AF&PA announces three VP promotions

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, has promoted three executives within the association, including Elizabeth VanDersarl to vice president for strategy and operations, Lindsay Murphy to vice president of strategic communications and Terry Webber to vice president of industry affairs.

VanDersarl formerly served as AF&PA’s interim vice president of government and industry affairs. In her new role, she will be responsible for providing strategic guidance for the goals of the association and overseeing human resources, facilities, meetings, information technology and some finance functions at AF&PA. VanDersarl joined AF&PA in 2005 and has held numerous positions, including vice president of government affairs. Prior to joining the association, she helped lead the development of regulatory policy and White House review of regulations at the Office of Management & Budget. Her areas of focus included homeland security, transportation, labor, housing and health. VanDersarl also served as counsel to Ranking Sen. Fred Thompson on the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. Her first job in Washington was with political pollster and pundit Frank Luntz. Before arriving to the nation’s capital, she was an assistant state’s attorney in Illinois.

AF&PA
Murphy

Prior to the promotion, Murphy served as AF&PA’s executive director of strategic communications. In the new position, she will be responsible for crafting and executing complex strategic communications plans on notable public policy issues. Murphy joined AF&PA in January 2019. She has led the modernization of digital assets to advance legislative and policy goals and addressed a wide variety of communications challenges—advancing issues, garnering publicity and negotiating crowded message environments. Having begun her career on Capitol Hill, Murphy previously held positions at various nonprofit, health trade associations and public affairs firms directing strategy and outreach.

Before stepping up as AF&PA’s vice president of industry affairs, Webber served as AF&PA’s executive director of packaging. In his new role, he will be responsible for maintaining synergy with government affairs, ensuring robust and integrated marketplace strategies across the sectors, and identifying new engagement opportunities for AF&PA Industry Statistics. He joined AF&PA in 2011 and has worked in various roles in government and industry affairs. Prior to joining AF&PA, Webber was a postgraduate legal fellow for the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a legal extern for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Enforcement Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. He also has an extensive background in Oregon politics, as campaign staff for former NBA Player Chris Dudley’s 2010 run for Oregon governor and as senior staff for the state House Republican Caucus.

“I am excited to announce the staff promotions of Elizabeth VanDersarl, Lindsay Murphy and Terry Webber,” says AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “These staff members are passionate in their pursuit of our member companies’ remarkable sustainability goals, Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future. Today, we recognize their significant contributions made to AF&PA and the paper and wood products industry. I look forward to their continued leadership and congratulate them on their success.”