The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) has announced the results of its annual Board of Directors election, welcoming a new group of first-time board members while renewing several returning seats as the association looks to expand engagement and industry impact in 2026.
Four executives were elected to the RPA Board for the first time. The new board members include 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.
In addition, three current board members renewed their company seats for another term: 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.
Several board members will continue their service into 2026, maintaining continuity as the association moves forward. Returning directors 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.
Executive Committee remains unchanged
The RPA Executive Committee will remain unchanged for 2026. Samantha Goetz, Director of Marketing Communications at ORBIS Corporation, will continue to serve as Chairperson of the Board. She is joined by 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 newly seated Board convened at its annual meeting in January to review progress and align on priorities for the year ahead. Board leadership emphasized the importance of focusing on initiatives within the association’s direct influence, balancing ambition with execution, and building momentum in 2026 while laying the foundation for longer-term impact in 2027 and beyond.
Engagement, policy, and visibility in focus
RPA leadership highlighted member participation as a central driver of the association’s growth and effectiveness. Members were encouraged to engage beyond the Board level by joining committees, contributing to educational programming and podcasts, and involving colleagues across their organizations.
Throughout 2026, RPA plans to expand opportunities for member leadership, collaboration, and visibility. The association will maintain a strong presence at key industry events, including PACK EXPO East in Philadelphia and PACK EXPO International, where RPA will once again host its Pavilion and Learning Center.
RPA will also continue its RPA Excellence Awards, now in its 16th year, recognizing innovation and leadership in reusable packaging systems. Public policy engagement will remain a priority as well, with a focus on reuse incentives, waste reduction at the source, and supply chain resilience. Expanded digital education and content initiatives are also planned to support collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the membership.
Founded in 1999, the RPA is a nonprofit trade organization representing suppliers and users of reusable transport packaging products and services. The association works to accelerate adoption and optimization of reusable packaging systems through education, advocacy, and industry collaboration.
Source: Reusable Packaging Association
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
