Woodpack Global has announced its first Board of Directors under its new name, marking a formal step in the association’s transition from the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association to a broader global identity. The announcement was made during the recent Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) in Fort Lauderdale, where the Woodpack Global name and brand were officially introduced following nearly two years of member-driven planning.
“Woodpack Global is here, and the future of this industry is in good hands with our newly elected Board,” said Brent J. McClendon, CAE, President & CEO of Woodpack Global. “Our Board’s strategic focus led to our name change, and their strategic focus will continue to deliver results for this industry.”
Association leadership positioned the rebrand as both a recognition of the industry’s evolution and a signal of its expanding international scope.
“This is a significant milestone,” said LeRoi Cochran, Board Chairman of Woodpack Global and COO for Relogistics Services. “Woodpack Global is a name worthy of this industry. It reflects who we’ve been as an organization and reinforces that it is increasingly critical for the association to serve as the industry’s global thought leader and unifying voice. I couldn’t be more proud of what we are building together, and I am excited to welcome our new Board members!”
New and Returning Board Members
Among the newly elected board members are Sukhi Brar of Advance Lumber & Pallet, Carrie Collins of Collins Pallet, and Luke Gruber of Gruber Pallets.
Two members were re-elected to continue their service: Justin Kamps of Kamps, Inc. and Ben Remmey of Remmey – The Pallet Company.
2026–2027 Board of Directors
The newly appointed board reflects a mix of pallet manufacturers, recyclers, and packaging companies from across North America and international markets.
Board Officers include:
LeRoi Cochran, Relogistics (Chairman); Scott Vipond, Girard Wood Products (Chair-Elect); Hinton Howell, Hinton Lumber Products (Past Chair); Justin Kamps, Kamps, Inc. (Secretary/Treasurer); Heather Ross, Atlas Pallet Corp. (Director at Large); Brent McClendon (President/CEO).
Board of Directors include:
Sukhi Brar, Advance Lumber & Pallet; Henry Bowman, C&L Wood Products; Carrie Collins, Collins Pallet; Luke Gruber, Gruber Pallets; Scott Gutierrez, Commercial Lumber & Pallet; Justin Hegsted, Challenger Pallet & Supply; Alex Jimenez, Jimenez Pallets; Kate Matz, McVantage Packaging; Ben Remmey, Remmey – The Pallet Company; Lindsey Snowden, Pallet Logistics of America.
International Directors include:
Alex Battistella, Embalatec Industrial; John Dye, James Jones & Sons Pallets and Packaging; Fernando López Bello, Losifra; Fred Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet.
Associates Representative:
Bruce Kennedy, PRS Group.
Positioning a Global Role
The formation of the new board comes as the association continues to expand its international footprint. Woodpack Global now represents more than 820 member companies across 43 countries and maintains advocacy offices in the European Union, the United States, and Mexico.
The organization continues to focus on issues including safety, sustainability, and supply chain performance, while positioning itself as a central voice for the wood packaging sector.
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.
