Paper360 Better Together Podcast Series

We're excited to bring listeners this first of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2026, April 26-29 in Columbus, OH.We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2026 and the new program format made it easy for people to engage, learn, and grow. TAPPICon's multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and 2026 brought Mill Monday, Technical Tuesday, and Workshop Wednesday to the forefront.As TAPPI's official event podcast, Better Together is happy to bring you the opportunity to experience a taste of what makes TAPPICon special. We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our guests for this episode are:Brian Mock, owner and president of Event Capture Systems:"International Paper came to us and said, 'We need you to help us develop a camera-based safety system to add an additional layer of safety'... and it's been transformative."Joe Braun, division president, process industries and Wilson Monteiro, global  business line manager, Pulp, Paper & Fiber, ABB:"Reliability comes from the design of the plant, then the way that you are managing your asset, then (from) how you are operating your plant. If you have a stable operation, you have a direct impact on reliability."Abigail Hickman, third year dual major in ChemE/PSE at NC State University:"The opportunities are endless and industry professionals I meet... are really excited to see where I go with this."YOU can get in on the conversation! Mark your calendars for April 24 – 28, 2027, and join us in Indianapolis, IN, for TAPPICon 2027. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement of TAPPICon but to really get it, you need to be there.Thanks to our amazing guests for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our second TAPPICon 2026 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.

'Minutes, Not Days': Dr. Selene Silvestri on AI Tools for Supply Chain Decision-Making"Driving the Future of Global Supply Chain Integration" —that's the motto that greets visitors to the website of MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics in Cambridge, MA. Through research, education, and stakeholder engagement, MIT CTL doesn't merely study supply chains—they advance what's possible and turn insight into action.Our guest for this episode is Dr. Selene Silvestri, a research scientist at the MIT CTL in the Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab. Silvestri's current research addresses supply chain network design and optimization, to help companies improve decision-making in their supply chain.In Paper360°'s May/June issue, readers learn about one of the Lab's most exciting new projects: the GENESIS platform, developed in partnership with Mecalux, a warehouse technology and intralogistics software enterprise. Silvestri discusses GENESIS and much more in this engaging episode of UpTime."What GENESIS allows you to do is solve scenarios in minutes," she tells listeners. "And if you can solve scenarios in minutes, you do not only solve those that you want to validate. You solve scenarios that you want to explore, right?"Stay tuned until the Lightning Round, when co-host Mark Rushton asks Dr. Silverstri about the biggest changes she has seen in the packaging industry over the last 10 years.Learn more about MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics and its many specialized labs—including the Computational Analytics, Visualization & Education (CAVE) Lab that Dr. Silvestri references in this conversation. Discover Workforce & Leadership Development opportunities that can help your mill or plant build, upskill, and advance your supply chain employees and teams. Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform:Paper360° Archives, including the complete May/June 2026 issue.UpTime episode featuring Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki on navigating supply chain challenges.Mark Rushton's article Saica in Spain: A Walk Into the Future of Mill Logistics.

'Minutes, Not Days': Dr. Selene Silvestri on AI Tools for Supply Chain Decision-Making "Driving the Future of Global Supply Chain Integration" —that's the motto that greets visitors to the website of MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics in Cambridge, MA. Through research, education, and stakeholder engagement, MIT CTL doesn't merely study supply chains—they advance what's possible and turn insight into action. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Selene Silvestri, a research scientist at the MIT CTL in the Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab. Silvestri's current research addresses supply chain network design and optimization, to help companies improve decision-making in their supply chain. In Paper360°'s May/June issue, readers learn about one of the Lab's most exciting new projects: the GENESIS platform, developed in partnership with Mecalux, a warehouse technology and intralogistics software enterprise. Silvestri discusses GENESIS and much more in this engaging episode of UpTime. "What GENESIS allows you to do is solve scenarios in minutes," she tells listeners. "And if you can solve scenarios in minutes, you do not only solve those that you want to validate. You solve scenarios that you want to explore, right?" Stay tuned until the Lightning Round, when co-host Mark Rushton asks Dr. Silverstri about the biggest changes she has seen in the packaging industry over the last 10 years. Learn more about MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics and its many specialized labs—including the Computational Analytics, Visualization & Education (CAVE) Lab that Dr. Silvestri references in this conversation.  Discover Workforce & Leadership Development opportunities that can help your mill or plant build, upskill, and advance your supply chain employees and teams.  Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform: Paper360° Archives, including the complete May/June 2026 issue. UpTime episode featuring Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki on navigating supply chain challenges. Mark Rushton's article Saica in Spain: A Walk Into the Future of Mill Logistics.

Crib Crawls and Curve Balls:Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki on Supply Chain ChallengesFrom aging infrastructures to multi-company mergers, Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki  have helped their pulp and paper industry customers through a variety of supply chain challenges. As Smith shares in his Paper360° article, Operations Depend on Equipment Supply Chains, it's an area mills ignore at their peril: One delayed part can rack up millions of dollars in downtime losses.In this episode of Uptime, Jeff and Matt, along with co-hosts Mark Rushton and Jan Bottiglieri, discuss the current reality for supply chain management—and some strategies for dealing with a world that's increasingly disruptive. "It all compounds," says Lasnicki. " The cost to operate (mills and converting facilities) keeps going up and if they don't find ways to drive efficiency, it's going to be a much bigger challenge for them in the future."Stick around for the Uptime Lightning Round, when we ask Matt and Jeff about the most exciting things they see ahead for supply chain management in paper and packaging. Thanks for listening!Access additional articles and case studies about effective supply chain management through Wesco's Knowledge Hub. Review Wesco's products and services for pulp and paper industry customers. Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform:Paper360° Archives of searchable articlesSearch a variety of other industry topics, including Market Trends

Crib Crawls and Curve Balls: Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki on Supply Chain Challenges From aging infrastructures to multi-company mergers, Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki  have helped their pulp and paper industry customers through a variety of supply chain challenges. As Smith shares in his Paper360° article, Operations Depend on Equipment Supply Chains, it's an area mills ignore at their peril: One delayed part can rack up millions of dollars in downtime losses. In this episode of Uptime, Jeff and Matt, along with co-hosts Mark Rushton and Jan Bottiglieri, discuss the current reality for supply chain management—and some strategies for dealing with a world that's increasingly disruptive. "It all compounds," says Lasnicki. " The cost to operate (mills and converting facilities) keeps going up and if they don't find ways to drive efficiency, it's going to be a much bigger challenge for them in the future." Stick around for the Uptime Lightning Round, when we ask Matt and Jeff about the most exciting things they see ahead for supply chain management in paper and packaging. Thanks for listening! Access additional articles and case studies about effective supply chain management through Wesco's Knowledge Hub.  Review Wesco's products and services for pulp and paper industry customers.  Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform: Paper360° Archives of searchable articles Search a variety of other industry topics, including Market Trends

Still Looking for Balance:Bodo Kottwitz on Tissue Markets TodayAs a tissue industry consultant, Bodo Kottwitz is more than just the CEO of BKay Tissue Advice; he's something of an industry rock star. Bodo has a long career in pulp and paper and frequently speaks about the tissue industry and its markets at conferences and events around the globe.In this episode of UpTime, co-hosts Mark Rushton and Jan Bottiglieri chat with Bodo about how he sees the modern tissue industry—including supply chain challenges, energy costs, and true sustainability. When it comes to tissue markets, "uncertainty is more or less the headline all over the world," Bodo tells us. Stick around for the UpTime Lightning Round, when Bodo tells us his biggest challenge—and his biggest regret—in his industry journey. Thanks for listening!Click to watch the "Emma" Sofidel toilet tissue ad mentioned in our chat.Learn how to grow your career by becoming involved with TAPPI's Tissue Division.Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform:Bodo's Fall/Winter 2025 Tissue360° feature, Uncertainty Dominates Tissue MarketsMark Rushton's Fall/Winter 2025 Tissue 360° interview with Luigi Lazzareschi, SofidelView the Tissue360° archive, including the Spring/Summer 2026 issue.

