If you are like me, you’re ready to get out of local lockdown and connect in person with some industry friends. Well, it looks like you may not have to wait too long to network in-person with industry leaders, friends and suppliers. Find out about these events and how you can participate.
The 2020 Western Pallet Association (WPA) Annual Meeting was rescheduled to April 16-19th. The core of the program runs from Saturday the 17th to the evening of the 19th. The theme of the meeting is “Find Your Plus!… Add to Your Bottom Line!” Continuing to innovate, the WPA has developed a virtual meeting option in addition to the live event. The virtual option allows attendees to watch the speakers and connect with suppliers remotely. Of course, there is nothing quite like being there in person. The WPA has developed a reputation for its friendliness as well as putting on a good program. The WPA golf tournament is an industry favorite as people make new friends and see old buddies. This year the golf tournament will go on. It will be held at the Rancho Las Palmas golf course and is a great way to unwind from a harsh winter.
The speaker program includes some traditional favorites and new voices. Chris Pienkowski of Helm Inc. will speak on “Gaining Clarity and Higher Profits from Your Business.” He will cover how to get the right people in the right seats of your company and how to stay on top of your most important financial metrics. Industry veteran, Mike Hachtman of Relogistics, will update the crowd on the latest in politics and pallets. He will review recent changes in Washington and how these lawmakers could affect your business.
Everyone has probably had to deal with escalating insurance premiums. John Smith of Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co. will talk on “Where Risk and Insurance Meet: Preparing the Pallet Industry for the Future.” Are insurance rates a mystery to you? Smith will explain the drivers with an inside look at how these coverages are priced.
Lumber markets are moving at an unprecedented rate. Kent Wheiler of CINTAFOR will provide an outlook for hardwood and softwood pallet stock. And finally, I am honored to once again speak at the WPA meeting. My topic is “No, You DON’T Need a Gas Mask!…Prepping Your Business for the Changing Pallet Industry Landscape.” I will cover some of the biggest industry trends and what you can do to be ready for the future.
Many people are curious about how the event is taking precautions to be as safe as possible given the widespread contagion of the coronavirus. Dave Sweitzer, the executive vice president of the WPA, commented, “We are 100% moving ahead with the annual meeting both in person and virtually. The host hotel, Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa (RLP), has taken extra precautions to sanitize the facility and purify the air. The HVAC systems are equipped with economizers, which draw fresh air from outside to assist with keeping the indoor air fresh. RLP will service, clean, and replace all filters in our meeting space the day before our arrival. The normal meeting room, exhibit hall, and meals will be arranged differently to accommodate any required social distancing.”
Anyone who has any COVID symptoms are suggested to stay at home. Masks will be required in public spaces. The meeting may be a bit different this year given local requirements that could change as we get closer to the event. There is no financial risk when it comes to the event. Both the hotel and the WPA will offer refunds if you are not able to attend the event due to COVID-19 related reasons.
Sweitzer added, “We are doing everything we can to hold the event and allow meaningful connections while keeping attendees safe. We already have a strong base of registered attendees and look forward to a solid meeting.” The event will once again hold an auction to help raise funds for the association’s new initiatives and programs that benefit our members.
To register for a room, visit www.rancholaspalmas.com or call (760) 568-2727. The discount group code is Group Code: 011421WestPallet. Register soon for the best rates. To sign up for the event, contact the WPA at (360) 335-0208 or visit https://www.westernpallet.org/.
EXPO Richmond
The largest pallet industry event for live equipment demonstrations is scheduled for May 21-22 at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, Virginia. The 37th East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition (EXPO Richmond) has become a leading trade show for seeing equipment and innovation up close and in many cases to watch live demonstrations.
The exposition will offer the year’s largest collection of pallet manufacturing/recycling, sawmilling, kiln drying, harvesting, biomass, trucking, optimization/scanning, material handling, firewood production and related equipment, supplies and services. The event will once again feature the Log-A-Load tic tac toe competition for loggers as well as live equipment pavilions by Pallet Machinery Group and Viking Engineering.
Attendees can compare their current equipment to the latest state-of- the-art, most technologically-advanced equipment on the market. The exposition is co-sponsored by the Virginia Forest Products Association (VFPA) and the Cooperative Extension Service at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
“Enthusiasm has been off the charts by industry suppliers and machinery manufacturers; we are almost 85% sold out and expect a quality attendance from companies looking to automate,” commented Lesley Moseley, the VFPA executive director. “We are expecting this event to go off in May although it will be somewhat different due to COVID. But what hasn’t changed over the last year in our world?”
In regards to COVD precautions, the VFPA is working with the Richmond Raceway Complex and the Governor’s office to establish best practices to mitigate COVID-19 concerns. There may be more spacing in aisles, one-way traffic routing, mask requirements, etc. But Moseley proclaimed, “I believe EXPO Richmond will once again be a great gathering for the entire forest products industry, especially the pallet sector.”
EXPO Richmond is a great place to maximize your next equipment search. To register, visit www.exporichmond.com or call (804) 737-5625.
NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference (ALC)
The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) is set to take place September 15-17, 2021 in Orlando, Florida at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. The theme is “Connecting Champions. Creating Opportunities – Celebrating an Essential Industry and our Critical Workforce.”
More details about the program will be unveiled in the coming months. Brent McClendon, the president and CEO of the NWPCA, said, “We’ll be following the guidance of federal/state and hotel policies that exist in September related to spacing, masks, temperature checks, etc. We are not planning a virtual option at this time, and most other factors/educational plans are still under development.”
The event will include an exhibitor hall and will hopefully feature an industry golf tournament. At this time, the NWPCA is planning for a separate plant tour meeting in the fall.
For anyone concerned about refunds and COVID precautions, McClendon added, “Our refund policies on health issues have always taken into account illnesses that prevent attendance, and we certainly will maintain that policy during the pandemic. Currently the hotel’s policy is to conduct temperature checks upon entry for all guests. They also require people to wear face masks. It is still a lot of time before September, and we are working closely with the hotel to better understand space limitations and other COVID-related adjustments to group meetings.”
Registration for the ALC will begin in the spring. Visit www.palletcentral.com for more information.
Delayed Events
The 2021 Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo (The Loggers Expo) that was scheduled for mid-May at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, has been postponed until September 24 and 25, 2021. The show organizer is tracking a number of factors that still need to flip in favor of a large gathering, including the Canadian border opening, Maine gathering restrictions loosening and out-of-state travel to Maine relaxing, but the region’s forest products community remains hopeful.
Assuming things improve enough over the next several months, the organizer expects to have a great show in September. Please visit the Expo website at www.northernlogger.com or call the show organizer at 315-369-3078 for more information.
COVID Considerations
While the events could be impacted by new outbreaks or local ordinances, it is still a good idea to develop a game plan and register for any event you would like to attend. Event sponsors and hotels are providing liberal refund policies in most cases. Be sure to check first when registering. As more people get vaccinated and conditions change, you are likely to see more largescale events held with distance protocols in place starting in the spring and summer through the fall.
Your health is up to you. Everyone is different. Some people have received the vaccine or already had the disease. Others have not. Some have significant underlying health concerns. Others are younger and in better health. You have to make whatever decision that seems right to you. And it is also wise to review any local ordinances before making the trip.
