ATLANTA, Ga. – TAPPI is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Peter Snyder, National Accounts Manager at HarperLove.  This award is presented in recognition of Snyder’s long standing dedication and commitment to the corrugated industry. In the past 28 years, Snyder has been an active part of over a dozen TAPPI committees serving as Chairman on several of them.  Snyder has been a member of three different TAPPI Local Sections and also served on the TAPPI Foundation Board of Trustees.

“This award makes me extremely proud of the opportunity I have had to participate in the process we call TAPPI,” said Snyder. “I benefited from the significant support of my employer, my colleagues and my family over the 28 years I have been a TAPPI member.”

Snyder received his B.S. in Textile Chemistry from Philadelphia University in Philadelphia, PA.  He began building his career with roles in research and development, product development sales and technical service with companies including National Starch and Chemical, Corrugating Chemicals and Ringwood Company. Snyder has previously received several awards from the TAPPI Corrugated Packaging Division including the Bettendorf Technical Award in 2004 and the Leadership and Service Award in 2011.

This year’s recipient of the Corrugated Division Technical Award and Harry J. Bettendorf prize is Rick Putch, Director of Technical Services & Process Improvement, at National Steel Rule.  The award is given in recognition of Rick’s outstanding contributions that have advanced the corrugated industry’s technology.

“I am truly honored and was very surprised to receive the call as this year’s award winner,” said Putch.  “I have a tremendous passion to teach and share what I’ve learned during my career. To be recognized in the same company as the past recipients, particularly at a SuperCorrExpo will always be a humbling and treasured memory.” 

Putch has an impressive background of over 40 years with lead corrugated companies throughout the Northeast. He has worked his way through production, supervisory and division leadership roles prior to joining National Steel Rule in the first quarter of this year. Putch has frequently been a presenter in technical sessions at TAPPI Conferences and he has written articles that have been published in Corrugated Today and FLEXO magazines.

This year’s recipient of the Dave Carlson Corrugated Division Leadership and Service award is Doug Muller, President of The Haire Group.  This award is presented in recognition of Muller’s outstanding leadership and exceptional service to the corrugated division, which have resulted in significant and demonstrable benefits to its members. Muller has served on six committees and is the recipient of the Paul Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award in 2004.

“Receiving this award is truly an honor. I can’t think of a greater acknowledgement than one given by my peers,” said Muller. “Volunteering at TAPPI, both locally and nationally, has given me the opportunity to meet many people that have become good friends and have positively impacted me and my career. And, hopefully, I have returned the favor and impacted others along the way. I am certain however, that I have received from everyone much more than I could ever give in return. It has been a sincere pleasure.”

Muller received his B.S. in Sociology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.  He began his career with Norm Albin & Associates in Chicago as a Corrugated Machinery Salesman and has been with The Haire Group for over 40 years.