Canadian Meeting Combined with the Richmond Show

                  It’s been years since the Canadian Wooden Pallet & Container Association (CWPCA) held its annual meeting in Richmond, Va. in conjunction with the popular EXPO Richmond machinery show. The last time the CWPCA moved its meeting to this location way south of the border, a large crowd of both Canadian and U.S. companies attended.

                  The CWPCA hopes to do the same again this year by giving both Canadian and U.S. companies an opportunity to network and learn from each other as well as attend some unique educational sessions. The CWPCA will be held on May 17th, the day before the EXPO Richmond, which will be held on May 18th and 19th.

                  EXPO Richmond has a reputation of being the best representation of pallet machinery in North America, in fact the best held anywhere. A number of exhibitors will have working displays of their machinery; others will have static machines for inspection. Richmond has become the place to go every two years for answers to your production related questions.

                  Now Americans and Canadians can score a two-for-one in a single trip to Richmond. The annual CWPCA meeting will be held at the downtown Omni Hotel, near the Tobacco Company restaurant. Registration is very reasonable – $95 for members and $150 for non-members.

                  At press time the CWPCA program features an impressive lineup of speakers. Chaille Brindley, publisher of the Pallet Enterprise, and Jeff McBee, market analyst in the pallet industry, will speak on “A Tale of Two Industries – Analysis of the 48×40 and Odd-Sized Markets in the U.S.”

                  Clarence Leising, recently retired after a long career in the pallet recycling industry, has written and spoken on pallet recycling for many years. His book, Pallet Head, is being edited by Chaille and Ed Brindley scheduled to come out in a second edition this summer.   Leising will speak on “Top Tips for Maximizing Production in a Pallet Recycling Shop and Staying Competitive in a Changing Market.” Leising has first-hand experience with years of managing pallet repair shops, selling equipment and consulting with various pallet recyclers across the country.

                  Sterling Anthony, a management consultant with over 35 years of experience in packaging, marketing, and logistics, will speak on a “New Environment for Wooden Packaging.” A former faculty member at the Michigan State University School of Packaging, Anthony recognizes that a major challenge for packaging professionals involved in wooden packaging materials (WPM) is to promote them to top management, not by a sales pitch, but by educating top management, emphasizing how wooden packaging materials can increase profits.

                  For more information about registering for the CWPCA annual meeting and the Richmond Show, call the CWPCA office at 613/521-1835 or 866/375-1835.