Award winners exhibit the attributes of a leader.

Living in an unpredictable world, it is encouraging to find leaders exuding stability in the paper industry. The attributes PIMA's 2006 Leadership Award recipients exhibit are ones that will empower seasoned professionals and upcoming managers alike.

Grace under pressure. Weyerhaeuser CEO Steven R. Rogel (PIMA Executive of the Year) had increasing bouts of pressure on his shoulders this past year. With the acquisition of his company, Willamette, integration and smooth transitioning were not easy tasks. Between alleviating company debt and employment concerns, Rogel kept his cool. He sold off assets to lower debt while assigning the best people--whether Willamette or Weyerhaeuser--to positions instead of engaging in mass layoffs.

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Inclusion. Asking for assistance is a medium for inclusion It allows peers and employees to share knowledge. According to a nomination letter for Art Rankin (Kenneth Phillips Specialist Group Award), he fostered an atmosphere rich with sharing knowledge. Rankin used an "informal, roundtable format to promote open dialogue." Such a format increased attendance at meetings and led to tangible results.

Passion. Great leaders, such as Georgia-Pacific Cellulose Millwright/Pipefitter Tom Bullock (Ray H. Cross Community Service Award), have something that others may not. As mentioned in nomination letters, Bullock's passion for service is obvious by his involvement in the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics and The Boy Scouts of America. Such passion is also demonstrated by Northeast PIMA Publicity Committee Chair and National PIMA Liaison Eric Wohltjen of Honeywell (Delano "Del" Boutin Division Service Award). As described in one nomination, "Eric has a passion for PIMA, for Honeywell, and for our customers in a way you cannot put a price tag on."

Continuing education. Continuing education, internal course work and observation are all ways to stay ahead and anticipate trends. Christopher Young, IPST at Georgia Tech (Student of the Year), attributes his success as a leader to his experiences in and out of the classroom by using "practical application of my undergraduate degree."

Results. As mentioned in nomination letters, Georgia-Pacific Paper Mill Superintendent Mike Griffith has produced consistent results, including "improved performance on all fronts" and "increase[ed] production rates." Griffith's results made the company look good. Similarly, Bowater Inc. VP and Resident Manager Gaynor L. "Bud" Nash has been integral in company honors including Industry Week's 2005's Best Plants in North America and South Carolina's "2004 Manufacturer of the Year."

Great leaders positively affect the bottom line through their successful accomplishments, and PIMA applauds them.