Board & Committees
Board of Directors
AMERIPEN works to ensure that nominations to the Board are representative of the overall membership. Directors are elected at each annual meeting to hold office for a term of three years. They may serve up to three successive terms if nominated and elected. Elections are staggered so that one third of Board positions are open each year.
President
Kelly Smith
Ferrero
Kelly Smith
Kelly joined Ferrero USA in January 2020 and currently serves as Vice President, Head of Institutional Affairs U.S. She handles nutrition and sustainability issues, supporting the company’s growing footprint in the United States and coordinating with Ferrero colleagues around the world. Previously, Kelly worked in the same space at Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) where she helped develop the company’s policy positions on everything from marketing to children to packaging stewardship. During her time at KDP, she worked on two sets of environmental goals for the company and led stakeholder engagement on all sustainability topics. Kelly also served as chair of the Environment Committee for two consecutive terms at KDP’s lead trade association, the American Beverage Association (ABA,) where she helped set the course for the group’s programs around plastics and packaging. Kelly started her career at ABA where she worked in government affairs at the local, state and federal level and handled the association’s environmental portfolio.
Vice President
Jennifer Ronk
Dow
Jennifer Ronk
Twenty-nine years of experience on a wide range of sustainability topics. I joined Dow in 2018 as a North American Sustainability Manager for their packaging and specialty plastics business. In that role I work with a broad range of stakeholders to keep plastic out of the environment, make sure that it has another life, and inspire as many others as possible to help build a circular economy for plastic. Before joining Dow in 2018, I worked in the for-profit and non-profit sectors where I developed, implemented and managed programs for a wide range of sustainability topics, including reducing contamination, supporting clean energy and climate change policy, sustainable transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and habitats. I've had the pleasure to work with small business to multinational business, national to local government, and multinational to local non-governmental organizations. I have a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and the Environment.
Treasurer
Cathy Foley
Pratt Industries
Cathy Foley
Cathy Foley is Vice President of Industry Relations and Supply Chain for Pratt Industries, a producer of 100% recycled content corrugated boxes. Previously, she was Group Vice President of AF&PA Paper sectors, including all paper based packaging and recovered fiber sectors. Her experience in the packaging arena includes policy development and execution at the international, federal and state levels, technical, communications environmental/sustainability and research.
Secretary
Shannon Crawford Gay
Waste Management
Shannon Crawford Gay
Shannon has been actively involved with the recycling and infrastructure industry for over 15 years. She is currently the Director of Recycling & Environmental Policy at WM, the largest recycler in North America. In this role, she reviews legislation and regulations impacting WM’s recycling operations and works with internal stakeholders to build consensus on WM policy positions. Her career began at the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), where she advanced to the position of Manager of Government Affairs, responsible for SWANA’s response to legislative and regulatory actions. Shannon also worked as the Director of State Government Affairs at the Plastics Industry Association, where she oversaw the association’s state-level advocacy efforts including responding to extended producer responsibility and recycled content legislation.
Board Member
Brendan Adams
Kraft Heinz
Brendan Adams
Brendan B. Adams joined The Kraft Heinz Company in March 2019 and serves as Chair of the Government Affairs Coalition and Committee. Mr. Adams is a liaison to government officials and trade associations on various issues that impact the company and its employees. As the lead on sustainable packaging policy, Mr. Adams works with internal and external stakeholders to develop policy positions that align with the company’s ESG goals. Prior to working at Kraft Heinz, Mr. Adams served as Political Affairs Manager at Corning Incorporated, Special Assistant to the President & CEO at the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and Special Assistant for Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Mint, Department of the Treasury. Mr. Adams received a Bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College with a major in Political Science and minor in Communication Arts. He also received a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University.
Board Member
Mark Bescher
Mondelez International
Mark Bescher
Mark Bescher is the Director of Government Affairs at Mondelez International, an American multinational confectionery, food, and beverage company. Mark is the primary point of engagement between significant associations and develops policy positions with local, state, and federal policymakers. He provides government affairs and issues management support on priority business initiatives, including packaging, recycling, and sustainability.
Before joining Mondelez International, Mark worked as the Government Relations Manager for Unilever and served as the Manager of Government Relations for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. Prior to that, Mark worked as the Director of Government Relations for the National Association of Manufacturers, and Government Relations Associate for Bombardier. Mark received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame and his Master of Science in Public Policy from the University of Oxford.
