The History of IFPTAWritten by John Kalish, IFPTA President Emeritus The roots of the IFPTA date back to 1974 in Rotterdam to the PPI Symposium. It was at this Symposium that Per (Pele) Strömbeck, Bob Herbert and John Kalish met for drinks and, as they say, is all history. Need to Share
The ChallengeThe PPI Symposium, as PPI Transport Symposium was then called, was repeated every other year with increasing attendance. But everyone involved saw a need for more and better method of communication for the industry.
Ted Przedpelski declared: “This, then, is the keynote message: organize a formal body, be it an association or a club, learn from one another and cooperate for mutual benefit, and uplift thereby the image of distribution executives within the pulp and paper industry.” Over the next few years, John Kalish continued to work on the PPI Symposium events and travel to San Francisco for meetings where he would frequently visit with Bob Herbert in his San Francisco office. It did not take long for them to agree it was time to take up Ted Przedpelski’s challenge and form an association to give it permanence. The two men agreed that the group should be called the International Forest Products Transport Association (IFPTA) – to say very clearly who the association represents. The two also agreed the new organization should be a non-profit corporation, established in California and Bob was to be named its first Secretary. The articles of incorporation and bylaws were developed and officially stamped and filed with California Secretary of State on October 4, 1982. Voluntary Service
These were the men that placed the Association on the right track. John Kalish was persuaded to be its first President. All of the IFPTA board of director posts were voluntary positions without compensation, and remain so to this day. Interested in becoming a member of IFPTA? Go to our Benefits of Membership page to learn more. |