Still Looking for Balance: Bodo Kottwitz on Tissue Markets Today As a tissue industry consultant, Bodo Kottwitz is more than just the CEO of BKay Tissue Advice; he's something of an industry rock star. Bodo has a long career in pulp and paper and frequently speaks about the tissue industry and its markets at conferences and events around the globe. In this episode of UpTime, co-hosts Mark Rushton and Jan Bottiglieri chat with Bodo about how he sees the modern tissue industry—including supply chain challenges, energy costs, and true sustainability. When it comes to tissue markets, "uncertainty is more or less the headline all over the world," Bodo tells us. Stick around for the UpTime Lightning Round, when Bodo tells us his biggest challenge—and his biggest regret—in his industry journey. Thanks for listening! Click to watch the "Emma" Sofidel toilet tissue ad mentioned in our chat. Learn how to grow your career by becoming involved with TAPPI's Tissue Division. Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform: Bodo's Fall/Winter 2025 Tissue360° feature, Uncertainty Dominates Tissue Markets Mark Rushton's Fall/Winter 2025 Tissue 360° interview with Luigi Lazzareschi, Sofidel View the Tissue360° archive, including the Spring/Summer 2026 issue.

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2026 Student Summit in Birmingham, AL. More than 200 students, plus scores of other attendees, enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, an Engineering Challenge, and so much more. Pulp and paper engineering students came from more than15 leading paper, packaging, engineering, and technical programs to participate in a program focused on "Charting Tomorrow."  We asked students to "take the mic" to let listeners know what matters to them. As always, they responded with humor, candor, and their own unique insights. This episode includes student commentary from five TAPPI Student Chapter schools: Georgia Institute of Technology  Western Michigan University Auburn University University of Wisconsin Stevens Point North Carolina State University Useful links: How to Craft Tissue Paper Truffula Trees Latest edition of Handbook For Pulp and Paper Technologists (The SMOOK Book) TAPPI-sponsored Scholarships for Industry StudentsI'm sure you'll enjoy our student hosts for this energetic episode of Better Together!  Don't forget to share this episode to spread the word about opportunities in pulp and paper—and subscribe to TAPPI's Better Together podcast channel so you won'tmiss future episodes of Better Together: TAPPI's Live Event Podcast and Uptime: A Paper and Packaging Podcast. Thanks for listening! 

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2026 Student Summit in Birmingham, AL. More than 200 students, plus scores of other attendees, enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, an Engineering Challenge, and so much more. Pulp and paper engineering students came from more than15 leading paper, packaging, engineering, and technical programs to participate in a program focused on "Charting Tomorrow."   We asked students to "take the mic" to let listeners know what matters to them. As always, they responded with humor, candor, and their own unique insights. This episode includes student commentary from five TAPPI Student Chapter schools:  Georgia Institute of Technology   Western Michigan University  Auburn University  University of Wisconsin Stevens Point  North Carolina State University  Useful links:  How to Craft Tissue Paper Truffula Trees  Latest edition of Handbook For Pulp and Paper Technologists (The SMOOK Book)  TAPPI-sponsored Scholarships for Industry Students I'm sure you'll enjoy our student hosts for this energetic episode of Better Together!  Don't forget to share this episode to spread the word about opportunities in pulp and paper—and subscribe to TAPPI's Better Together podcast channel so you won'tmiss future episodes of Better Together: TAPPI's Live Event Podcast and Uptime: A Paper and Packaging Podcast. Thanks for listening! 

At CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah, GA, more than 1000 industry pros gathered to "Explore What's Possible and Build What's Next." This recorded-on-site episode of Better Together includes three engaging mini-interviews that capture some of the engagement and excitement of being there in person. CorrExpo 2025 featured an active exhibit floor, memorable networking events, and an expert-led technical program. In this episode, we'll be speaking with:·      Carl Mazzanti, Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies.Carl and Jan discuss some of the amazing benefits AI can offer box makers·      Christine Little, director of sales/Corrugated Machinery Division,                Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Learn how innovative machines can help our industry manage workforce challenges.·      Jeff Buchanan, Director of Sales and Market Development, and Stephanie Falcone, Process Engineer, HarperLove.Jeff and Stephanie tell Jan about an intern program that's making a difference for young engineers. Click to read more about CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah—including CorrExpo LIVE! videos, event photos, Sponsor Showcase videos, and more.SAVE THE DATE for TAPPI/AICC's Corrugated Week, September 28-30, 2026 in Fort Worth, TX. Sign up for updates so you won't miss this exciting event.BIG NEWS: TAPPI is launching a NEW podcast series called Uptime! A Paper and Packaging Podcast, hosted by Jan Bottiglieri and Mark Rushton, editor of TAPPI's Tissue360° magazine. Uptime! will bring listeners 30-minute interviews with industry leaders and innovators that feature lively questions, thoughtful insights, and even a fun "lightning round" to keep guests on their toes. Better Together subscribers will automatically receive new Uptime! episodes so if you are not already subscribed, please do so—then share with colleagues, clients, and industry friends. 

At CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah, GA, more than 1000 industry pros gathered to "Explore What's Possible and Build What's Next." This recorded-on-site episode of Better Together includes three engaging mini-interviews that capture some of the engagement and excitement of being there in person. CorrExpo 2025 featured an active exhibit floor, memorable networking events, and an expert-led technical program.In this episode, we'll be speaking with:· Carl Mazzanti, Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies.Carl and Jan discuss some of the amazing benefits AI can offer box makers· Christine Little, director of sales/Corrugated Machinery Division, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Learn how innovative machines can help our industry manage workforce challenges.· Jeff Buchanan, Director of Sales and Market Development, and Stephanie Falcone, Process Engineer, HarperLove.Jeff and Stephanie tell Jan about an intern program that's making a difference for young engineers.Click to read more about CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah—including CorrExpo LIVE! videos, event photos, Sponsor Showcase videos, and more.SAVE THE DATE for TAPPI/AICC's Corrugated Week, September 28-30, 2026 in Fort Worth, TX. Sign up for updates so you won't miss this exciting event.BIG NEWS: TAPPI is launching a NEW podcast series called Uptime! A Paper and Packaging Podcast, hosted by Jan Bottiglieri and Mark Rushton, editor of TAPPI's Tissue360° magazine. Uptime! will bring listeners 30-minute interviews with industry leaders and innovators that feature lively questions, thoughtful insights, and even a fun "lightning round" to keep guests on their toes. Better Together subscribers will automatically receive new Uptime! episodes so if you are not already subscribed, please do so—then share with colleagues, clients, and industry friends.

At CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah, GA, more than 1000 industry pros gathered to "Explore What's Possible and Build What's Next." This recorded-on-site episode of Better Together includes three engaging mini-interviews that capture some of the engagement and excitement of being there in person. CorrExpo 2025 featured an active exhibit floor, memorable networking events, and an expert-led technical program. In this episode, we'll be speaking with:· Carl Mazzanti, Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies.Carl and Jan discuss some of the amazing benefits AI can offer box makers· Christine Little, director of sales/Corrugated Machinery Division, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Learn how innovative machines can help our industry manage workforce challenges.· Jeff Buchanan, Director of Sales and Market Development, and Stephanie Falcone, Process Engineer, HarperLove.Jeff and Stephanie tell Jan about an intern program that's making a difference for young engineers. Click to read more about CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah—including CorrExpo LIVE! videos, event photos, Sponsor Showcase videos, and more.SAVE THE DATE for TAPPI/AICC's Corrugated Week, September 28-30, 2026 in Fort Worth, TX. Sign up for updates so you won't miss this exciting event.BIG NEWS: TAPPI is launching a NEW podcast series called Uptime! A Paper and Packaging Podcast, hosted by Jan Bottiglieri and Mark Rushton, editor of TAPPI's Tissue360° magazine. Uptime! will bring listeners 30-minute interviews with industry leaders and innovators that feature lively questions, thoughtful insights, and even a fun "lightning round" to keep guests on their toes. Better Together subscribers will automatically receive new Uptime! episodes so if you are not already subscribed, please do so—then share with colleagues, clients, and industry friends.

