RPA Announces New Board Members and 2026 Industry Priorities
The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) announced the results of its annual Board of Directors election, welcoming a new class of Board members and renewing several returning seats as the association enters 2026 focused on expanding member engagement and industry impact. Newly elected as first-time members to the RPA Board of Directors are Matt Reddington, Vice President at Procure Analytics; Dan Violi, Chief Executive Officer of Wave Reaction; Brandy Boaz, Senior Key Account Manager at Georg Utz, Inc. USA; and Laura Zweers-Kosgalwies of Craemer US Corporation. Three Board members renewed their company seats for an additional term, including Jessica Bonsall, Director of ESG at 48forty Solutions; Jonathan Brooks, Vice President of Retail Sales at IFCO Systems; and Marty Mares, Vice President of Branding and Commercial at Polyfuze Graphics Corporation. Returning Board members maintaining their service include George Aultman of Vantage Plastic; Dave Horvat of Real Time Intelligence; Damon Williamson of Kamps Inc; Harrison Dean of iGPS; Amy Lathrop of Perfect Pallets; Michael Schwabe of Surgere; and Shlomit Gotlib of Tosca.
The RPA Executive Committee remains unchanged for 2026. Samantha Goetz, Director of Marketing Communications at ORBIS Corporation, serves as Chairperson of the Board, alongside Brandon D’Emidio, Global Head of Product Innovation at CHEP, as Vice Chairman and Chair-Elect, and Ben Waterman, Director of Business Development at Monoflo International, as Secretary-Treasurer.
The Board convened at its annual meeting in January to reflect on the association’s progress and align priorities for the year ahead, with a focus on balancing ambition with execution and concentrating effort on initiatives within RPA’s span of control. Board leadership highlighted the importance of building momentum in 2026 while laying the groundwork for continued growth and impact in 2027 and beyond.
Addressing members during the annual Board meeting, Chairperson Goetz emphasized that RPA’s strength and growth are driven by active member participation and encouraged members to engage beyond the Boardroom by joining committees, sharing expertise through podcasts and educational content, and inviting colleagues within their organizations to get involved. She also noted that the association enters 2026 in a strong and healthy position, supported by favorable market drivers and evolving legislative and regulatory developments aligned with reuse.
Throughout 2026, RPA will offer members multiple opportunities to lead, collaborate, and gain visibility across the industry. These include participation in member-run committees and expanded presence at key industry events, including PACK EXPO East in Philadelphia this February and PACK EXPO International in Chicago this fall, where RPA will host its Pavilion and Learning Center as central platforms for education, discussion, and member engagement. The association will also recognize innovation and leadership through the RPA Excellence Awards program, now entering its 16th year, while advancing public policy engagement focused on incentivizing reuse, reducing waste at the source, and strengthening supply chain resilience. Expanded digital education and content offerings will further support member visibility and collaboration across the year.
Founded in 1999, the Reusable Packaging Association is a nonprofit trade organization representing suppliers and users of reusable transport packaging products and services. RPA accelerates the adoption and optimization of reusable packaging systems through education, advocacy, and industry collaboration. To learn more about the RPA, please visit the website.