Board Member
Scott Byrne
Sonoco
Scott Byrne
Scott Byrne serves as the Director, Global Sustainability Services at Sonoco, a global packaging solutions leader, committed to improving the lives of customers, teammates and communities. With his extensive background in all aspects of environmental management and sustainability, Byrne helps ensure Sonoco is on the cutting edge of sustainability initiatives.
Prior to joining Sonoco, Scott was the Market Sustainability Manager for the US and Canada at Tetra Pak, where he was responsible for the implementation of sustainability programs. While at Tetra Pak Scott was also responsible for driving positive stakeholder engagement as the Director of Government Affairs at the Carton Council of North America, a recycling-focused industry group.
Board Member
Lynn Dyer
Pactiv Evergreen, Inc.
Lynn Dyer
Lynn Dyer is Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer at Pactiv Evergreen, a leading manufacturer of fresh food and beverage packaging in North America. At Pactiv Evergreen, she directs the company's sustainability and government relations initiatives. Prior to joining Pactiv in 2019, Ms. Dyer was president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, the trade association for the North American foodservice packaging industry. She started her career at the European Food Service & Packaging Association (now 360° Foodservice) in Brussels, Belgium. Ms. Dyer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond.
Board Member
Terry Grill
SEE
Terry Grill
Terry is responsible for the execution of sustainability strategies to meet needs of SEE (formerly Sealed Air) businesses and customers within the Americas. She advocates for the interests of the company and for data-based considerations in regulatory and reputational issues. She is responsible for coordination of environmental issues transparency. She facilitates understanding of SEE’s approach to sustainability to realize the mission of solving customers’ most critical packaging challenges with innovative solutions that leave our world better than we found it.
Prior to joining SEE in 2006 Terry was President/CEO of Industrial Insulations Incorporated and has held various positions in biotechnology and medical supply businesses.
Board Member
Michael Okoroafer
McCormick & Company
Dr. Michael Okoroafor
Dr. Michael Okoroafor is the Vice President, Global Sustainability and Packaging Innovation. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic direction, policies, development and execution of agricultural, ingredient, product and packaging sustainability, as well as packaging innovation capabilities globally.
On October 15, 2018 Mike was inducted into the Packaging and Processing Hall of Fame at PACK EXPO International. Mike is an innovation leader and has over 40 patents to his name and a career that, in addition to McCormick, has spanned prominent roles within PPG, The Coca-Cola Company, and Heinz.
Dr. Okoroafor has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Nigeria, a Masters in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Detroit, and Ph.D. in Organic Polymer Chemistry from Michigan State University. He is also a graduate of the Executive Development Program at Kellogg Business School, Northwestern University. Mike serves on the Engineering & Science Advisory Board for the University of Detroit Mercy, and on the Board of Directors for IoPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals) where he is also the Treasurer.
Board Member
Beth Percynski
The Procter & Gamble Company
Beth Percynski
Beth joined P&G as Director, Government & Director, State Government Relations (SGR), The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G). Manage state-specific legislative strategies and the industry response to legislation affecting SGR’s issues in 19 states, as well as engage and provide guidance on regulatory matters of interest to the Company. 20+ years of experience in the state government relations arena. Prior to joining P&G, worked in state government affairs for three “Mortgage Bankers Association, Smokeless Tobacco Council, The Tobacco Institute” Washington, DC based trade associations, where the focus ranged from direct lobbying to strategic planning.
Board Member
Philip Rozenski
Novolex
Philip (Phil) Rozenski
Philip (Phil) Rozenski is the Vice President of Public Affairs and lead for sustainable packaging policy at Novolex. Phil brings 15 years of experience in both sustainable plastics and paper segments, green marketing and labeling initiatives, and public policy management. Phil has led and served as a board member of trade associations and philanthropic non-profit organizations over the past decade and is currently active with a range of industry associations in North America and Europe that seek to advance packaging sustainability. Prior to joining Novolex, Phil was an Air Force officer. During his tenure he managed public policy matters, was a Foreign Area Officer and Analyst for East Asia and a Logistics Operations Officer.