We're excited to bring listeners this first of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7.We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2025 and there was more than enough positive energy to go around. TAPPICon's multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and it shows – always a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together.Here is YOUR change to experience some of that energy! We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our eclectic group of guests for this episode includes:Frank Mignano—Manager, condition monitoring and Industry 4.0 solutions, Schaeffler Group:  "This kind of technology and toolsets are the things that entice and encourage the younger folks to get involved in the paper industry."Robert Bustin—Business development manager at Radix Engineering:  "We are taking data at mills and making it more valuable, useful, and available."Thierry LeBlanc— Software and EHS Expert at CONFORMiT:  "AI is going to continue to evolve—it's going to be much more integrated into everything we do."If you've never been to TAPPICon, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars for April 22 – 26, 2026, and plan to join us in Atlanta, GA, for TAPPICon 2026. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement but to really get it, you need to be there.Thanks to these three professionals for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our second TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.

We're excited to bring listeners our second of two episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7.TAPPICon 2025 was a huge success, with strong attendance and a revised multi-track program that let attendees plan exactly the experience they needed. As always, there was a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together.To try to capture some of that energy, I set up my podcast table right off the exhibit floor and talked to folks from throughout the industry. Our three guests for this episode include:Priya Venkat—Co-founder and COO of Haber: "There is so much pressure in terms of costs, maintaining a workforce, achieving net zero—the only way our industry can get there is by leveraging AI."Rich Ermlick—Principal at Boring Excellence: "If you find yourself doing the same improvement projects every three to five years, you're not improving. That indicates there is not an underlying system."Curtis Stone—Application engineer, Pulp & Paper, at Schaeffler Group:  "Bearings in a paper machine are one of the most highly engineered pieces of equipment... there is no one silver bullet."Thanks to our three guests for sharing their perspectives with Better Together listeners. Be sure to check out our first TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.I hope we were able to capture some of the excitement of a live event – but to really get it, you need to be there in person. So if you were not able to make it to Minneapolis this year, we hope to see you in Atlanta for TAPPICon 2026 – put it on your calendars, April 22 – 26, 2026.

We're excited to bring listeners our second of two episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. TAPPICon 2025 was a huge success, with strong attendance and a revised multi-track program that let attendees plan exactly the experience they needed. As always, there was a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together.  To try to capture some of that energy, I set up my podcast table right off the exhibit floor and talked to folks from throughout the industry. Our three guests for this episode include: Priya Venkat—Co-founder and COO of Haber: "There is so much pressure in terms of costs, maintaining a workforce, achieving net zero—the only way our industry can get there is by leveraging AI." Rich Ermlick—Principal at Boring Excellence: "If you find yourself doing the same improvement projects every three to five years, you're not improving. That indicates there is not an underlying system." Curtis Stone—Application engineer, Pulp & Paper, at Schaeffler Group:  "Bearings in a paper machine are one of the most highly engineered pieces of equipment... there is no one silver bullet."  Thanks to our three guests for sharing their perspectives with Better Together listeners. Be sure to check out our first TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.  I hope we were able to capture some of the excitement of a live event – but to really get it, you need to be there in person. So if you were not able to make it to Minneapolis this year, we hope to see you in Atlanta for TAPPICon 2026 – put it on your calendars, April 22 – 26, 2026. 

We're excited to bring listeners this first of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7.  We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2025 and there was more than enough positive energy to go around. TAPPICon's multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and it shows – always a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together.  Here is YOUR change to experience some of that energy! We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our eclectic group of guests for this episode includes: Frank Mignano—Manager, condition monitoring and Industry 4.0 solutions, Schaeffler Group:  "This kind of technology and toolsets are the things that entice and encourage the younger folks to get involved in the paper industry." Robert Bustin—Business development manager at Radix Engineering:  "We are taking data at mills and making it more valuable, useful, and available."  Thierry LeBlanc— Software and EHS Expert at CONFORMiT:  "AI is going to continue to evolve—it's going to be much more integrated into everything we do."  If you've never been to TAPPICon, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars for April 22 – 26, 2026, and plan to join us in Atlanta, GA, for TAPPICon 2026. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement but to really get it, you need to be there. Thanks to these three professionals for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our second TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.  

We're excited to bring listeners this first of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2025 and there was more than enough positive energy to go around. TAPPICon's multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and it shows – always a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together. Here is YOUR change to experience some of that energy! We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our eclectic group of guests for this episode includes: Frank Mignano—Manager, condition monitoring and Industry 4.0 solutions, Schaeffler Group:  "This kind of technology and toolsets are the things that entice and encourage the younger folks to get involved in the paper industry." Robert Bustin—Business development manager at Radix Engineering:  "We are taking data at mills and making it more valuable, useful, and available." Thierry LeBlanc— Software and EHS Expert at CONFORMiT:  "AI is going to continue to evolve—it's going to be much more integrated into everything we do." If you've never been to TAPPICon, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars for April 22 – 26, 2026, and plan to join us in Atlanta, GA, for TAPPICon 2026. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement but to really get it, you need to be there. Thanks to these three professionals for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our second TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.

We're excited to bring listeners our second of two episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. TAPPICon 2025 was a huge success, with strong attendance and a revised multi-track program that let attendees plan exactly the experience they needed. As always, there was a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together. To try to capture some of that energy, I set up my podcast table right off the exhibit floor and talked to folks from throughout the industry. Our three guests for this episode include: Priya Venkat—Co-founder and COO of Haber: "There is so much pressure in terms of costs, maintaining a workforce, achieving net zero—the only way our industry can get there is by leveraging AI." Rich Ermlick—Principal at Boring Excellence: "If you find yourself doing the same improvement projects every three to five years, you're not improving. That indicates there is not an underlying system." Curtis Stone—Application engineer, Pulp & Paper, at Schaeffler Group:  "Bearings in a paper machine are one of the most highly engineered pieces of equipment... there is no one silver bullet." Thanks to our three guests for sharing their perspectives with Better Together listeners. Be sure to check out our first TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees. I hope we were able to capture some of the excitement of a live event – but to really get it, you need to be there in person. So if you were not able to make it to Minneapolis this year, we hope to see you in Atlanta for TAPPICon 2026 – put it on your calendars, April 22 – 26, 2026.

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.First up, Western Michigan University students Parker Langellier and Toby Archer interview Dr. Med Byrd, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University.  "The paper process is very unique, very specific, and—let's face it—delightfully funky," Dr. Byrd tells our hosts, as they explore what makes pulp and paper such an amazing career choice.Next, veteran Student Summiteers Tanner Stogner and Michael Reuss interview first-time Summit attendees Conyers Preveaux and Gavin Knight. All four are students at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. As one student comments, "You see familiar faces all around. It's really nice that we have 300 people here and we all want the same thing: to grow our industry."This is the first of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Make sure to Subscribe to Better Together so you won't miss the next episode!

