Atlanta, Ga – TAPPI is pleased to announce that Jonathan C. Kerr of Miami University has been awarded the Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award. Established in 1983, this award is the highest honor the Association can bestow upon an individual for exemplary leadership that has significantly contributed to its advancement.

“Such recognition comes with great responsibility to live up to the honor,” said Kerr, “Reading the list of prior award winners, it’s like reading a “Who’s Who” of the paper industry. To think that my name will be added to those ranks is very humbling. I am very grateful.”

In addition to receiving an engraved plaque, Kerr will be presented with a cash honorarium, a gold lapel pin and a lifetime TAPPI membership. The award will be presented during the PaperCon awards dinner on April 21.

Kerr graduated from Western Michigan University with a BS in Engineering and received a master of business administration from Xavier University.

He began his career as a Sales Engineer at C-E Bauer (now Andritz) and held senior sales and marketing roles at Black Clawson and Andridz before being named as Executive Director of the Paper Science and Engineering Foundation at Miami University, a position he continues to hold. He is also currently a Senior Consultant for Fisher International.

Kerr has dedicated his time and talents to TAPPI for 35 years, first joining as a student upon entering university