RPA Executive Committee
Robert Engle, President and Chief Executive Officer
Otto Environmental Systems North America, Inc.
Chairman of the Board
Robert Engle brings 20+ years of operations, manufacturing and supply chain experience within various industries, managing both domestic and international manufacturing operations and distribution centers within the food, chemicals, plastic and electronics industries. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Otto Environmental Systems North America and previously held served as President and Chief Executive Officer for the North American operations for Schoeller Arca Systems, a large global reusable plastic pallet and container manufacturing company. Mr. Engle also held positions as the Vice President of Supply Chain for Dole Food Company, one of the world’s leading suppliers of fruits and vegetables, and was the North American Director of Supply Chain for Storck, a $1.5 billion dollar German candy manufacturer.
Mr. Engle has worked on several consulting engagements including the design and construction of one of China’s first FDA cold storage and meat cutting facilities. He also has owned and operated several successful businesses including a food brokerage operation, restaurants and several multi-million dollar internet companies. He sits on several committees for the AFDO, an FDA advisory panel.
Robert Zachrich
President
The Fabri-Form Company
Vice Chairman
Rob Zachrich joined Fabri-Form as Vice President Sales and Marketing to lead the company’s sales and marketing effort. Prior to joining Fabri-Form, Mr. Zachrich held several senior level sales and marketing positions for MACtac including the position of GM of Six Sigma for MACtac’s adhesives business. His career also included Manager of Product Marketing for GE’s Switchgear business, Industrial Systems division. Mr. Zachrich is a General Electric certified Six Sigma Black Belt and retired Captain, U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Zachrich was named President of the Fabri-Form company in 2012.
Hillary Femal
Director of Strategic Market Development
IFCO SYSTEMS N.A., Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer
Hillary Femal has been with IFCO for over seven years. She has held various marketing positions with the company, most recently as Marketing Director responsible for both the Pallet Management and RPC Management Services divisions. In her current position, Hillary is the Director of Strategic Market Development for IFCO’s North American RPC business, encompassing marketing, business development, and industry relations. Prior to IFCO, she worked for Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Tampa, Florida.
Hillary is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Business and holds an MBA from the University of Florida.
Mike Hachtman
President, reLogistics Services, LLC
Immediate Past Chairman
Mike Hachtman is President and Founder of reLogistics Services, LLC. reLogistics provides reverse logistics and handling services for reusable, returnable and recyclable packaging at 33 locations across the United Sates. Mr. Hachtman was a former executive with IFCO Systems and has been in the reusable packaging industry since 1997. Mr. Hachtman has two B. S. degrees from Texas A&M University.
Pat Kennedy
Vice President of Marketing and Sales
The Kennedy Group
For the past 12 years, Patrick Kennedy had been the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at the Kennedy Group. He also is one of the three principal owners of the company. The Kennedy Group, a 36 year old diversified manufacturing business, consists of four operating business units. The most recent addition to the business is Radio Frequency Identification Solutions (RFID), originally a startup venture, with over 200 customers nationally and internationally.
Patrick is responsible for all sales and strategic marketing for all four business units within the corporation. One of his main goals has been to build the companies’ RFID business organically and through acquisition. He played a pivotal role in the company’s acquisition of NCR’s RFID business and also has been instrumental in developing and launching eP 360TM, a web based software tool that provides data collection solutions and complements the business offering within the RF Solutions group and the Material Handling Identification group. This has been a major initiative which has turned out to be a great strategic move for this privately held company. As well, Patrick spends a great deal of time on strategic planning with the co-owners of the business. In his 20 year tenure, Mr. Kennedy has served as the National Accounts Manager and as well other various roles that have allowed this privately held business double digit growth year over year.
The Kennedy Group had been a member of the RPA (Returnable Packaging Association) since 2001. Patrick served on the Board of Directors for the RPA for 2 years. As well, Patrick was Chairman of the Track and Trace Committee for the RPA where he led the first pilot utilizing multi-trip RFID tags in the produce industry which ultimately generated a white paper to share with the industry.
Patrick has an undergraduate degree in Economics from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio.
Rich Larson
National Accounts Manager
Buckhorn Inc.
Rich Larson is currently the National Accounts Manager for Buckhorn Inc, based in Milford, OH. Previous to this assignment he was Director of Sales for Buckhorn. He has also served Buckhorn as Automotive Sales Manager, National Sales Manager.
Before joining Buckhorn he was the National Sales Manager for the Contico Material Handling Division for 12 years, based in St Louis, MO. Contico business was acquired by Myers Industries in 2001 and became part of Buckhorn at that time.
