Linda Leone of Solvay Paperboard LLC, Syracuse, N.Y, has been named the recipient of the first Mill Buyer Award. The award was presented by the Recycling Today Media Group and Moore & Associates at the 2003 Paper Recycling Conference & Trade Show, held in late June in Chicago.
Leone is currently manager of fiber procurement with Solvay Paperboard, and has been with the company for six years. She previously held other positions in the paper industry.
Bill Moore, president of Moore & Associates, a paper industry consulting firm based in Atlanta, led the judging for the award. He says of Leone, “She has been responsible for the design and execution of the recovered paper procurement program for a mill that has expanded several times to now become one of the largest consumers in the U.S.”
Adds Moore, “Linda has shown her skills in both up and down markets and currently is responsible for buying approximately 2,000 tons per day of old corrugated containers (OCC). She is highly respected by her suppliers and an excellent communicator. Solvay is known as one of the best mills when it comes to giving feedback to suppliers, in part because Linda knows her competitors and the industry, treats everyone fairly, and simply knows what she is doing.”
Upon receiving the award, Leone shared credit with co-workers and the paper recyclers from whom she buys.
The Mill Buyer award will be presented each year at the Paper Recycling Conference & Trade Show to recognize a buyer who has shown outstanding levels of quality in job performance, market knowledge and acuity, communication skills, professionalism and integrity.