Mica Corporation has been an active member of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) for more than three decades. Over the last thirty years, members of the Mica team have sponsored, supported, and attended events and other educational sessions hosted by the FPA. Mica is proud to announce that two of its emerging leaders have taken a more hands-on approach to help contribute to the advancement of the industry by joining the FPA’s Emerging Leadership Council (ELC).
The Emerging Leadership Council, co-founded in 2021 by Jonathan Quinn of Pregis and Adrianne Tipton of Novolex, was established with a mission to create a network of future leaders to drive issues and opportunities that have a long-term impact on the advancement of the U.S. flexible packaging industry. The council implemented four committee pillars to support its goals: Education, Recruitment, Leadership Development, and Advocacy.
Jaclyn Epstein, Mica’s Sales and Marketing Strategy Manager, joined the Advocacy committee, which focuses on the education of the legislative process, and how current legislation is impacting the flexible packaging industry. Jessi Spadaccino, Communications Manager at Mica, joined the Education committee to help educate youth on the purpose and benefits of flexible packaging.
“We look to our ELC members to get involved with our various committees and help us further our mission to drive issues and opportunities for our industry. We are glad that Jaclyn and Jessi will be sharing their expertise with us and helping on our advocacy and education committees,” said Quinn.
While Epstein and Spadaccino are newly involved with FPA, they have both been actively working to improve and advance the paper and packaging industry for several years. Epstein serves as the Division Chair for the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry’s (TAPPI) Young Professionals (YP) Division. Prior to her role as Division Chair, Jaclyn served as the Division’s Director of Communications. Throughout her four years on the board, Epstein has helped to facilitate and organize a variety of virtual and in-person events and educational sessions that helped with membership recruitment and retainment. In 2018, Epstein was awarded the TAPPI Young Professional of the Year Award for her contributions to the division, and the industry.
Spadaccino served as TAPPI’s Director of Communications for the YP Division for three consecutive years until 2021. During that time, she helped build and launch a microsite for the division and helped create several communications tools and resources to give young professionals across the paper, pulp, and packaging a voice and a way to stay connected. Spadaccino was spotlighted for her contributions to TAPPI in May of 2021. After her tenure with the YP Division, Spadaccino joined TAPPI’s International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division leadership council, where she currently leads the Digital Team. Spadaccino has also contributed to industry publications. Her work has been featured in FlexPack Voice and Converting Quarterly.
Mica’s president, Jeff Siegel, said, “It’s great to see the next generation of leaders getting involved with the Flexible Packaging Association. We’re glad that Mica’s employees are involved in these important industry conversations and know that Jessi and Jaclyn will help contribute to the ELC’s objectives in meaningful ways.”