Norcross, GA, February 3, 2010 - Empire State TAPPI and New York/Canadian PIMA have joined to form Empire State TAPPI/PIMA. The mission of the new organization is to provide service to individuals working in the Pulp and Paper, Corrugated, Nonwovens and Packaging industries in the New England area as well as parts of Quebec and Ontario.

"This combination is part of our continued streamlining of TAPPI and PIMA to better serve our members," said Larry N. Montague, President of TAPPI. "The two organizations are to be commended for taking this important step in the future growth of TAPPI."

The announcement culminates more than three years of planning between the two groups, forming a single entity that represents partners in collaboration and will further create meaningful programs, social events and services to members.

"Because we have joined these two organizations we are now in a better position to provide more services, better programs and true value to our membership," said Eric Ouderkirk of Nalco, immediate past Chair of Empire State TAPPI and previous Chair of New York/Canadian PIMA.  "The paper industry has been under stress for a number of years. In the case of Empire State TAPPI and the NY/Canadian Division of PIMA, our spirited collaboration over the past several years has resulted in a deliverable to the local paper industry that is being valued and most importantly, utilized. We should have done it sooner."

The organization has created a new logo that combines identities from both associations, solidifies the relationship and details the geographic area that will be served. It includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ontario and Quebec. The newly designed logo includes the brands of both TAPPI and PIMA and represents the combined interests served by the local section. 

To formalize the combination of Empire State TAPPI with the New York/Canadian Division of PIMA, the decision was made by the heritage PIMA officers to gift our remaining funds," Ouderkirk said. "Based on the geography served, funds will be gifted to the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse in support of scholarships.  Both institutions provide higher education in the engineering and technical aspects of the pulp and paper industry.  They are fitting choices for the gifted funds."

"The combination provides new energy for the new organization and allows us to preserve PIMA traditions such as the Spring Golf Outing which goes back nearly 50 years," said Dennis Mikkelson of Voith and board member of NY Canadian PIMA. "It also allows us to continue our Paper Makers Memorial Scholarship."

TAPPI is the managing body of PIMA at the national level and joining the two groups together in the New England area is one of the first to take place at the local section level.  Since 2006, the local section leaders have worked closely with officers and representatives from national TAPPI to ensure that this combination was completed within the guidelines of TAPPI by-laws.

About TAPPI 
TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries and publisher of Paper360° and TAPPI JOURNAL. Through information exchange, trusted content, and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that lead to better, faster, and more cost-effective ways of doing business. As the Management Division of TAPPI, PIMA helps management professionals address relevant industry issues and develop their management and leadership skills. Visit www.tappi.org.

###