Sappi Employees Recognized for Contributions to Industry Advancing Endeavors in Paper and Packaging

Sappi employees earned four awards from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and the Technical Association of Graphic Arts (TAGA)

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sappi North America Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, announced today that several of its employees have received awards for their endeavors in creative graphics, leadership and innovative initiatives.

The Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) awarded Beth Cormier, VP of research, development and sustainability, a Women in Industry Division’s 2023 Woman of the Year Award; recognized Joseph Fernandez, research fellow, with the 2023 Coating & Graphic Arts Division Technical Award and BASF Charles W. Engelhard Medallion and Honorarium; and bestowed Matthew Howard, area process systems manager, with the TAPPI Award for Best Process Control Paper. Additionally, David Niles, senior print and converting scientist, received the Michael H. Bruno award from the Technical Association of Graphic Arts (TAGA).

"Over the years, Sappi has reached impressive heights in R&D, sustainability and employee well-being which would not be possible without the integral contributions of our employees,” said Mike Haws, CEO of Sappi North America. “We proudly boast their award wins as they truly are well deserved and indicative of the dedication they bring to work each day.”

TAPPI's Women in Industry Division recognizes women in leadership that have had an impact on their peers, communities and the paper and pulp industry. Beth Cormier, a 35-year veteran at Sappi, has not only exemplified a commitment to sustainability but has remained a true leader and mentor to her colleagues. She has championed initiatives advancing Sappi’s strides to decarbonize and efforts to develop more renewable solutions for the paper and packaging markets.

For over two decades, Joe Fernandez has been a leader of innovative research initiatives for Sappi’s Mills to streamline product development, process optimization and more. Joe's TAPPI Coating & Graphic Arts Division Technical Award and BASF Charles W. Engelhard Medallion and Honorarium commemorates his exceptional contributions and accomplishments which have driven the needle on industry technological advancement.

Matthew Howard received the TAPPI Process Control Subdivision Best Paper award for his 2022 research paper, “Where did that Transmitter Come From? A Foray into Feedforward Control,” which he accepted at the 2023 TAPPICon. Matt’s presentation at TAPPICon focused on an engineer’s journey of learning and applying feedforward control concepts through trial, error and project work at the Somerset Mill.

Joining an elite group of graphic arts professionals, David Niles won TAGA’s prestigious Michael H. Bruno Award which is only bestowed upon select individuals in the industry in recognition of their contributions to pioneer advancements in graphic arts around the globe.

To learn more about Sappi and the great accomplishments of its employees, please visit: https://www.sappi.com/.

About Sappi North America, Inc.

Sappi North America, Inc., headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. Our four diversified businesses – high-quality Graphic Papers, Dissolving Pulp, Packaging, and Specialty Papers deliver premium products and services with consistent quality and reliability. Our high-quality Coated Printing Papers are used for premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Dissolving Pulp, which is used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods. We deliver sustainable Packaging and Specialty Papers for luxury packaging and folding carton applications with our single-ply packaging brands and for the food and label industries with our specialty papers. We are one of the world's leading suppliers of Casting and Release Papers with lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries. www.sappi.com