A Communication from the PLACE Div. of TAPPI

Published: August 31, 2004, By David J. Bentley, Jr., Editor

Providing practical information to the converting and packaging industries.

Division Names New Chair
At the conclusion of its annual conference in Indianapolis on September 2, the PLACE Division of TAPPI appointed Ginger Cushing of Mica Corp. to the position of chair. A longtime member of TAPPI, Cushing has been an avid participant in the activities of the PLACE Division since 1990 when she presented her first technical paper in San Diego. She has since presented many papers at TAPPI meetings in both the United States and Europe and has chaired various sessions. For her excellence in these endeavors, she has received awards for best paper and best sessions. She has also developed and chaired the Extrusion Coating Short Course. TAPPI named her to its finest faculty.

Asked why she participates in TAPPI, Cushing replied, “I volunteer with the PLACE Division because I learn much, make excellent business contacts, and have so much fun. The members of our division have a unique camaraderie, fraternity, and friendship. We work hard, we play hard, and most of all we learn so much from each other.

Cushing's career at Mica Corp. began in 1986. She has had a variety of roles there including chemist, laboratory manager, and technical sales representative. Currently, she is active in technical service work for the company and represents the organization in Western Europe in her position as director, product management and technical service. She is enrolled in a fast track MBA program at the University of Connecticut that she will complete in April 2005. Besides TAPPI, Cushing has affiliation with the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters, and Laminators (AIMCAL).

“I am thrilled to assume the role of chair for the PLACE Division of TAPPI,” said Cushing. “I know the group is the premier technical organization serving people who work in the areas of packaging and converting. These people range from resin and raw material suppliers to end users such as the large food package suppliers. I look forward to serving my many friends in the industry and to making many new friends during my term of office.”

During her term of office, Cushing hopes to expand the membership of the PLACE Division of TAPPI by ensuring that people in the converting and packaging industry understand who comprises the division and what they do. “I think everyone in our industry should have www.tappi.org in their list of favorite websites,” says Cushing. “They should visit the pages there frequently so they remain current with all the offerings of the PLACE Division that will help them in their daily work. Anybody with even the most remote interest in converting and packaging should definitely receive the electronic newsletter of the division called ePLACE. A free, no-obligation subscription to this is available from the TAPPI web site.”

Cushing continued, “On the TAPPI web site, people can find information on all the committees of the division including the names of the volunteers who serve as officers. These committees have diverse activities including the review of test methods, publication of manuals, organization of short courses, and similar activities to serve their niche in the PLACE Division community. The web site also lists the names of Division Council members.

Division Awards Scholarship
The recipient of the 2004 Ralph Klucken Scholarship Award from the PLACE Division of TAPPI is Marie Granny. As of September 2004, she is a senior at the University of Cincinnati with an anticipated graduation date of June 2005. She will earn a degree in chemical engineering. An exemplary student, Granny is a perennial Dean's List achiever who has received numerous academic honors and scholarships. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Tribunal, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Mentoring Women in Engineering.

Granny has demonstrated a commitment to the fields of interest of the PLACE Division by completing five segments as a cooperative student with Equistar Chemicals in Cincinnati. Currently, Granny is working for a term at Procter & Gamble in the same city.