Left to right: David Withers, ASPI President;
Distinguished Customer Executive of the Year
recipient Rick Willett; and J-P Beaudoin, Metso. ASPI members firmly believe that key suppliers can be a competitive advantage to their selected customers. Paper industry producers are extraordinarily affected by the quality, design and associated economics of their purchased products and services; however, there can be tremendous improvements made in the processes by which paper industry customers qualify and select their suppliers.

That's why ASPI began to annually recognize a key paper industry executive who has been particularly effective in maximizing the benefits that suppliers have had on that paper company's financial performance. Past recipients of the customer executive of the year award includes:

• 2004 - Bill Prish, Director Capital Purchasing, International Paper Company
  
• 2005 - Larry Green, Vice President Purchasing & Logistics, Bowater Corporation
  
• 2006 - Dave Fary, Resident Manager, Eastover Mill, International Paper Company
  
• 2007 – Gaynor L. “Bud” Nash, Senior Vice President Manufacturing, Bowater Corporation
  
• 2008 - Richard D. Willett, Jr.

Any ASPI member company can make a nomination for this award. The entire membership selects the annual recipient through a majority vote.