The ISTA Global Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election of Greg Batt, Associate Professor at Clemson University, as its new Chair. Greg succeeds, Sam Sheppard Fidler, Vice President Europe with Smithers, who will remain on the board serving as Immediate Past Chair. Bill Green, Senior Technical Staff Member (STSM) - Asset Transit Quality and Protection with IBM was also elected as Vice Chair.  ISTA is very fortunate to have these accomplished and committed members of our community to lead the association.
 
ISTA is also pleased to welcome three new members at-large directors to ISTA’s Global Board of Directors. New board members include Michelle Bryson, Senior Manager, Packaging Innovation with PepsiCo, Eric Joneson, Vice President of Technology with Lansmont and Rodney L Prater, Principal Packaging COE with SC Johnson. Each individual has extensive experience in the packaging industry and will provide valuable input and perspective to ISTA.
 
Four individuals recently completed their terms and ISTA would like to express our deep appreciation for their outstanding service to our Board of Directors. The departing members include: Matthew Daum, Director, Michigan State University School of Packaging, Jim Southwell, Vice President, Product Strategy and Quality at Packaging Corporation of America, Javier Zabaleta, CEO & Director General with ITENE and Eric Henderson, Director, Global R&D Packaging, PepsiCo. They have all played instrumental roles in guiding our mission with their insights and unique expertise.

Congratulations to all and thank you to all ISTA members who participated in this important election process.
 

A 30-year Packaging Development leader, Michelle joined PepsiCo 13 years ago. She has supported the R&D team in a variety of Packaging leadership roles and is currently serving as Sr. Manager of Innovation for the Tropicana Business Unit. Michelle has a passion for Unit Load Simulation, conducting Proof of Principle and recently Verification work with a 3DOF system, verifying it as a viable tool for speed to market and problem solving. Michelle has led the packaging Lab for 6+ years during her tenure, leading strategy, qualifying the lab for ISTA certification, and developing standard training protocols, in addition to leading capital acquisition for the lab. Michelle has called Chicagoland home for the past 18 years, with her 2 (now grown) daughters, and 2 fur babies, (think Dogs on Deployment!) Michelle has her Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State, School of Packaging, and has received her Lean Six Sigma, Green Belt Certification.​
 

B.S. in Packaging from Michigan State University. Activities: Board of Directors - International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (IAPRI), ISTA -  Advocate Council, Global Board of Directors - Past Chair; ASTM D10, US Random Vibration Expert for ISO-TC122-SC3-WG7. Achievements: ISTA CPLP Professional, numerous global technical presentations, publications and training sessions, Transportation packaging expert witness, Distribution measurement and analysis expert.​
 

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See news item regarding ISTA’s Councils focused on certification, education, standards and research directly attached to our Global Board of Directors: Volunteer Structure Change