CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY WHY JOIN IBWA?
Sometimes, it really is about who you know. Bottled water is a complex, but beautiful, industry. Complex because we deal with a multitude of issues to ensure we produce a safe, great-tasting, healthy hydration beverage for our customers; beautiful, because—as members of IBWA—we work with some of the best people on Earth. People join professional associations for many reasons—some want access to great educational materials; some want to be seen as an industry leader; others are looking to attend organizational events at discounted rates. By far, when people talk of why they join IBWA, they say it is because members of IBWA are more than willing to share their hard-earned knowledge with you. In fact, Viola Johnson Jacobs (DS Services of America, Inc.), the subject of this issue’s Value of IBWA Membership profile (see p.32), considers access to bottled water experts the thing that makes IBWA most special to her: “You just can’t put this many experts together in one place anywhere else. . . They have the knowledge of not just the industry and regulatory bodies but legislative history.” IBWA members have earned a reputation as knowledgeable industry professionals who are willing to share the lessons they have learned during their many years in the industry. In past Value of IBWA Membership profiles, others have stated as much. Joe Bell (Aqua Filter Fresh, Inc.) said, "Because of the way IBWA members have treated us, we have always opened our doors to anyone with questions. If we don’t know the answer, we find someone that can help. I believe this makes the bottled water industry different from other industries. The camaraderie is an invaluable benefit of IBWA membership.” And supplier member David Redick (Steelhead, Inc.) noted that, while outsiders may view the bottled water industry as large and competitive, it feels surprisingly small and family-like to him. He described IBWA as a close-knit, friendly community: “Members help one another. It’s not uncommon for a member to reach out to a new member and provide advice in any way they can.” And I agree. We are a bottled water family at IBWA. Sure, we’re a competitive group— but we know that if we really want to affect change and strengthen this association, we have a better chance at doing that if we stand together. This year, I’ve challenged IBWA members to share with prospective members personal examples of how their IBWA membership helped their businesses grow. My goal is for each current member to get a least one new member to join the association—and that can happen, if they hear how supportive we are of one another.
Lynn Wachtmann IBWA Chairman
IBWA
International Bottled Water Association OFFICERS Chairman Lynn Wachtmann, Maumee Valley Bottlers, Inc.. Vice Chair Brian Grant, Pure Flo Water Company, Inc. Treasurer Brian Hess, Niagara Bottling LLC Immediate Past Chairwoman Shayron Barnes-Selby, DS Services of America, Inc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shayron Barnes-Selby, DS Services of America, Inc. Joe Bell, Aqua Filter Fresh, Inc. Philippe Caradec, Danone Waters of America Tara Carraro, Nestlé Waters North America Andy Eaton, Eurofins Eaton Analytical Brian Grant, Pure Flo Water, Inc. Brian Hess, Niagara Bottling LLC Doug Hidding, Blackhawk Molding Co. Scott Hoover, Roaring Spring Bottling Dan Kelly, Polymer Solutions International Kari Mondt, Allied Purchasing Greg Nemec, Premium Waters, Inc. Dennis Rivard, Crystal Mountain Products, Inc. Bryan Shinn, WG America Company Robert Smith, Grand Springs Distribution Louis Vittorio, Jr., EarthRes Group, Inc. Lynn Wachtmann, Maumee Valley Bottlers, Inc. William Patrick Young, Absopure Water Co., Inc.
IBWA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman Lynn Wachtmann, Maumee Valley Bottlers, Inc. Joe Bell, Aqua Filter Fresh, Inc. Philippe Caradec, Danone Waters of America Tara Carraro, Nestlé Waters North America Brian Grant, Pure Flo Water Company, Inc. C.R. Hall, Hall’s Culligan Brian Hess, Niagara Bottling LLC Henry R. Hidell, III, Hidell International Scott Hoover, Roaring Spring Bottling Dan Kelly, Polymer Solutions International Bryan Shinn, WG America Company William Patrick Young, Absopure Water Co., Inc.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Communications Committee Julia Buchanan, Niagara Bottling, LLC Audrey Krupiak, WG America Company Education Committee Glen Davis, Absopure Water Co., Inc. Douglas R. Hupe, Aqua Filter Fresh Environmental Sustainability Committee Leslie Alstad, Pure Flo Water Company, Inc. Jeff Davis, Blackhawk Molding Co. Government Relations Committee Derieth Sutton, Niagara Bottling LLC Viola Johnson Jacobs, DS Services of America, Inc. Membership Committee Marge Eggie, Polymer Solutions International Kelley Goshay, DS Services of America, Inc. State and Regional Associations Committee Joe Cimino, ChoiceH2O Supplier and Convention Committee Brian Grant, Pure Flo Water Company, Inc. Dan Kelly, Polymer Solutions International Technical Committee Andy Eaton, Eurofins Eaton Analytical Kevin Mathews, Nestlé Waters North America
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