International Paper’s director of global sourcing receives honor

Forst

Don Forst, director of global sourcing for International Paper, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, accepted the Association of Suppliers to the Paper Industry (ASPI) 2016 Excellence in Leadership Award at the association’s spring meeting Feb. 24-26 in Miami. In his presentation, Forst shared the leadership influences and philosophies that have helped him achieve success.

One such influence was his father, a veteran papermaker.

“I had an opportunity right out of college to work at the mill where my father had worked for 40 years,” Forst told ASPI meeting attendees, “and I learned that a lot of my dad’s friends were people he’d worked with from the supplier community.”

Regarding the relationship between mills and suppliers, Forst says, “In this industry, you need a trusted partner. I believe that’s true in any industry, but it’s particularly true for our industry.”

Forst earned his MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined International Paper in 1997 at the company’s Texarkana, Texas, coated paperboard mill. Forst became mill manager at the Prattville, Alabama, containerboard mill in 2007 and moved into his current position in early 2013.

Prior to joining IP, he held numerous positions during a more than 12-year career with the former James River Corp.

Forst is active in his community and has served organizations including the Autauga County United Way, Prattville Chamber of Commerce, Manufacture Alabama and the Alabama Pulp and Paper Council.

Established in 2010, the ASPI Excellence in Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leaders within the paper industry. The award honors unique and creative leadership of employees, company and key suppliers through major projects or ongoing relationships.

Nominations are now open for ASPI’s 2017 awards. Nominations are accepted from ASPI member companies, and the ASPI board of directors votes on submitted nominations. Nomination forms are available at the ASPI website, www.aspinet.org, as is a list of past recipients.

ASPI, Peachtree Cornors, Georgia, is an association of companies that supply products and services to the pulp, paper and board industry. Member participation consists primarily of CEOs, owners, and senior management executives. ASPI says its mission is to assist its member supplier companies in providing increased economic benefits to their customers through collective knowledge, initiatives and efforts.