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.Our first guest hosts are Tabitha Newberry, Katelyn Gyurich, and Shelby Conley, three students studying Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. "I think my favorite part of student summit is making connections," says one of our students, as they discuss what makes this industry truly special. Their enthusiasm for TAPPI is contagious... and they may just have the next billion-dollar idea in specialty tissue.Next, Jacob Levesque, a chemical engineering student in the pulp and paper program at the University of Maine, interviews TAPPI's own Sidney Onyekwere, Standards Project Coordinator, about the tremendous knowledge-growing possibilities for students within the Standards and TIPs process. "We offer a Swiss army knife of knowledge and information—there's something for everyone," Sidney says.This is the second of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Subscribe today to Better Together and share this episode to spread the word about the amazing opportunities available to students who choose a career in pulp, paper, and packaging.

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.Our first guest hosts are Tabitha Newberry, Katelyn Gyurich, and Shelby Conley, three students studying Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. "I think my favorite part of student summit is making connections," says one of our students, as they discuss what makes this industry truly special. Their enthusiasm for TAPPI is contagious... and they may just have the next billion-dollar idea in specialty tissue. Next, Jacob Levesque, a chemical engineering student in the pulp and paper program at the University of Maine, interviews TAPPI's own Sidney Onyekwere, Standards Project Coordinator, about the tremendous knowledge-growing possibilities for students within the Standards and TIPs process. "We offer a Swiss army knife of knowledge and information—there's something for everyone," Sidney says.This is the second of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Subscribe today to Better Together and share this episode to spread the word about the amazing opportunities available to students who choose a career in pulp, paper, and packaging.

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.First up, Western Michigan University students Parker Langellier and Toby Archer interview Dr. Med Byrd, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University.  "The paper process is very unique, very specific, and—let's face it—delightfully funky," Dr. Byrd tells our hosts, as they explore what makes pulp and paper such an amazing career choice.Next, veteran Student Summiteers Tanner Stogner and Michael Reuss interview first-time Summit attendees Conyers Preveaux and Gavin Knight. All four are students at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. As one student comments, "You see familiar faces all around. It's really nice that we have 300 people here and we all want the same thing: to grow our industry." This is the first of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Make sure to Subscribe to Better Together so you won't miss the next episode!

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices. First up, Western Michigan University students Parker Langellier and Toby Archer interview Dr. Med Byrd, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University.  "The paper process is very unique, very specific, and—let's face it—delightfully funky," Dr. Byrd tells our hosts, as they explore what makes pulp and paper such an amazing career choice. Next, veteran Student Summiteers Tanner Stogner and Michael Reuss interview first-time Summit attendees Conyers Preveaux and Gavin Knight. All four are students at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. As one student comments, "You see familiar faces all around. It's really nice that we have 300 people here and we all want the same thing: to grow our industry." This is the first of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Make sure to Subscribe to Better Together so you won't miss the next episode!

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices. Our first guest hosts are Tabitha Newberry, Katelyn Gyurich, and Shelby Conley, three students studying Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. "I think my favorite part of student summit is making connections," says one of our students, as they discuss what makes this industry truly special. Their enthusiasm for TAPPI is contagious... and they may just have the next billion-dollar idea in specialty tissue. Next, Jacob Levesque, a chemical engineering student in the pulp and paper program at the University of Maine, interviews TAPPI's own Sidney Onyekwere, Standards Project Coordinator, about the tremendous knowledge-growing possibilities for students within the Standards and TIPs process. "We offer a Swiss army knife of knowledge and information—there's something for everyone," Sidney says. This is the second of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Subscribe today to Better Together and share this episode to spread the word about the amazing opportunities available to students who choose a career in pulp, paper, and packaging.

On this episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Naomi Gehling, Academic Programs Administrator for Auburn University in Auburn, AL. A former Auburn alum herself, Naomi shares her knowledge about what students in the pulp and paper sciences really want from a career in our industries.Our students are amazing—they're so smart, and they're ready to go," she says. "I've not met anyone in our Pulp and Paper program who is not excited about going into our industry. They're invested."Auburn has an undergraduate specialization that focuses on pulp and paper industry training; that specialization is open to students from a variety of engineering disciplines. The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, hosted within Auburn's Department of Chemical Engineering, has a complete, controlled-conditioned, wettest laboratory for chemically and physically evaluating pulp and paper.The Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation (APPF) provides scholarship support for students  on the way to becoming highly skilled, entry level engineers in the pulp, paper and allied Industries. The APPF connects those students to engaging Co-op or intern experiences within papermaking or supplier companies, and then finally with full-time employment in the industry for those students as they graduate.The annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit is the premier event for students in engineering and technical programs nationwide. No matter where you are in your academic journey, it's the perfect chance to network with fellow students, industry experts, hiring companies, and potential mentors. The 2025 Student Summit will take place January 18-20 in St. Petersburg, FL. 

On this episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Naomi Gehling, Academic Programs Administrator for Auburn University in Auburn, AL. A former Auburn alum herself, Naomi shares her knowledge about what students in the pulp and paper sciences really want from a career in our industries. Our students are amazing—they're so smart, and they're ready to go," she says. "I've not met anyone in our Pulp and Paper program who is not excited about going into our industry. They're invested."Auburn has an undergraduate specialization that focuses on pulp and paper industry training; that specialization is open to students from a variety of engineering disciplines. The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, hosted within Auburn's Department of Chemical Engineering, has a complete, controlled-conditioned, wettest laboratory for chemically and physically evaluating pulp and paper.The Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation (APPF) provides scholarship support for students  on the way to becoming highly skilled, entry level engineers in the pulp, paper and allied Industries. The APPF connects those students to engaging Co-op or intern experiences within papermaking or supplier companies, and then finally with full-time employment in the industry for those students as they graduate. The annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit is the premier event for students in engineering and technical programs nationwide. No matter where you are in your academic journey, it's the perfect chance to network with fellow students, industry experts, hiring companies, and potential mentors. The 2025 Student Summit will take place January 18-20 in St. Petersburg, FL. 

On this episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Naomi Gehling, Academic Programs Administrator for Auburn University in Auburn, AL. A former Auburn alum herself, Naomi shares her knowledge about what students in the pulp and paper sciences really want from a career in our industries. Our students are amazing—they're so smart, and they're ready to go," she says. "I've not met anyone in our Pulp and Paper program who is not excited about going into our industry. They're invested." Auburn has an undergraduate specialization that focuses on pulp and paper industry training; that specialization is open to students from a variety of engineering disciplines. The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, hosted within Auburn's Department of Chemical Engineering, has a complete, controlled-conditioned, wettest laboratory for chemically and physically evaluating pulp and paper. The Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation (APPF) provides scholarship support for students  on the way to becoming highly skilled, entry level engineers in the pulp, paper and allied Industries. The APPF connects those students to engaging Co-op or intern experiences within papermaking or supplier companies, and then finally with full-time employment in the industry for those students as they graduate. The annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit is the premier event for students in engineering and technical programs nationwide. No matter where you are in your academic journey, it's the perfect chance to network with fellow students, industry experts, hiring companies, and potential mentors. The 2025 Student Summit will take place January 18-20 in St. Petersburg, FL. 

Welcome to the second of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event. We do these event episodes to capture some of the energy you might experience if YOU were there: meeting peers, learning new things, and expanding the limits of your professional life.Today's guests are:Bowman Mitchell, VP national accounts at Redlist Software:"In this world, operations is king. You've got to get as many boxes out that door as possible."Jason Hooston, CEO & co-founder at Two10 Technologies:"If I'm going to make a decision, the most important thing is that I want to have confidence in that decision... data is a big part of that."Christine Little, director of sales, corrugated machinery, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries:"We're focusing on what we're calling Declaration of the Independents. We're looking at the independent market a little differently."Jeff Buchanan, director of sales and market development; and Tyler Haggard, director of business development, for HarperLove:"If we can help improve productivity and reduce waste, it's huge in the marketplace not only for us, but also for our customers' savings."Teemu Salo, managing director at Adara Pakkaus Oy:"You need to rely on your partner. You need to keep good contacts and whatever comes up, you have to take it to the table and run through it."Rick Putch, director of technical services and process improvement, National Steel Rule:"If there's one thing in the corrugated industry that everybody's looking for, it's productivity gains. In class, I break it into three things."These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Occurring only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC.SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL.Please remember to share, like, and subscribe!And join us again for Better Together.

