ATLANTA, Ga. – Former Harley-Davidson Communications Director, Ken Schmidt, will provide the keynote speech at the 2016 TAPPI/PIMA PaperCon Conference. Schmidt is widely known as one of the business world’s most outspoken and provocative thought leaders and has partnered with many of the world’s most successful brands.

In his talk, Schmidt will share stories and insights on the road to building a fanatically vocal customer base, creating a passionately loyal corporate culture, and developing leaders who inspire and motivate. Schmidt is a frequent speaker to business groups and academic communities throughout the world.

A longtime motorcycle enthusiast, Schmidt’s formal association with Harley-Davidson began in 1985. As a specialist in corporate positioning and media relations, he was asked to work with the then-struggling Harley-Davidson to help restore the company’s image and create demand for its motorcycles. Within a few short years, Harley-Davidson became one of the most visible and frequently reported-on companies in the world, while sales of its motorcycles rocketed upward.

Schmidt became director of Harley-Davidson’s corporate and financial communications and served as its primary spokesperson to the media and the financial communities. He appeared numerous times on network news programs and was frequently called upon by business media to share his insights on non-traditional communications, customer attraction, and brand-building.

PaperCon brings together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. No other event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities and trade fair among such a distinguished group of industry leaders.

PIMA is the premier organization for mill managers, production leaders and supplier executives in the pulp and paper and industry. Its goal is to contribute to the strength of the international pulp and paper community by providing information on relevant issues and to help its members network and develop managerial and leadership skills.