Board Member
Emily Williams
TC Transcontinental
Emily Williams
Emily is the Sustainability and Innovation Partnerships Leader with TC Transcontinental Packaging. She has been in the packaging industry since 2015 and focused on sustainability for most of this time. With prior experience as a product development engineer making water-based coatings for recyclable and compostable packaging solutions to leading a global circular economy platform; she is now tasked with helping TC make their products more sustainable in any way she can. At TC she is externally focused, forging relationships with customers, suppliers, experts in recovery, end market users, and a selection of industry organizations. She then brings this information internally to guide product development in TC’s sustainable product platforms and to identify risks and opportunities. She is the vice-chair of the sustainability and advocacy group within the Emerging Leaders Committee in the Flexible Packaging Association, the summit planning committee chair for AMERIPEN, manages TC’s relationship with How2Recycle, a member of the Communications and Public Affairs Committee within the Association of Plastics Recyclers, a member of the advocacy committee with the Biodegradable Products Institute and a regular participant of Sustainable Packaging Coalition events as well as a frequent speaker or panelist on sustainable packaging topics at other industry events. Emily has a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Science in the same from the University of Cincinnati.
Committees
Open to all members. Meetings occur monthly. To join, email the AMERIPEN Staff Liaison.
Chair: Emily Williams, TC Transcontinental
Staff Liaison: Kyla Fisher, Program Director, AMERIPEN, kylaf@ameripen.org
Advises AMERIPEN Board and staff on potential communication strategies.
Chair: Julianne Trichtinger, NOVA Chemicals
Staff Liaison: Brian Westerlind, Communications Consultant, comms@ameripen.org
Educates AMERIPEN members and staff about compostable packaging design and education, composting infrastructure and the intersection of these with public policy. Leverages AMERIPEN's impact as a packaging policy organization to advocate for sound state and federal legislation and regulation for compostable packaging and composting infrastructure. Coordinates with other like-minded organizations that have great expertise than AMERIPEN on compostable packaging and composting infrastructure.
Chair: Lynn Dyer, Pactive Evergreen
Staff Liaison: Dan Felton, Executive Director, AMERIPEN, danf@ameripen.org
A subset of our Government Affairs Committee that works closely with AMERIPEN staff and our contract lobbyists at Serlin Haley to develop and implement proactive policies and advocacy strategies in response to proposed federal legislation regarding packaging and the environment.
Staff Liaison: Dan Felton, Executive Director, AMERIPEN, danf@ameripen.org
Open to Company & Associate Members. Meetings occur biweekly. To join, email the AMERIPEN Staff Liaison.
Many of our members are focused on legislation and choose to participate in the Government Affairs Coalition not only to join the biweekly update calls with AMERIPEN staff and lobbyists, but also to be included on the distribution list for legislative updates, fly-ins, and action alerts. Joining the Government Affairs Coalition is the best way for AMERIPEN to be in regular contact with you about legislative issues facing the packaging industry.
Chair: Brendan Adams, Kraft Heinz
Staff Liaison: Rob Keith, Membership & Policy Director, AMERIPEN, robk@ameripen.org
Open to Company Members. Meetings occur biweekly. To join, email the AMERIPEN Staff Liaison.
A subset of our Government Affairs Committee and Coalition that works closely with AMERIPEN staff and our contract lobbyists at Serlin Haley to develop and implement proactive policies and advocacy strategies in response to proposed state legislation regarding packaging and the environment.
Chair: Brendan Adams, Kraft Heinz
Staff Liaison: Rob Keith, Membership & Policy Director, AMERIPEN, robk@ameripen.org
Advises AMERIPEN Board and staff on potential membership recruitment and retention strategies.
Chair: John Avolio, NOVA Chemicals
Staff Liaison: Rob Keith, Membership & Policy Director, AMERIPEN, robk@ameripen.org
A subset of our Government Affairs Committee and Coalition that works closely with AMERIPEN staff and our contract lobbyists at Serlin Haley to track and respond to state and federal regulations regarding packaging and the environment.
Staff Liaison: Rob Keith, Membership & Policy Director, AMERIPEN, robk@ameripen.org
Identifies and implements sustainable packaging objectives and policies aligned with AMERIPEN's vision and mission and advances educational and research opportunities on broader sustainable packaging policy intersections.
Value of Packaging/Life Style Data
- This group will look at research and data which will promotes the value of packaging.
Recycling Market Development
- This group will focus on how we will close the gap between packaging designers and recycling market development.
Sustainability in Packaging Promotion
- This group will help us develop materials to promote what members are doing and communicate industry efforts to be more sustainable
Chair: Rebecca Kaufold, Spartan Chemical Co.
Staff Liaison: Kyla Fisher, Program Director, AMERIPEN, kylaf@ameripen.org