Specialty Paper Conference in 2 Weeks: Meet the 5 Panelists

Chase Bank and Green Bay Innovation Group will sponsor the Specialty Paper, Printing, Converting, and Packaging Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Miron Construction in Neenah, Wisconsin. Join us as we hear from industry leaders presenting cutting-edge technologies, innovations in product design, new product development, sustainability, renewable resources, and eco-friendly packaging trends.

Register today. The cost is $100, which includes lunch and networking after the event.

Brit Swisher,

Midland

Brit Swisher is Area Vice President – Northern Region of Midland Paper, Packaging + Supplies, one of the nation’s largest independent paper and packaging distributors. He has over 40 years’ experience in distribution and sales of printing and specialty papers.

Brit earned a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing and an MBA at Eastern Illinois University. Brit serves as a Board Member of the Great Lakes Graphics Association.

Dave Barr,

BiOrgin

Dave Barr has over 25 years of experience in the paper Industry. Since February 2022, he has been serving as the Director of New Product Development with Biorigin SP.

Dave's career began in 1996, and he has held various roles including Process Engineer, Product Specialist, Account Representative, Technical Manager, Operations Manager, Mill Manager and Director of Secondary Fiber Development.

Ryan Day,

BPM

Ryan Day’s career in the paper industry started in 2003 after graduating from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Paper Science. His career includes positions at Badger Paper Mills and Kemira, prior to joining BPM Inc. in 2009.

While at BPM, Ryan has held roles as Technical/Quality Manager, Paper Mill Manager, and Plant Manager. He became General Manager in 2023.

Dean Benjamin, Ahlstrom

Dean Benjamin is the Director of Product Development at Ahlstrom in Stevens Point, WI. Dean is focused on developing new specialty paper products for food packaging including barrier and heat seal papers, labels, release liners and other industrial papers.

He earned a Paper Science and Engineering degree and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.

Dean has been a Research Engineer at the Avery Research Center in Pasadena, CA, and a Senior Research Engineer at the R&D facility of Consolidated Papers, Inc. in Wisconsin Rapids.

Mark Hunter, Hoffmaster

Mark Hunter has over 25 years of pulp and paper experience as an Asset Manager, Production Manager, and Process Engineering/Technical Superintendent.

Currently, Mark is the Value Stream Manager and Director Technology Innovation at Hoffmaster Group Inc.

Mark leads a team of 32 maintenance and engineering employees at Hoffmaster Group Inc., a leading printed napkin and paper plate plant with 420 employees. 

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Check-In

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Introduction by Dan Goymerac, VP of Miron Construction 

8:40 – 9:00 a.m. Marty Ochs, Executive Director of the Green Bay Innovation Group

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Chris Jansen and Breanna Van Nuland of Amcor

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. David Zamarin of Impermea Materials

11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Paul Fowler Wisconsin Institute of Sustainable Technology UW Stevens Point

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 -1:45 p.m. Jay Downey of Sun Chemical

1:45 – 3:30 p.m. Panel Discussion – 

• Mark Hunter, Hoffmaster Group, Inc. 
• Dean Benjamin, Ahlstrom
• Ryan Day, BPM, Inc.
• David S. Barr, BiOrgin
• Brit Swisher, Midland Paper 

 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Networking, with beverages provided