Prior to joining Contico, Mr. Larson was the Automotive Sales Manager for Xytec, based in Detroit, MI and was active in the early introduction of the first all plastic collapsible bulk containers. He was an active member of the AIAG returnable Container Committee and assisted in the original publication of the AIAG RC-9 returnable container guidelines for the Auto Industry.
He holds a BA degree in Business Administration from Yankton College. He is originally from South Dakota and was in the restaurant business.
Jerry Welcome
President and CEO, Reusable Packaging Association
Ex Officio Member of the Executive Committee
Jerry Welcome has 20 plus years senior-level association management experience including President, COO, of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association (IFPA), Executive Vice President for the United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA), and Vice President of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI). He also has 13 years of combined legislative experience, including six years as senior lobbyist for the American Meat Institute (AMI); and eight years Capitol Hill experience, including six and a half years as senior legislative analyst with the House Committee on Agriculture and Floor Assistant to House Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill.
Robert Hibbert
RPA General Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Mr. Hibbert’s is a partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, a firm with one of the largest FDA & Healthcare practices in the U.S. Mr. Hibbert’s practice focuses upon federal regulation of the food and agricultural industries, with emphasis upon USDA. Areas of particular concern include food safety, food security, animal health, biotechnology, labeling, advertising, and new product development.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Mr. Hibbert was a partner with a leading Washington, D.C. law firm. He formerly served as a senior attorney with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and subsequently directed the USDA’s standards and labeling staff, formulating policy in areas including food safety, product standards and nutrition labeling. He also held the position of Vice President and General Counsel with the American Meat Institute.
Members RPA Board of Directors
Phil Davis
Senior Perishables Supply Chain Manager
The Kroger Company
Phil Davis is Senior Perishables Supply Chain Manager for The Kroger Company. Mr. Davis’ career with The Kroger Company has spanned more than 37 years. He began as a stock clerk and advanced through various positions in Produce Procurement and Merchandising, Floral Distribution, Perishable Freight Management, and Perishable Supply Chain Management. Mr. Davis spearheaded the internal project conversion by Kroger to adapt a reusable packaging system for many of their commodities. He has been a key advisor to the RPA’s RPC Label Standardization: Guidelines & Best Practices Task Force and also served as an advisor to the RPA Asset Recovery Committee.
Jeff Euritt
Vice President, Service
PECO Pallet
Mr, Euritt has been the Vice President, Service at PECO Pallet since 2007. His responsibilities include administration of the North America Field Service organization that manages all aspects of the customer relationship including proper asset flow and control. Jeff has over 25 years of extensive supply chain leadership experience within manufacturing, distribution, transportation, inventory management, and customer service. These roles have been across the automotive, industrial, healthcare, consulting, and consumer packaged goods sectors.
Eric Frank
President
TOSCA Ltd
Eric Frank has ten years of experience in the reusable produce container (RPC) industry. Currently, he is President of TOSCA, Ltd. Previously he served as general manager for Georgia Pacific’s RPC line of business. Prior to joining Georgia Pacific, Mr. Frank worked at Rehrig Pacific for three years in the company’s material handling/RPC division. Also, Mr. Frank has served as the RPA chairman for the California Standards Committee, and as the RPA’s chair for the Label Standardization Committee. He has previously served on RPA’s board.
Carl Glick, Sr.
VP Sales
Polymer Logistics
Carl Glick is currently VP of Sales with Polymer Logistics. Carl has had multiple positions in the returnable packaging industry over the last 13 years. Previous experience includes VP of Operations, asset management director, to current position of VP of Sales with Polymer Logistics. Prior to working in the RPC industry Carl has several years of experience in the poultry processing industry. Carl has worked with both start-up companies and established larger companies. He holds a BS in Business Management from California State University, Chico.
Norm Kukuk
VP Product Management
ORBIS Corporation
With more than a decade of experience in the reusable packaging industry, Norm Kukuk has developed and shared reusable packaging expertise with leading industrial, consumer goods, and food and beverage companies.
He currently provides leadership for ORBIS’ marketing and product development efforts, including the planning, development and implementation of strategic marketing plans and goals. He drives initiatives and pricing strategies that result in improved market share, increased revenue and enhanced profit margins. During his time with ORBIS, he has led efforts to develop innovative new packaging products, expand into international markets and drive operational efficiency.
He works closely with the sales organization to develop account management strategies and identify new opportunities. As a veteran of the reusable packaging industry, he has strong relationships with trade associations, industry leaders and key customers.