Welcome to the second of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event. We do these event episodes to capture some of the energy you might experience if YOU were there: meeting peers, learning new things, and expanding the limits of your professional life. Today's guests are:Bowman Mitchell, VP national accounts at Redlist Software:"In this world, operations is king. You've got to get as many boxes out that door as possible."Jason Hooston, CEO & co-founder at Two10 Technologies:"If I'm going to make a decision, the most important thing is that I want to have confidence in that decision... data is a big part of that."Christine Little, director of sales, corrugated machinery, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries:"We're focusing on what we're calling Declaration of the Independents. We're looking at the independent market a little differently."Jeff Buchanan, director of sales and market development; and Tyler Haggard, director of business development, for HarperLove:"If we can help improve productivity and reduce waste, it's huge in the marketplace not only for us, but also for our customers' savings."Teemu Salo, managing director at Adara Pakkaus Oy:"You need to rely on your partner. You need to keep good contacts and whatever comes up, you have to take it to the table and run through it."Rick Putch, director of technical services and process improvement, National Steel Rule:"If there's one thing in the corrugated industry that everybody's looking for, it's productivity gains. In class, I break it into three things."These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Occurring only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC. SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL.Please remember to share, like, and subscribe!  And join us again for Better Together.

Welcome to the second of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event. We do these event episodes to capture some of the energy you might experience if YOU were there: meeting peers, learning new things, and expanding the limits of your professional life. Today's guests are: Bowman Mitchell, VP national accounts at Redlist Software: "In this world, operations is king. You've got to get as many boxes out that door as possible." Jason Hooston, CEO & co-founder at Two10 Technologies: "If I'm going to make a decision, the most important thing is that I want to have confidence in that decision... data is a big part of that." Christine Little, director of sales, corrugated machinery, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: "We're focusing on what we're calling Declaration of the Independents. We're looking at the independent market a little differently." Jeff Buchanan, director of sales and market development; and Tyler Haggard, director of business development, for HarperLove: "If we can help improve productivity and reduce waste, it's huge in the marketplace not only for us, but also for our customers' savings." Teemu Salo, managing director at Adara Pakkaus Oy: "You need to rely on your partner. You need to keep good contacts and whatever comes up, you have to take it to the table and run through it." Rick Putch, director of technical services and process improvement, National Steel Rule: "If there's one thing in the corrugated industry that everybody's looking for, it's productivity gains. In class, I break it into three things." These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Occurring only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC. SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Please remember to share, like, and subscribe! And join us again for Better Together.

Welcome to the first of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event.  Maybe you missed this year's SuperCorrExpo... maybe you were there and want to recapture some of the awesome energy... maybe you just love corrugated professionals for the cool and interesting people they are. Whatever the case, this episode is for you!Our guests include:Steve Rote, technical development director, Metsä Board Americas:"We need to adapt to the changing times, whether it's market demands or technology."Sharon DiRé, senior product marketing manager, Advantive:"So as circumstances change... the machines automatically update (to) keep things moving efficiently, which helps minimize waste as well."Igor Tkalenko, CEO, Corruga.expert:"We get many messages about how to bring young people to the industry, so for    SuperCorrExpo we came up with the idea of... a game."Gokul Gopakumar, VP, technology and business development, Sun Automation: "It is very important to understand AI as a tool and not mystify it so much."Jerry Vivlamore, corrugated end of line process application partner, Signode:"We can provide the customer with a dashboard of how well their equipment is running."Ludovic Tremblay, product expert, ConformIT:"You meet people that have been in this industry for 30 years—and for a reason. Once you're in it, you get it."These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, which was held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Held only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC.SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL.Share, like, and subscribe!  We truly are.... Better Together.

Welcome to the first of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event.  Maybe you missed this year's SuperCorrExpo... maybe you were there and want to recapture some of the awesome energy... maybe you just love corrugated professionals for the cool and interesting people they are. Whatever the case, this episode is for you! Our guests include: Steve Rote, technical development director, Metsä Board Americas: "We need to adapt to the changing times, whether it's market demands or technology."Sharon DiRé, senior product marketing manager, Advantive:"So as circumstances change... the machines automatically update (to) keep things moving efficiently, which helps minimize waste as well."Igor Tkalenko, CEO, Corruga.expert:"We get many messages about how to bring young people to the industry, so for    SuperCorrExpo we came up with the idea of... a game."Gokul Gopakumar, VP, technology and business development, Sun Automation: "It is very important to understand AI as a tool and not mystify it so much."Jerry Vivlamore, corrugated end of line process application partner, Signode:"We can provide the customer with a dashboard of how well their equipment is running."Ludovic Tremblay, product expert, ConformIT: "You meet people that have been in this industry for 30 years—and for a reason. Once you're in it, you get it."These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, which was held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Held only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC. SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL.Share, like, and subscribe!  We truly are.... Better Together.

Welcome to the first of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event.  Maybe you missed this year's SuperCorrExpo... maybe you were there and want to recapture some of the awesome energy... maybe you just love corrugated professionals for the cool and interesting people they are. Whatever the case, this episode is for you! Our guests include: Steve Rote, technical development director, Metsä Board Americas: "We need to adapt to the changing times, whether it's market demands or technology." Sharon DiRé, senior product marketing manager, Advantive: "So as circumstances change... the machines automatically update (to) keep things moving efficiently, which helps minimize waste as well." Igor Tkalenko, CEO, Corruga.expert: "We get many messages about how to bring young people to the industry, so for    SuperCorrExpo we came up with the idea of... a game." Gokul Gopakumar, VP, technology and business development, Sun Automation: "It is very important to understand AI as a tool and not mystify it so much." Jerry Vivlamore, corrugated end of line process application partner, Signode: "We can provide the customer with a dashboard of how well their equipment is running." Ludovic Tremblay, product expert, ConformIT: "You meet people that have been in this industry for 30 years—and for a reason. Once you're in it, you get it." These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, which was held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Held only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC. SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Share, like, and subscribe!  We truly are.... Better Together.

Safety is not just a buzzword for the pulp, paper, and packaging industries—it's critical to our operations and to our collective future. For an inspired group of TAPPI members and safety professionals, that was the motivation behind a new TAPPI Technical Information Paper (TIP) that outlines a proven approach to safety training that any mill can use. PIMA TIP 1502-01 Improving Safety Training - A Hands-on Approach represents a new category for TIPs and the first from the PIMA division.Our guest for this episode is Kurt Mehlberg, quality solutions manager for Domtar, Resolute, and Paper Excellence, and a recipient of the Division Leadership and Service Award for TAPPI's PIMA Division. He alsohad a big hand in developing this new TIP with other members of PIMA's Safety Committee. As Kurt says, "We're all on that safety journey towards zero"—there is no other acceptable goal for any mill or plant. Kurt shares more about this TIP's development process and why the effort has been so beneficial.Learn more about PIMA, or any of TAPPI's other volunteer-led divisions.Grow professionally by getting involved in the TAPPI Standards and TIPs process.Access TAPPI Standards and TIPs online 24/7 through either Individual or Company license.

