service reforms, and other policies affecting manufacturing.
The AF&PA Board of Directors currently consists of 29 presidents and chief executive officers representing the broad spectrum of the paper and wood products manufacturing sector.
For more information about AF&PA its policy issues, visit www.afandpa.org.
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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4.5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $190 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.