Norm’s undergraduate degree is from Indiana University and he holds an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Willy Lai
Director of Asset Management
iGPS
Willy Lai is the Director of Asset Management for iGPS. He is responsible for asset control and tracking across its network. Since joining the company as its first employee in 2006, Mr. Lai has been responsible for setting up the asset tracking and billing processes, as well as designing many of the RFID solutions deployed since 2006. iGPS provides the world’s leading companies with the most advanced and cost-efficient pallet-based solutions available today. The company’s lightweight, 100% recyclable plastic pallets and associated technologies yield dramatic savings in transport and production costs and provide new levels of operating efficiency, product security, and customer satisfaction.
Prior to joining iGPS, Mr. Lai served as Director at BTS, an international management consulting company, serving Fortune 100 clients in North America and Asia. In addition, he served as head of Sales for Warehouse Automation Services, a barcode and RFID solution provider, where he doubled sales revenue and successfully led to the company’s acquisition by its largest customer. He initially worked as Senior Analyst for A.T. Kearney, a global consulting firm. Mr. Lai holds a B.A. from Northwestern University.
Dan Lafond
Sales Manager, Supply Chain Solutions Group, Rehrig Pacific Company
Dan Lafond has been with the Rehrig Pacific Company for over seven years. During his tenure at Rehrig, Mr. Lafond has held a variety of sales positions within the Food & Beverage, Material Handling and, most recently, Supply Chain Solutions group. He started at Rehrig Pacific as a Sales Representative and has developed National Account management experience in the beverage industry and at large retail accounts. Within the Supply Chain Solutions Group, he currently manages the South Region of the United States. This region consists of a team that manages regional and national accounts, develops new products, and implements supply chain service and asset management programs among retailers and manufacturers. Mr. Lafond resides in Dallas, TX. He is a graduate of Stonehill College in Massachusetts.
David R. McCulloch
Vice President, Packaging Systems Division
Schaefer Systems International, Inc., Charlotte, NC
David McCulloch is Vice President and Managing Director of Schaefer Systems International, Ink’s – Packaging Systems Division. Schaefer Systems is a Global Leader in Integrated Logistics Systems, founded in 1939 in Neunkirchen, Germany. The company remains privately held and well into its fourth generation of shareholders.
Mr. McCulloch has played a leading role in the development and implementation of many of the Returnable Packaging Systems used in North America today. In his 25 plus years in the Returnable Packaging Industry, he has worked at UPS, Toyota, several years as a Consultant and Distributor and the past 17 years building the Packaging Systems Division for Schaefer covering all North America.
During this time Schaefer has become one to the leaders in this market, providing customers with the Reusable Package their product’s need, from Plastic Hand-Held Containers, Dunnage and Bulk Bins to Custom Steel Shipping Racks.
Drew Merrill
VP of Business Development & Strategic Planning
Container and Pooling Solutions, Inc. (CAPS)
Drew Merrill is vice president of Business Development & Strategic Planning for CAPS. He is responsible for all of CAPS’ sales and marketing activities and has been an officer of the company since 2004. Since joining the company in 2003, Mr. Merrill’s solutions-based and client-centric approach has increased CAPS’ revenue by 73% while maintaining a 96% customer retention rate. The Container and Pooling Solutions, Inc. (CAPS) is one of North America’s premier choices for renting and pooling liquid and dry containers for automotive, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical, cosmetic, chemical and other industrial applications. CAPS has spent the past 10 years supporting some of the biggest and most progressive companies in their quest to ‘green’ their supply chains while reducing their overall packaging costs.
Prior to joining CAPS, Mr. Merrill successfully managed sales teams for services and high-technology companies including Productivity Point International and Synapsis Solutions. In addition, he was co-founder and CEO of a high-tech e-Learning services firm that grew to $4M in three years. Mr. Merrill has a B.A. from Northwestern University.
Binayak Mohapatra
Vice President Operations
Schoeller Allibert, USA
Binayak Mohapatra has extensive operational, financial management, projects, logistics and product development experience both within domestic and international establishments in the areas of food contact products, plastics and chemicals. In 2011, Mr. Mohapatra joined Schoeller Allibert, previously known as Schoeller Arca Systems, one of the largest and most innovative company in packaging solutions. Previously, he has held several positions in Portola Packaging Inc. including Director of Manufacturing. Prior to that, Mr. Mohapatra has worked for Marico Industries, a leading consumer goods company and later on for Design & Manufacturing Institute in the field of Advanced Manufacturing.
Mr. Mohapatra is a graduate from Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ and holds MS in Chemical Engineering.