Safety is not just a buzzword for the pulp, paper, and packaging industries—it's critical to our operations and to our collective future. For an inspired group of TAPPI members and safety professionals, that was the motivation behind a new TAPPI Technical Information Paper (TIP) that outlines a proven approach to safety training that any mill can use. PIMA TIP 1502-01 Improving Safety Training - A Hands-on Approach represents a new category for TIPs and the first from the PIMA division. Our guest for this episode is Kurt Mehlberg, quality solutions manager for Domtar, Resolute, and Paper Excellence, and a recipient of the Division Leadership and Service Award for TAPPI's PIMA Division. He alsohad a big hand in developing this new TIP with other members of PIMA's Safety Committee. As Kurt says, "We're all on that safety journey towards zero"—there is no other acceptable goal for any mill or plant. Kurt shares more about this TIP's development process and why the effort has been so beneficial.Learn more about PIMA, or any of TAPPI's other volunteer-led divisions.Grow professionally by getting involved in the TAPPI Standards and TIPs process.Access TAPPI Standards and TIPs online 24/7 through either Individual or Company license. 

Safety is not just a buzzword for the pulp, paper, and packaging industries—it's critical to our operations and to our collective future. For an inspired group of TAPPI members and safety professionals, that was the motivation behind a new TAPPI Technical Information Paper (TIP) that outlines a proven approach to safety training that any mill can use. PIMA TIP 1502-01 Improving Safety Training - A Hands-on Approach represents a new category for TIPs and the first from the PIMA division. Our guest for this episode is Kurt Mehlberg, quality solutions manager for Domtar, Resolute, and Paper Excellence, and a recipient of the Division Leadership and Service Award for TAPPI's PIMA Division. He alsohad a big hand in developing this new TIP with other members of PIMA's Safety Committee. As Kurt says, "We're all on that safety journey towards zero"—there is no other acceptable goal for any mill or plant. Kurt shares more about this TIP's development process and why the effort has been so beneficial. Learn more about PIMA, or any of TAPPI's other volunteer-led divisions. Grow professionally by getting involved in the TAPPI Standards and TIPs process. Access TAPPI Standards and TIPs online 24/7 through either Individual or Company license.

"Dark, dirty, dull, dangerous, and dumb"—that's a common misconception about careers in manufacturing, says guest Jake Hall on this episode of the Better Together podcast. Yet, according to Hall, "manufacturing is an industry that creates so much opportunity... I think it's the foundation of our economy." As the Manufacturing Millennial, Hall talks to corporate clients and audiences around the country about automation, technology, and what they can mean for modern manufacturers when it comes to attracting young professionals. He is an experienced sales professional with deep insight into the millennial mindset—as well as the tremendous opportunities manufacturing can offer for companies willing to make the connection.Hall graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's in Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering. He will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming SuperCorrExpo in Orlando, FL, September 8 - 11. Check the links below to learn more about Jake Hall and the SCE event.  Homepage for Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millennial: themanufacturingmillennial.comSuperCorrExpo details, including program updates: supercorrexpo.orgRegister for SuperCorrExpo.

"Dark, dirty, dull, dangerous, and dumb"—that's a common misconception about careers in manufacturing, says guest Jake Hall on this episode of the Better Together podcast. Yet, according to Hall, "manufacturing is an industry that creates so much opportunity... I think it's the foundation of our economy."As the Manufacturing Millennial, Hall talks to corporate clients and audiences around the country about automation, technology, and what they can mean for modern manufacturers when it comes to attracting young professionals. He is an experienced sales professional with deep insight into the millennial mindset—as well as the tremendous opportunities manufacturing can offer for companies willing to make the connection.Hall graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's in Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering. He will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming SuperCorrExpo in Orlando, FL, September 8 - 11. Check the links below to learn more about Jake Hall and the SCE event.Homepage for Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millennial: themanufacturingmillennial.comSuperCorrExpo details, including program updates: supercorrexpo.orgRegister for SuperCorrExpo.

