Several key paper industry organizations have banded together to create the Forest Products Leadership Alliance (FPLA). In a press release November 22 announcing the alliance, the FPLA’s purpose is described as being to lead in the provision to the forest products industry of professional development options in management and leadership skills.

The FPLA will create curriculum and certificate programs to provide the skills the industry needs for the 21st century.

The Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies (CPBIS), the Paper Industry Management Association (PIMA), the National Paper Trade Association (NPTA Alliance) and Pulp and Paper Education and Research Alliance (PPERA) say they have created the FPLA to provide the education and training for everyone throughout the forest products supply chain from the stump to the shelf.

Harry Cullinan, PPERA president noted, “This is a new way to look at our industry by providing a new partnership that will serve a key management and leadership skills development role for the forest products industry”.

“Harnessing the great resources of all of these organizations will benefit the industry in new ways,” said PIMA president Ralph Feck. “Many companies have membership in multiple groups. This is a strategy to improve service to all,” added NPTA Alliance president Bill Frohlich.

The FPLA is intended to build across time on existing systems and relationships shared among CPBIS, PIMA, NPTA and other key industry organizations such as Oregon State University and North Carolina State University.

Jim McNutt, CPBIS executive director added that the “Leadership Alliance will build on each organization’s strengths to create synergies aimed at developing and delivering management, leadership and other “‘soft skills” education and training that is required by our forest products  industry to remain competitive in today’s global economy”.
www.cpbis.gatech.edu. PI

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