TAPPI is pleased to announce this year’s winners of its most prestigious awards.

The 2016 recipient of the Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award is Dr. Ivan Pikulik owner of IPConsulting in Montreal, QC, Canada.

Dr. Pikulik received his diploma in chemical engineering from Slovak Technical University, his Ph.D. in chemistry from McMaster University, Canada and was Visiting Scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He was employed by Canadian consulting engineering firm, by a paper mill of International Paper and for 28 years by Paprican (later FPInnovations), where he headed the entire Papermaking Program, supervising up to 60 scientist and technicians. 

He was the chairman of PAPTAC Paper Machine Technology Committee and Water Removal Committee, and is a member of TAPPI Water Removal Committee. A TAPPI Fellow, Dr. Pikulik received twice PAPTAC Weldon Medal, twice Jasper Mardon Memorial Prize, as well as John Bates Medal and TAPPI 2012 Engineering Division Technical Award and Beloit Prize.

The 2016 recipient of the Herman L Joachim Distinguished Service Award is Dr. Mahendra R. Doshi, President of Doshi & Associates, Inc. in Appleton, WI.

Dr. Doshi graduated from Bombay University in India with a degree in chemical engineering and obtained his Ph.D. from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY.

He began his career in the paper industry when he joined the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, WI. After embarking on a recycling project, he explored the TAPPI Recycling Committee and has since held various executive positions with the committee over the years.

Dr. Doshi received the Pulp Manufacture Division Technical award in 2001, was selected as a TAPPI Fellow in 2004 and received the Paper and Board Division Award and Harris O. Ware Prize in 2007.
Dr. Doshi launched quarterly technical journal Progress in Paper Recycling in 1991 that is now merged with the TAPPI Journal. A prolific author, Dr, Doshi has written numerous book chapters, encyclopedia articles and research papers related to recycling.

The 2016 recipient of the Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award is Alan F. Button, former President of Buttonwood Consulting, LLC. 

Dr. Button holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Penn State University in Wood Science and Technology.  He earned an M.S. and Ph.D. from The Institute of Paper Chemistry in Paper and Fiber Physics.  

His paper industry employment history includes developing Paper Resins for Borden Chemical, teaching as an Instructor in Wood Science and Technology at Stephen F. Austin State University, being the Section Leader in Papermaking Materials R&D and, later, the Director of Technical Planning for Champion International Corp.  He was part of James River and Fort James Neenah Technical Center’s Fiber R&D effort as a Research Associate, Head of the Fiber Lab and Research Leader. 

Dr. Button has been a member of TAPPI since 1970 and is a past Chairman of Ohio and Lake States TAPPI.  He is also a member of the Honors Committee of the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame.

The awards will be presented during the PaperCon awards dinner on May 17.