Norm Kukuk, executive vice president of marketing for ORBIS® Corporation, was recently elected as the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) chairman of the board for the 2017 term. The position was previously held by Hillary Femal, vice president of global marketing at IFCO SYSTEMS. The association is comprised of manufacturers, suppliers, end users and advocates of reusable packaging in North America and beyond.

ORBIS Corporation has been an active corporate member of the RPA since its inception in 1999. During Kukuk’s time in the RPA, he has been involved in many facets of the association, including finance and, most recently, vice chairman of the RPA board of directors.

With nearly 20 years in the reusable packaging industry, Kukuk has developed and shared reusable packaging expertise with leading industrial, consumer goods, and food and beverage companies. With a focus on helping companies understand the value of reusable packaging, he has firsthand experience with seamlessly planning and implementing reusable packaging programs that yield financial and environmental benefits. With this background, he contributes a great deal of industry experience to the association that brings value to member companies and end users alike.  

At ORBIS, Kukuk currently provides executive leadership for ORBIS’ marketing and product development efforts, including the planning, development and implementation of strategic business plans and goals. As RPA chairman, he will collaborate with the RPA board of directors and Tim Debus, RPA president and CEO, to execute the overall vision of growing membership, expanding end-user engagement and elevating the use of reusables.

“I am honored to be the next chairman of the board and to continue working alongside so many dedicated industry professionals who are driven to grow the reusable packaging industry,” Kukuk said. “I look forward to helping the association in raising awareness of reusables and the supply chain technologies that enhance them.”

RPA is a nonprofit trade organization that connects the industry to expand, innovate and validate reusable packaging systems. RPA members consist of supply chain partners who advocate the environmental and economic benefits of reusable transport packaging.