Meet the 2014–2015 WAIB Board—Back row, from left: Frank Facey, Assured Packaging; Ellen Melnitzke, Rackow Polymers (Secretary); Kent Houser, Cobra Plastics; Steve Sanchez, Aeropres Corp. (VP); and Chad Moline, Spray Products. Front row, from left: Roger Vanderlaan, Shield Packaging (President); Charlie Ortmann, Diversified CPC; Mike Thaete, Aptar B&H (Treasurer); and Ian Fishman, 220 Laboratories. Not pictured: Randy Barry, WD-40 Co.; Paul Gardner, Blaster Corp.; and Jim Johnson, Sherwin-Williams. November 2014 Spray 29 the earth. In essence, business equals evil.” Sandefur said we need to know the history of capitalism to understand its effectiveness and that economic liberty is a fundamental right. Garry Ridge, CEO, WD-40, contended that a company’s success “is all about the people.” A company needs to create “positive lasting memories” with three constituent groups: investors, employees and end users. Success will follow. Ridge subscribes to the Peter Drucker axiom, “Culture is everything: culture eats strategy for lunch.” He believes that culture reflects shared beliefs, values and attitudes and that employee disengagement “leads to billions in annual losses.” A successful culture will take fear out of the equation and make people feel they belong. They, in turn, will be more engaged and the business more successful. James Mattesich, Greenburg Traurig, LLP presented LVP: What’s at Stake. The attempted regulation of low vapor pressure products (LVP) is an alarm bell that the aerosol industry should be paying attention to. He pointed out that WAIB should be part of a broader coalition of trade groups and needs to become an even stronger force for aerosol consumer products. He explained that other industries self regulate and self fund promotional campaigns for their products, using the dairy industry’s “Got Milk?” campaign as an example. These self-funded commissions, such as those for avocados, apples, etc., promote, lobby and litigate by generating self assessed funds. Another way to create leverage is to remember that politics is a business. Identify and support local elected officials who will be in the next California state assembly and senate. Let them know who you are; they will remember your support. Lastly, effectively communicate industry positives, i.e. jobs created and taxes paid. WAIB needs to create leverage by working together, developing personal relationships with regulators and raising money for political influence, said Mattesich. Heidi McAuliffe spoke about the Graffiti Resource Council (GRC), which has been redirected, rebranded and has an updated website (www.anti-graffiti.org). The GRC is shifting the narrative to emphasize that it can be a resource for help. The website will be a resource detailing what’s working in other communities, and will monitor and track city/state activity and regulations. Ravi Ramalingam, Chief of CARB’s Consumer Products & Air Quality Assessment Branch, reviewed the challenges that CARB is facing and noted that since CARB is a public health agency, it is mandated to look at all influences on air quality and to take actions to reduce air pollution, sometimes in conjunction with SCAQMD. He reminded attendees that the Consumer Products Survey is still in progress. Why does CARB do all this work? Because the Clean Air Act sets air quality standards. CARB needs to gather reliable, accurate data to make its work make sense. The survey recognizes and provides for data confidentiality. In closing, Roger Vanderlaan, WAIB President, noted that WAIB will continue to work closely with SCAQMD and CARB going forward and will “Alter our Direction” to include making itself known to state and local legislators and affiliating with organizations within and outside the aerosol industry to create solutions that are beneficial for both the economy and the environment. Spray Winners of the 2nd Annual Paul Robinson Memorial Golf Tournament were Jim Johnson (left) and John Lewis. Ridge Mattesich Ramalingam
Spray November 2014
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