TAPPI Young Professionals Division Hosts 1st Virtual Orientation
Monday, July 27, 2020Author: Jessica Spadaccino
TAPPI’s Young Professionals (YP) Division will be hosting its first virtual orientation on August 20th, 2020, at 7PM EST. The event will help welcome early career professionals in the paper, pulp, packaging, tissue, and related industries to the TAPPI YP Division. Attendees will hear from esteemed speakers, network with professionals across various TAPPI Divisions, and learn about the many benefits and resources that are available to TAPPI members.
The free, 90-minute event will feature three keynote speakers with diverse backgrounds and industry experiences, including Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Recipient and CEO of Sustainable Fiber Technologies, Mark Lewis, 2020 YP of the Year Award Winner and Operations Superintendent of Domtar’s NC5 Fluff Pulp Machine, John Edwards, and TAPPI’s 2020 Student of the Year and Engineer I for Yates Engineering Lexi Ivan. Each keynote will give their personal experiences on building a career in the paper, pulp, and packaging industry amid challenging times.
After attendees hear from the keynotes, they will have the opportunity to learn more about TAPPI’s Divisions and Interest groups through moderated breakout sessions. Attendees will be able to choose the breakout session(s) they would like to join. Each virtual room will serve as a space for attendees to ask division-specific questions and network with other participants and TAPPI members who have similar career goals and professional interests.
The idea for the virtual orientation came to Lena Sharesky, the TAPPI Young Professionals Division’s Director of Events, after COVID-19 postponed or canceled all in-person conferences and events for the foreseeable future, including student and young professional outreach activities that were planned during TAPPI’s conferences, summits, and seminars.
“Networking, staying updated on industry trends and advancements, and learning new skills are critical to career development, especially for early-career professionals. The YP Division couldn’t imagine taking a year off from that, so we decided to utilize video conferencing technology to reach young professionals until we can get back to face-to-face events. This virtual orientation will safely bring industry professionals together and show young professionals how they can sharpen their skillsets, leverage TAPPI’s resources, and continue to build their networks during this crucial point in their careers,” said Sharesky.
If you are an early career professional and are interested in attending the TAPPI YP Orientation, register now!
<< Back to News