About the alliance

The Western Packaging Alliance was the Western Plastics Association until 2026.

Why we changed our name

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. A name with one material in it no longer described the membership.

The initials stay the same. Members have said "WPA" for years, and the identity is meant to feel like the same organisation stepping up, not a new one.

Who runs the alliance

The board is drawn from member companies across the industry: producers, converters, machinery makers, distributors and recyclers.

Board of directors

Cherish Changala
President
Vice President, Sustainability & Public Affairs
Revolution
Cherish Changala
President, Board of Directors
Vice President, Sustainability & Public Affairs, Revolution
Cherish Changala is the Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs for Revolution. With a focus on collaborative solutions towards achieving circularity, Cherish leads all outreach efforts and legislative oversight within Revolution. She currently is on the Advisory Council of the US Plastics Pact, a board member for the Association of Plastic Recyclers and ISRI, served on the Executive Committee of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and is part of several other committees and associations. Cherish has a BA in Marketing and an MBA in Finance. Her other passions include dog rescue where she serves on the Board of a rescue called Boston Buddies as well as mentoring and teaching children.
Bruce Carter
Treasurer
President
Great American Packaging
Bruce Carter
Treasurer, Board of Directors
President, Great American Packaging
Bruce is a highly accomplished senior executive with 35 years of domestic and international experience in industrial and consumer products manufacturing businesses. Bruce has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from California Polytechnic Pomona and an MBA from University of Redlands. He began his career as an industrial engineer progressing to leadership roles Product Development, Marketing, and General Management in notable companies including Avery Denison. In 2011, he joined Great American Packaging as President where he has gained intimate knowledge of material blending and the nuances of flexible materials. Bruce is an active member of the Western Plastics Association.
Gordon Grissom
Secretary
Sales Executive
Hudson Sharp
Gordon Grissom
Secretary, Board of Directors
Sales Executive, Hudson Sharp
Gordon has been involved in the printing and packaging industries for over 40 years. Past roles with various multinational companies include managerial and leadership positions as well as capital equipment sales. His career has provided exposure to offset, digital, and flexographic printing for various applications. Currently, his focus and energy are applied as a Sales Executive for Hudson Sharp covering the Western US and Canada. Gordon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado but tries his best to be a student of life. When not at work he enjoys spending time outdoors and has a special place in his heart for fly fishing and guitars.
Dominic Barnes
Regional Sales Manager, Western U.S.
Windmoeller & Hoelscher
Dominic Barnes
Regional Sales Manager, Western U.S., Windmoeller & Hoelscher
Dominic is a highly seasoned professional in the field of Extrusion & Printing, currently holding the position of Regional Sales Manager for the Western U.S. at Windmoeller & Hoelscher Group. With an impressive career path spanning over twenty-four years in the flexible packaging equipment industry, Dominic is renowned for his unwavering leadership, unyielding dedication, and unparalleled expertise. His dedication to clients, strategic thinking, and proven track record makes him an asset to Windmoeller & Hoelscher Group and the industry as a whole.
Steve DeSpain
President, General Manager
Reifenhauser Incorporated
Steve DeSpain
President, General Manager, Reifenhauser Incorporated
Steve DeSpain has over 30 years of worldwide experience in the plastics industry and his background includes film production, machinery installation, engineering and sales expertise. He has held various positions ranging from production management, to engineering and sales with such well-known companies as ITW and Davis-Standard and has achieved a high degree of respect from his customers and peers for his technical expertise as well as for his commitment and understanding of the market. He has presented various papers at many technical conferences around the world. Steve is the Vice President of REIFENHAUSER INC. the wholly owned subsidiary of Reifenhäuser Extrusion GmbH, Troisdorf, Germany, an internationally oriented company and is responsible for the North American market.
Wesley Hamm
Vice President
Hood Packaging Corporation
Wesley Hamm
Vice President, Hood Packaging Corporation
Wesley has worked in the plastics industry for over 30 years, working first in rigids / profile and for the last 25 years in flexible packaging. Wesley started with Hood Packaging Corporation in 1998 and has served in a variety of commercial and manufacturing positions. Starting in 1998 as a Sales Rep, followed by Sales Manager, Sales Director, General Manager of plants in North Dakota, Minnesota and Texas. Currently Wesley is Vice President Plastics for Hood Packaging responsible for operating their Plastics Division.
Kevin Kelly
CEO
Emerald Packaging Incorporated
Kevin Kelly
CEO, Emerald Packaging Incorporated
Kevin Kelly joined Emerald Packaging in 1996, and became Chief Executive Officer in 2002, succeeding his father James P. Kelly who helped found the company. Under his leadership Emerald has become one of the pre-eminent flexible packaging companies in the West. Kevin has twice served as president of the Western Plastics Association and is currently on its board. He is a recent recipient of the WPA’s highest honor, its 2013 Leo Shluker Award. Kevin graduated from California’s Santa Clara University and the London School of Economics. He worked for nine years as a journalist with BusinessWeek in the magazine’s Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago bureaus. For over 15 years BusinessWeek, the former Fortune Small Business magazine and the Newsweek.com website published Kelly’s perspectives on running a business.
