Who is the Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC)?

The PPRC is a grassroots organization led by hourly employees advocating for the U.S. forest products industry. We support policies that encourage economic growth, abundant and sustainable fiber supply, and sensible science-based environmental policies.

The U.S. forest products industry is vitally important to our nation’s economy, employing approximately 950,000 people. We rank among the top 10 manufacturers in 45 states and represent four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP).

What does the PPRC do?

We are people dedicated to conserving the environment while taking into account the economic stability of the workforce and our surrounding communities.

  • Informelected leaders at the federal, state and local level on issues impacting the forest products industry.
  • Ensure that there is sufficient time for compliance when new legislative or regulatory changes go into effect.
  • Encourage that environmental policy and regulatory decisions be based on sound science while also considering the cost-benefit.
  • Educate our coworkers, communities and other stakeholders about policy issues impacting our industry.

Why was the PPRC formed?

After years of witnessing flawed policies that hurt the forest products industry in the Pacific Northwest, it was evident that the voice of the worker was not being heard. The PPRC gives workers a voice.

Onerous regulations have resulted in facility closures, job losses, slowed job growth and diminished competitive advantages in the U.S. and abroad.

The PPRC is the unifying voice of the forest products industry to ensure that our real-world perspectives are considered in all policy and regulatory decisions that impact our jobs and communities.

Paper Industry Facts:

  • Produce recyclable products from a renewable resource
  • Account for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing over $200 billion in products annually
  • Payroll of approximately $50 billion annually
  • Employ over 950,000 hardworking Americans and supports more than twice that many jobs throughout the supply chain
  • Responsible for the U.S. having over 20 percent more trees than we did 50 years ago

The PPRC gives ground floor workers a voice.

How does the PPRC accomplish its goals?

The PPRC has become the nation’s premier grassroots organization for the forest products industry by remaining non-partisan and advocating for reasonable solutions to real-world issues impacting the jobs and communities where we work and live.

Issues

Closures Maps

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Membership

Companies Represented
Unions Represented

Media

Bill Kerr Speaks about American paper jobs

June 28, 2022

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Congratulations on 30 years from Congressman Kurt Schrader

June 28, 2022

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For Good Jobs And a Cleaner Environment, Look to Paper…

December 30, 2021

By Leeann Foster & Heidi Brock June 25, 2020 at 5:00 am ET In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the essential workers that care for us, manufacture everyday products, restock our shelves and deliver necessities in corrugated boxes to our doorstep. For…

Read More
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Contact

Great Lakes Region

N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa

Great Lakes Region Director

Tim Wegner
Packaging Corp of America
USW Local 2-159
International Falls, MN 56649
timothywegner@packagingcorp.com

1st Great Lakes Special Projects Director

Bill Schwalbach
Ahlstrom
USW Local 2-20
Kaukauna, WI 54130
william.schwalbach@ahlstrom.com

2nd Great Lakes Special Projects Director

Dan Gignac
Ahlstrom
USW Local 2-15
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Daniel.gignac@ahlstrom.com

Northeast Region

  • Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, & Delaware

Northeast Region                                    Director

Jim Arnold
Pixelle Specialty Solutions
USW Local 1303
Hanover, PA 17331
Jim.Arnold@Pixelle.com

1st Region
Special Projects Director

Jason Joiner
Sylvamo
USW Local 497
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Jason.Joiner@sylvamo.com

2nd Region
Special Projects Director

Scott Cherry
Domtar
USW Local 10-701
Johnsonburg, PA 15845
decherboinc@yahoo.com

 

Southeast Region

  • Georgia, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida

Southeast Region Director

David Wise
WestRock
USW Local #9-1877
Florence, SC 29505
david.wise@westrock.com

1st Region
Special Projects Director

Eddie Pratt
Georgia Pacific
IBEW Local 1980
Blakely, GA 39823
michael.pratt@gapac.com

2nd Region
Special Projects Director

Rodney Rowser
WestRock
USW Local 9-719
Demopolis, AL 36732
Rodney.rowser@westrock.com

Southern Pine Region

Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, & Arkansas

Southern Pine Region
Director

Trollis Hickman
Packaging Corp of America
USW Local 13-725
DeRidder, LA 70634
Trollishickman@outlook.com

1st Region Special Projects
Director

Robert Van Pelt
International Paper
USW Local 1398
Orange, TX 77632
Robtvanpelt35@gmail.com

2nd Region Special Projects
Director

Danny Freed
International Paper Company
USW Local 1398
Orange, TX, 77632
Dannyfreed99@gmail.com

 

Western/Rocky Mountain Region

Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, & Alaska

Western/Rocky Mountain Region Director

Joe Merriman
Georgia Pacific
USW Local 12-1097
Wauna, OR 97016
Joseph.Merriman@gapac.com

1st Western/Rocky Mountain Region
Special Projects Director

Lisa Sims(temporary)
Georgia Pacific
USW Local 1192
Perry, FL 32348
Lisa.sims@gapac.com

2nd Western Region
Special Projects Director

Keith Davis(temporary)
WestRock Corp
USW Local 9542
Stevenson, AL 35772
Jimmy.k.davis@westrock.com

We Are American Manufacturing Jobs: My Paper Mill Story

By David M. WiseWestRockPulp and Paperworkers’ Resource CouncilNational Steering Committee Chairman I got my start in the forest products industry 26 years ago after serving in the US Army. When I came home (Desert Shield /Storm), there weren’t a … [Read more]

PPRC Comments to Virginia DEQ2F

David K. Paylor, Director, Virginia Environmental QualityMichael G. Dowd, Director, Air and Renewable Energy DivisionVirginia Department of Environmental Quality629 E. Main StreetRichmond, VA 23219 Dear Director, Paylor and Director Dowd: On … [Read more]

National Administrative Positions

  • Information Technology Director
    David Cothren, USW Local 13-1149
    Graphic Packaging International
    Queen City, TX 75572
    David.Cothren@graphicpkg.com
  • Internal Communication Director
    Lloyd Allen, USW Local 9-983
    Graphic Packaging International
    Augusta, GA 30906
    Lloyd.Allen@graphicpkg.com
  • External Communication Director
    Doug Kinsey, IAM Local 414
    International Paper Company
    Rome, GA 30165
    James.Kinsey@ipaper.com
  • Scheduling Director
    Glenda Thompson, USW Local 9-425
    WestRock Company
    Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
    Glenda@pprc.info

National Special Projects Coordinators at Large

Executive Team

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