Release No. 169-16
WASHINGTON Nov. 2, 2016 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today appointed six members to serve on the Paper and Packaging Board.
Members selected representing the South Region include: Paul LeBlanc, of Bensenville, Ill.; Ronald Zimbelman, of Atlanta, Ga.; Fred A. Towler, of Memphis, Tenn.; and James W. Morgan, of Arlington, Va. Each appointee will serve a 3-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2019.
The member selected representing the Midwest Region is John W. Black Jr., of Combined Locks, Wis. He will serve a 2-year term of office beginning immediately through Dec. 31, 2018.
The member selected representing importers is Nina Happonen, of Norwalk, Conn. Her term of office begins immediately and last through Dec. 31, 2017.
The program is administered by board members who are selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Paper and Packaging Board in accordance with the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research, and Information Order. USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards that are industry-funded and empower agricultural industries, including the forest products industry, with a framework to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
For more information about research and promotion programs, visit the AMS website. For information on the Board, please contact Marlene Betts by phone: (202) 720-9915, or email Marlene.Betts@ams.usda.gov.
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).