Tom McKellar
Vice President, Transportation & Terminals
Plastic Express
Tom McKellar
Vice President, Transportation & Terminals, Plastic Express
Tom has 51 years in Transportation. Over the years he progressed from Managing Partner with South Coast Peterbilt, to Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Los Angeles Freightliner, and is currently the Vice President of Rail Development for Plastic Express. He has served 5 years as Co-Chairman for the Worlds Greatest Trucking Show, a non-profit event to fund Ability First, a 501(c) 3 non-profit that provides programs and services to help children with disabilities. Tom has been married for 46 years, blessed with healthy children of good character. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Battelle Memorial Institute, Seattle. Tom is an avid non-golfer.
David McKinney
President
Sigma Plastics Group/ISO Flex Packaging
Trevor Pacholok
Account Manager
M Holland
Trevor Pacholok
Account Manager, M Holland
A Plastics Engineering background, with over 30 years in the industry. Started work with a major Polyethylene producer in technical service, followed by roles in sales. Worked in sales roles in color concentrates and masterbatch for a time, and now back in to resin sales with M Holland.
John Picciuto
Western Market Manager
Muehlstein & Company
John Picciuto
Western Market Manager, Muehlstein & Company
John is a past President of the WPA and has worked for Muehlstein for over 42 years. He is currently the Western Regional Manager for this Ravago owned distributor and based in Southern California.
Frank Ruiz
Vice President, R&D
Heritage Plastics
Frank Ruiz
Vice President, R&D, Heritage Plastics
Frank is responsible for the overall R&D direction of the company. This includes the development and commercialization of mineral/polymer additives and compounds for specialty film and extrusion coating applications, and bio-based and bio-degradable/compostable compounds for packaging applications. He also participates in standards development through membership in ASTM Subcommittees D20.95 on Recycled Plastics and D20.96 on Biodegradable and Bio-based Plastics, as well as monitoring of Federal, state, and local regulations regarding plastics and plastic packaging.
Pat Shea
Senior Account Manager
Vinmar Polymers
Pat Shea
Senior Account Manager, Vinmar Polymers
Pat Shea is a seasoned professional in the plastics industry, currently serving as the Territory Manager for the West Coast at Vinmar Polymers America. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Pat embarked on a career in the plastics industry immediately after college. With a strong background in commodity and engineering resins, Pat is a solution-focused business professional that is determined to consistently exceed his customers’ and supplier/partners expectations.
Aamir Siddiqui
Vice President of Engineering and Technical Service
Layfield Group
Aamir Siddiqui
Vice President of Engineering and Technical Service, Layfield Group
Aamir Siddiqui is a packaging professional with over 25 years of experience in the plastics industry. He currently serves as the Vice President of Engineering and Technical Service for Layfield Flexible Film in Richmond, British Columbia, a position he has held since 2019. Originally from Long Beach, California, Aamir earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from California State University, Long Beach, and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Prior to his current role, he served as the Technical Director for Winpak Films, overseeing product development and managing capital projects. He also held the position of Technical Director for Viskase Plastics Casing Company in Europe. Aamir is recognized for his innovative contributions, having developed numerous products and secured several patents in flexible packaging. His expertise and leadership in engineering and technical services are widely acknowledged.
Roxanne Spiekerman
Vice President, Public Affairs
PreZero US
Roxanne Spiekerman
Vice President, Public Affairs, PreZero US
Roxanne Spiekerman started her career in the plastic film industry with Roplast Industries in 2005. She served many roles, including general manager. Over the course of her career, the company evolved to include plastic film recycling. She was involved in steering Roplast’s approach to sustainability with regards to material integration, reuse and recycling. In 2021, Roplast was acquired by PreZero US, and Spiekerman now serves as vice president of public affairs as the company rapidly expands its plastic recycling presence in the U.S. She is board chair of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and is also one of the founding members of the organization’s film committee.

Staff

Laurie Hansen Sheets
Legislative Affairs Director
Strategic Partners Group
Laurie Hansen Sheets
Legislative Affairs Director, Strategic Partners Group
Laurie Hansen Sheets has worked for the Western Plastics Association for over 25 years as the association’s former Executive Director and current Legislative Affairs Director. She manages legislative priorities throughout the Western States on behalf of WPA. Laurie has worked on behalf of the plastics industry in government affairs since 1988.

The mark

The new mark is a flag carrying the initials members already know. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

About the alliance

Why we changed our name

Who runs the alliance

Board of directors

Cherish Changala

Bruce Carter

Gordon Grissom

Dominic Barnes

Steve DeSpain

Wesley Hamm

Kevin Kelly

Tom McKellar

David McKinney

Trevor Pacholok

John Picciuto

Frank Ruiz

Pat Shea

Aamir Siddiqui

Roxanne Spiekerman

Staff

Laurie Hansen Sheets

The mark