Lane Pence
Director, Growth Strategy
CHEP Americas
CHEP is the global leader in pallet and container pooling services, serving many of the world’s largest companies. Mr. Pence joined CHEP in 1998 and has held roles in operations, global sourcing, sales, consulting and strategy. He leads a team that has executed platform-based supply chain consulting engagements around the world, with experience in new country entry, new product applications, new customer development and new channel entry. Mr. Pence was involved in pioneering RFID development, including the first successful test of RFID tags in pallets in 2002. He has worked with many reusable assets; including pallets, containers, reusable plastic containers, intermediate bulk containers and display ready platforms with small grocery manufacturers to some of the world’s largest manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Mr. Pence has held previous roles in marketing, business development and asset disposition with Enterprise Leasing. He is a Six Sigma greenbelt and holds a B.S. in Business from Miami University.
Hugues Rouleau
V-P and General Manager, Industrial Division
IPL Inc.
(Bio not currently available)
Rick Sasse
Director of Custom Transport Packaging
Trienda
Rick Sasse has been with TriEnda for 16 plus years. TriEnda is the largest manufacturer of Heavy Gauge Single and Twin Sheet Thermoformed Plastic products. TriEnda has been serving the material handling & packaging industry in Warehousing / Distribution, returnable shipping systems, custom engineered dunnage and packaging since 1975.
While at TriEnda Rick has held a variety of positions that has included Territory Manager, Industry Manager, New Market & Product Development Manager, Where he has developed a solid understanding of returnable packaging its markets and requirements. He currently holds the position of Director of Custom Transport Packaging.
Rick has been TriEnda delegate to many of the packing industry associations. 2006 Rick completed a partial term as a director and has serve on various RPA committees’. He is currently a member of the Asset loss group and looks to assume a more active role within the RPA. He believe that it is the responsibility of associations like the RPA to properly inform and educate all markets on the benefits of returnable packing, creating consistent, understandable and measurable standards for justifying their use.
RPA Committee Chairmen Biographies
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Bob Klimko
Director of General Industrial Marketing, ORBIS
Bob Klimko is Director of General Industrial Marketing for ORBIS. From 1989 to 2001, Mr. Klimko worked at ORBIS Corporation in various roles including Director of Business Development, Menasha Services, Director of Marketing, Director of Corporate Strategy and Product Manager. These roles provided Mr. Klimko with tremendous exposure to multiple industries in the reusable packaging market in both the industrial/assembly manufacturing industries as well as the perishable foods business (meat, poultry, and produce, floral). He then joined Norseman Plastics, a provider of reusable packaging for multiple industries including beverage, bakery, food perishables, food, dry goods and others. In 2008, ORBIS acquired Norseman Plastics and Mr. Klimko once again joined forces with ORBIS.
Prior to working at Norseman, Mr. Klimko was the Director of Marketing & New Business Development for Wilbert Plastics, the world’s largest heavy gauge thermoformer and provider of custom plastic solutions. Mr. Klimko’s former association leadership roles include Vice Chair of the Material Handling Industry of America’s Reusable Plastic Container & Pallet Association, and co-chair of the Council of Logistics Management Reverse Logistics Committee.
Mr. Klimko has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and an MBA in marketing and personnel management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
MARKETING COMMITTEE
Lisa Knight
Director of Marketing, CAPS
Lisa Knight has over 10 years B2B Marketing experience, and for the past five years has lead the Marketing team at Container and Pooling Solutions (CAPS). Ms. Knight is currently responsible for driving the overall Marketing strategy for both the IBC and Automotive business segments, including inbound lead generation, public relations activities and managing the company’s brand. Prior to joining CAPS, Ms. Knight worked for the Reply! Inc. Real Estate Division in Metro Detroit.
Ms. Knight has been a member of the RPA’s Marketing committee since 2008 and holds a B.A. Public Relations degree from Central Michigan University.
Membership Committee
Samantha Goetz
Marketing Communication Manager, ORBIS Corporation
Samantha Goetz is the Marketing Communications Manager for ORBIS Corporation, based in Oconomowoc, Wis. During her sixteen years at ORBIS, she is responsible for the execution of the corporation’s marketing communication strategy. She manages the effective communication of information to generate sales leads and increase brand awareness for the corporation and also works closely with ORBIS’ market managers to execute their market-specific communications strategies to drive their business. She has been a member of the Reusable Packaging Association for over 10 years, most recently as part of the Communications Team. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an M.B.A. in marketing from DeVry’s Keller Graduate School of Management.