"Dark, dirty, dull, dangerous, and dumb"—that's a common misconception about careers in manufacturing, says guest Jake Hall on this episode of the Better Together podcast. Yet, according to Hall, "manufacturing is an industry that creates so much opportunity... I think it's the foundation of our economy." As the Manufacturing Millennial, Hall talks to corporate clients and audiences around the country about automation, technology, and what they can mean for modern manufacturers when it comes to attracting young professionals. He is an experienced sales professional with deep insight into the millennial mindset—as well as the tremendous opportunities manufacturing can offer for companies willing to make the connection. Hall graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's in Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering. He will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming SuperCorrExpo in Orlando, FL, September 8 - 11. Check the links below to learn more about Jake Hall and the SCE event. Homepage for Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millennial: themanufacturingmillennial.com SuperCorrExpo details, including program updates: supercorrexpo.org Register for SuperCorrExpo.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you six fun, short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear:Brian Mock—President, Event Capture Systems:"We want to reduce waste and delay... and we want to do that in such a way that allows the paper maker to increase efficiencies of the overall process." Heather Jennings—Director, Huma Environmental andJohn Rudd—Director of Operations, IoT-MFG Company:"Let's look at that entire ecosystem and then once we understand it, we can start reacting to it in a positive way." David Strobhar—Principal Human Factors Engineer, Beville Engineering:" At the very time when you want the alarm system to help you, it's actually working against you. And then of course, the operators were getting blamed." Shih-Chin Chen—retired, recipient of 2019 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal:"The knowledge of all the participants is just amazing. So you learn every time, from a very broad spectrum of people. You get pulled in!" Herman Quon—Sales Manager, Esko:"Sustainability is what this industry is all about and innovation in the paper industry is what will sustain this industry." John Weiler—Sales Manager, Boston Dynamics:"Part of the reason why I'm at the show is to talk about how mobile robots are creating safer tissue and paper and pulp operations around the world." Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include:·      View Brian Mock's Chalk Talks on Near Infrared LEDs for pulp and paper mills.       ·      Learn more about the Center for Operator Performance that David mentions.·      Try out Esko's oil viscosity calculator.·      See Spot the Robot Dog in action.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you six fun, short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear:Brian Mock—President, Event Capture Systems:"We want to reduce waste and delay... and we want to do that in such a way that allows the paper maker to increase efficiencies of the overall process." Heather Jennings—Director, Huma Environmental andJohn Rudd—Director of Operations, IoT-MFG Company:"Let's look at that entire ecosystem and then once we understand it, we can start reacting to it in a positive way." David Strobhar—Principal Human Factors Engineer, Beville Engineering:" At the very time when you want the alarm system to help you, it's actually working against you. And then of course, the operators were getting blamed." Shih-Chin Chen—retired, recipient of 2019 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal:"The knowledge of all the participants is just amazing. So you learn every time, from a very broad spectrum of people. You get pulled in!" Herman Quon—Sales Manager, Esko:"Sustainability is what this industry is all about and innovation in the paper industry is what will sustain this industry."John Weiler—Sales Manager, Boston Dynamics:"Part of the reason why I'm at the show is to talk about how mobile robots are creating safer tissue and paper and pulp operations around the world."Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include:·      View Brian Mock's Chalk Talks on Near Infrared LEDs for pulp and paper mills.·      Learn more about the Center for Operator Performance that David mentions.·      Try out Esko's oil viscosity calculator.·      See Spot the Robot Dog in action.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you six fun, short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear: Brian Mock—President, Event Capture Systems: "We want to reduce waste and delay... and we want to do that in such a way that allows the paper maker to increase efficiencies of the overall process."  Heather Jennings—Director, Huma Environmental and John Rudd—Director of Operations, IoT-MFG Company: "Let's look at that entire ecosystem and then once we understand it, we can start reacting to it in a positive way."  David Strobhar—Principal Human Factors Engineer, Beville Engineering: " At the very time when you want the alarm system to help you, it's actually working against you. And then of course, the operators were getting blamed."  Shih-Chin Chen—retired, recipient of 2019 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal: "The knowledge of all the participants is just amazing. So you learn every time, from a very broad spectrum of people. You get pulled in!"  Herman Quon—Sales Manager, Esko: "Sustainability is what this industry is all about and innovation in the paper industry is what will sustain this industry." John Weiler—Sales Manager, Boston Dynamics: "Part of the reason why I'm at the show is to talk about how mobile robots are creating safer tissue and paper and pulp operations around the world." Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include: ·      View Brian Mock's Chalk Talks on Near Infrared LEDs for pulp and paper mills. ·      Learn more about the Center for Operator Performance that David mentions. ·      Try out Esko's oil viscosity calculator. ·      See Spot the Robot Dog in action.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you seven fun short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear:Bobby Hyde—Application Specialist, Valmet:"If your heart rate doesn't get up... because you're in an uncomfortable spot, then really at the end of the day, are you learning anything?"Lu Athnos—Regional Sales Manager, Pulp & Paper, ABB Automation:"It's not enough just to fix a problem. You have to document that knowledge and you have to be able to share that knowledge in an actionable way."Peter Kayser—Managing Director, Krafft Walzen:"I find it personally quite amazing, what this business is capable of doing—to be reinvented for the future."Sneh Patel—Chief Operating Officer, JMC Paper Tech USA:"This has been amazing for us as a family. It was our grandfather's dream to open up our own mill again... it's great knowing that we're able to keep that legacy going." Elliott Bell—Global Head of Pulp & Paper, Radix Engineering and Software:"I love pulp and paper... It is some of the most interesting technology, some of the most interesting challenges that you'll see in any industry."Vera Hallikainen—Development Manager, Finnish Forest Products Engineers' Association:"I think innovation is the key... while we keep innovating together, I think the future is very bright."Ludovic Tremblay—Product Expert, CONFORMiT:"We're talking about taking all the data from the mill—all the valves, all the disconnects, switches, all the breakers—putting 'em in the system and making them work for the plant."Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include:·      Check out Bobby Hyde's free webinar about Tissue Drone Services.·      Meet amazing women in our industry with ABB's Unstoppable series.·      Visit Germany's Modellfabrik Papier, an industry consortium working toward climate goals.·      Access the Finnish Forest Products Engineers' extensive Forest BIoFacts Series.·      Learn more about TAPPI's Divisions, Committees, and Special Interest Groups.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you seven fun short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear:Bobby Hyde—Application Specialist, Valmet:"If your heart rate doesn't get up... because you're in an uncomfortable spot, then really at the end of the day, are you learning anything?"Lu Athnos—Regional Sales Manager, Pulp & Paper, ABB Automation:"It's not enough just to fix a problem. You have to document that knowledge and you have to be able to share that knowledge in an actionable way."Peter Kayser—Managing Director, Krafft Walzen:"I find it personally quite amazing, what this business is capable of doing—to be reinvented for the future."Sneh Patel—Chief Operating Officer, JMC Paper Tech USA:"This has been amazing for us as a family. It was our grandfather's dream to open up our own mill again... it's great knowing that we're able to keep that legacy going." Elliott Bell—Global Head of Pulp & Paper, Radix Engineering and Software:"I love pulp and paper... It is some of the most interesting technology, some of the most interesting challenges that you'll see in any industry."Vera Hallikainen—Development Manager, Finnish Forest Products Engineers' Association:"I think innovation is the key... while we keep innovating together, I think the future is very bright." Ludovic Tremblay—Product Expert, CONFORMiT:"We're talking about taking all the data from the mill—all the valves, all the disconnects, switches, all the breakers—putting 'em in the system and making them work for the plant." Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include:·      Check out Bobby Hyde's free webinar about Tissue Drone Services.·      Meet amazing women in our industry with ABB's Unstoppable series.·      Visit Germany's Modellfabrik Papier, an industry consortium working toward climate goals.·      Access the Finnish Forest Products Engineers' extensive Forest BIoFacts Series.     ·      Learn more about TAPPI's Divisions, Committees, and Special Interest Groups.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you seven fun short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear: Bobby Hyde—Application Specialist, Valmet: "If your heart rate doesn't get up... because you're in an uncomfortable spot, then really at the end of the day, are you learning anything?" Lu Athnos—Regional Sales Manager, Pulp & Paper, ABB Automation: "It's not enough just to fix a problem. You have to document that knowledge and you have to be able to share that knowledge in an actionable way." Peter Kayser—Managing Director, Krafft Walzen: "I find it personally quite amazing, what this business is capable of doing—to be reinvented for the future." Sneh Patel—Chief Operating Officer, JMC Paper Tech USA: "This has been amazing for us as a family. It was our grandfather's dream to open up our own mill again... it's great knowing that we're able to keep that legacy going."  Elliott Bell—Global Head of Pulp & Paper, Radix Engineering and Software: "I love pulp and paper... It is some of the most interesting technology, some of the most interesting challenges that you'll see in any industry." Vera Hallikainen—Development Manager, Finnish Forest Products Engineers' Association: "I think innovation is the key... while we keep innovating together, I think the future is very bright." Ludovic Tremblay—Product Expert, CONFORMiT: "We're talking about taking all the data from the mill—all the valves, all the disconnects, switches, all the breakers—putting 'em in the system and making them work for the plant." Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include: ·      Check out Bobby Hyde's free webinar about Tissue Drone Services. ·      Meet amazing women in our industry with ABB's Unstoppable series. ·      Visit Germany's Modellfabrik Papier, an industry consortium working toward climate goals. ·      Access the Finnish Forest Products Engineers' extensive Forest BIoFacts Series. ·      Learn more about TAPPI's Divisions, Committees, and Special Interest Groups.

In this episode, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Bud Chase and Alfredo Sarli, members of the TAPPI Tissue Division Dust Mitigation Committee. This growing, active group of professionals meets to discuss a critical issue: managing the risk of tissue mill dust fires. Listeners will learn more about the science behind dust combustion; how vendors and manufacturers are working together to identify new mitigation goals and techniques; the potential risk involved; and what top things our experts feel every tissue mill must do to manage this risk.Bud Chase is vice president—tissue at EDT (Enzymatic Deinking Technologies), responsible for all tissue enzyme applications. He has spent his entire career in the paper industry, beginning in 1989 with roles in tissue production, paper machine clothing, automation, and chemicals. Chase received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Pulp & Paper/Chemical Engineering program.Alfredo Sarli is a mechanical engineer from McGill University with over 30 years' experience in the paper industry on machinery and process applications ranging from the wet end to the dry end of the paper machine. He is currently an applications specialist for the Air Systems division of Valmet and is based in Montreal, Canada.To learn more about the Tissue Division or the Dust Mitigation Committee, visit the TAPPI Website.Read about TAPPISAFE and the new Dust Mitigation course—or any of the more than 170 courses TAPPISAFE offers— at tappisafe.org.Which Division or Committee is a perfect fit for your career? TAPPI has more than a dozen Technical Divisions targeting specific segments of the industry. Each Division and its corresponding Technical Committees work to share knowledge and provide solutions for the industry through a variety of products, services, and opportunities including publications, events, and online discussions. TAPPI members can join any of our Technical Committees. To become a TAPPI member, please join online or contact the Member Connection Center at 1-800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), or +1-770-446-1400.Don't forget to Subscribe, Post, and Share this podcast! We appreciate your support.

