PaperAge announced that Michael P. Doss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Graphic Packaging Holding Company is the recipient of PaperAge's 34th annual "Executive Papermaker of the Year" award.
PaperAge selects its Executive Papermaker based on corporate vision, strategic objectives and strong leadership both within the individual's company and in the paper industry as a whole. The award has been an industry tradition since 1988.
John O'Brien, managing editor of PaperAge, said, "Under the leadership of Mike Doss, Graphic Packaging continues to build sustainable growth through strategic acquisitions that increase integration rates within the company's manufacturing platform, by efficiently executing margin-enhancing productivity projects, and developing a portfolio of innovative fiber-based packaging solutions to help customers meet their sustainability goals."
Currently, Graphic Packaging is nearing completion of the installation of a new CRB (coated recycled board) machine — K2 — at its pulp and paper mill in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The $600 million project, announced in August 2019, is on budget and ahead of schedule.
Doss said, "One of the things that really excites me about this project is the huge environmental contribution we'll realize from K2. The machine's efficiency will enable us to use 300 million fewer gallons of water, 18% less purchased electricity and emit almost 20% less greenhouse gases across our total CRB platform."
K2 has the capacity to produce 500,000 tons per year of high quality, low cost CRB, and is expected to start-up later this year in the fourth quarter.
Additionally, Graphic Packaging plans to convert an SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) machine in Texarkana, Texas, to a "swing" machine, which will provide exceptional flexibility to support demand for both SBS and CUK (Coated Unbleached Kraft).
The company also continues to deliver innovative fiber-based products to the market, such as KeelClip™, an alternative to plastic ring holders for cans, and PaperSeal®, a food packaging tray that uses 80-90% less plastic than traditional food trays.
Doss began his career at Graphic Packaging in 1990 as a sales representative and went on to serve as the plant manager for the Gordonsville, Tennessee and Wausau, Wisconsin folding carton plants. He has held positions of increasing management responsibility ever since.
Prior to January 2016, Doss was President and Chief Operating Officer of Graphic Packaging and also served in various leadership roles, including Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations; Senior Vice President, Consumer Packaging Division; Senior Vice President, Consumer Products Packaging; Vice President of Operations, Universal Packaging Division; and Director of Web Systems for the Universal Packaging Division.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Forest & Paper Association, the Sustainable Forest Initiative, the Paper Recycling Coalition, Sealed Air Corporation, the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Paper & Packaging Board Check-off Program. He is also active in the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
Doss holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Marketing and a Master of Business Administration in Finance, both from Western Michigan University. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s General Manager Program.
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