In this episode, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Bud Chase and Alfredo Sarli, members of the TAPPI Tissue Division Dust Mitigation Committee. This growing, active group of professionals meets to discuss a critical issue: managing the risk of tissue mill dust fires. Listeners will learn more about the science behind dust combustion; how vendors and manufacturers are working together to identify new mitigation goals and techniques; the potential risk involved; and what top things our experts feel every tissue mill must do to manage this risk.Bud Chase is vice president—tissue at EDT (Enzymatic Deinking Technologies), responsible for all tissue enzyme applications. He has spent his entire career in the paper industry, beginning in 1989 with roles in tissue production, paper machine clothing, automation, and chemicals. Chase received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Pulp & Paper/Chemical Engineering program.Alfredo Sarli is a mechanical engineer from McGill University with over 30 years' experience in the paper industry on machinery and process applications ranging from the wet end to the dry end of the paper machine. He is currently an applications specialist for the Air Systems division of Valmet and is based in Montreal, Canada.To learn more about the Tissue Division or the Dust Mitigation Committee, visit the TAPPI Website.Read about TAPPISAFE and the new Dust Mitigation course—or any of the more than 170 courses TAPPISAFE offers— at tappisafe.org.  Which Division or Committee is a perfect fit for your career? TAPPI has more than a dozen Technical Divisions targeting specific segments of the industry. Each Division and its corresponding Technical Committees work to share knowledge and provide solutions for the industry through a variety of products, services, and opportunities including publications, events, and online discussions. TAPPI members can join any of our Technical Committees.  To become a TAPPI member, please join online or contact the Member Connection Center at 1-800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), or +1-770-446-1400. Don't forget to Subscribe, Post, and Share this podcast! We appreciate your support.

In this episode, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Bud Chase and Alfredo Sarli, members of the TAPPI Tissue Division Dust Mitigation Committee. This growing, active group of professionals meets to discuss a critical issue: managing the risk of tissue mill dust fires. Listeners will learn more about the science behind dust combustion; how vendors and manufacturers are working together to identify new mitigation goals and techniques; the potential risk involved; and what top things our experts feel every tissue mill must do to manage this risk. Bud Chase is vice president—tissue at EDT (Enzymatic Deinking Technologies), responsible for all tissue enzyme applications. He has spent his entire career in the paper industry, beginning in 1989 with roles in tissue production, paper machine clothing, automation, and chemicals. Chase received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Pulp & Paper/Chemical Engineering program. Alfredo Sarli is a mechanical engineer from McGill University with over 30 years' experience in the paper industry on machinery and process applications ranging from the wet end to the dry end of the paper machine. He is currently an applications specialist for the Air Systems division of Valmet and is based in Montreal, Canada. To learn more about the Tissue Division or the Dust Mitigation Committee, visit the TAPPI Website. Read about TAPPISAFE and the new Dust Mitigation course—or any of the more than 170 courses TAPPISAFE offers— at tappisafe.org. Which Division or Committee is a perfect fit for your career? TAPPI has more than a dozen Technical Divisions targeting specific segments of the industry. Each Division and its corresponding Technical Committees work to share knowledge and provide solutions for the industry through a variety of products, services, and opportunities including publications, events, and online discussions. TAPPI members can join any of our Technical Committees.  To become a TAPPI member, please join online or contact the Member Connection Center at 1-800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), or +1-770-446-1400. Don't forget to Subscribe, Post, and Share this podcast! We appreciate your support.

WIN Division Panel Discusses Leadership Models in the Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Tissue Industries. In this special episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri is joined by three guests from TAPPI's Women in Industry Division. This dynamic group provides programming, events, and networking opportunities for women and men throughout the industry, with a focus on personal growth and career developmentFor this Episode, our panel includes·       Amanda Kernan of Valmet, who is our WIN Program Chair and a WIN Division Vice Chair;·      Gabriele Pinckney, a WIN Division member and DEI senior manager for Solenis LLC; and·      Deanna Duram, managing consultant with Trinity Consultants and the WIN Division's 2022 Woman of the Year.The WIN Division is gearing up for its 2024 International Women's Day Panel, held via Zoom on Friday, March 8, from 9:30 to 10:30 am EST. Moderated by Gabriele Pinckney, the panel will focus on Navigating Gender Equality in Industry, and will share real examples on how to implement successful inclusion strategies in your everyday life. Register here for this free event. Though only one hour out of your day, this discussion will make a lasting impact. Please join us and help #InspireInclusion!If you have missed the Women's Day Panel—or if you're simply interested in supporting leadership opportunities and career growth for women in pulp, paper, and packaging—the WIN Division invites you to its 2024 Women's Summit in Cleveland, OH, on Saturday, April 27. Held in conjunction with TAPPICon, this year's Summit will include a keynote presentation from Cyd Rechtin, Founder and CEO of The Creator's Attaché (TCA). Learn more here.THANK YOU for listening to Better Together: Conversations with Innovative Leaders; don't forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you get your podcast content. Remember that, as the pulp, paper, and packaging industries face a future full of possibility, we really are Better Together.

WIN Division Panel Discusses Leadership Models in the Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Tissue Industries. In this special episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri is joined by three guests from TAPPI's Women in Industry Division. This dynamic group provides programming, events, and networking opportunities for women and men throughout the industry, with a focus on personal growth and career developmentFor this Episode, our panel includes·       Amanda Kernan of Valmet, who is our WIN Program Chair and a WIN Division Vice Chair;·      Gabriele Pinckney, a WIN Division member and DEI senior manager for Solenis LLC; and·      Deanna Duram, managing consultant with Trinity Consultants and the WIN Division's 2022 Woman of the Year.The WIN Division is gearing up for its 2024 International Women's Day Panel, held via Zoom on Friday, March 8, from 9:30 to 10:30 am EST. Moderated by Gabriele Pinckney, the panel will focus on Navigating Gender Equality in Industry, and will share real examples on how to implement successful inclusion strategies in your everyday life. Register here for this free event. Though only one hour out of your day, this discussion will make a lasting impact. Please join us and help #InspireInclusion!If you have missed the Women's Day Panel—or if you're simply interested in supporting leadership opportunities and career growth for women in pulp, paper, and packaging—the WIN Division invites you to its 2024 Women's Summit in Cleveland, OH, on Saturday, April 27. Held in conjunction with TAPPICon, this year's Summit will include a keynote presentation from Cyd Rechtin, Founder and CEO of The Creator's Attaché (TCA). Learn more here.THANK YOU for listening to Better Together: Conversations with Innovative Leaders; don't forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you get your podcast content. Remember that, as the pulp, paper, and packaging industries face a future full of possibility, we really are Better Together.

WIN Division Panel Discusses Leadership Models in the Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Tissue Industries. In this special episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri is joined by three guests from TAPPI's Women in Industry Division. This dynamic group provides programming, events, and networking opportunities for women and men throughout the industry, with a focus on personal growth and career development For this Episode, our panel includes ·       Amanda Kernan of Valmet, who is our WIN Program Chair and a WIN Division Vice Chair; ·      Gabriele Pinckney, a WIN Division member and DEI senior manager for Solenis LLC; and ·      Deanna Duram, managing consultant with Trinity Consultants and the WIN Division's 2022 Woman of the Year. The WIN Division is gearing up for its 2024 International Women's Day Panel, held via Zoom on Friday, March 8, from 9:30 to 10:30 am EST. Moderated by Gabriele Pinckney, the panel will focus on Navigating Gender Equality in Industry, and will share real examples on how to implement successful inclusion strategies in your everyday life. Register here for this free event. Though only one hour out of your day, this discussion will make a lasting impact. Please join us and help #InspireInclusion! If you have missed the Women's Day Panel—or if you're simply interested in supporting leadership opportunities and career growth for women in pulp, paper, and packaging—the WIN Division invites you to its 2024 Women's Summit in Cleveland, OH, on Saturday, April 27. Held in conjunction with TAPPICon, this year's Summit will include a keynote presentation from Cyd Rechtin, Founder and CEO of The Creator's Attaché (TCA). Learn more here. THANK YOU for listening to Better Together: Conversations with Innovative Leaders; don't forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you get your podcast content. Remember that, as the pulp, paper, and packaging industries face a future full of possibility, we really are Better Together.