Born: I was born Feb. 22, 1971, in Waterford, Michigan.
Education: I earned a Bachelor of Science in Clothing Textiles and Merchandising and a Minor in Business in 1993 from Florida State University.
Family: I have been married to Bill Ragans since 1995. I met him while cheerleading at FSU. He was the captain of the football team. We have two children who both attend FSU—Tripp (20), a sophomore in the Honors College, and Bailey Kay (18), a freshman and an FSU cheerleader.
When and how did you enter the recycling industry? I graduated from college and moved to Atlanta to work in the fashion industry. When I married Bill in 1995, he was a graduate assistant football coach at FSU in Tallahassee, Florida. Being a fashion buyer in Tallahassee was not an option at the time, so I went to work at Capital Recycling. I was going to work there temporarily while looking for a position in fashion. Once I was bit by the recycling bug, I was hooked for life. While working at Capital Recycling, it became part of The Newark Group, Recycled Fibers Division. I worked at Recycled Fibers until 2000. I joined the Wilmington Paper team in July 2000. I have been here for 22 years now, serving as the national sales manager of North America.
What was it about the industry that prompted you to build a career in it? When I started my career in the recycling industry, I had no idea I would fall in love with it. I did know I wanted to do something in my career that was challenging and interesting—and I wanted a career where I could make a difference. I appreciate the relationships I have built, the connection I have to my suppliers, and the pure joy I feel everyday knowing that the value I provide is not only creating enhancements for our customers, but also reducing our impact on the planet.
What have been your most rewarding professional achievements? When I joined Wilmington Paper in 2000, we handled less than 50 folding-carton facilities across North America. I have had an integral role—working alongside our visionary founder Stuart Lurie—implementing “The Program” in over 300 folding-carton and converting operations from integrated to nonintegrated facilities, reducing environmental impact, and creating millions of dollars in value. I continue to ensure that the culture, efficiency, communication, and revenue enhancement continue to thrive as we expand our footprint around the world.
Personal achievements? I am extremely fortunate to have been married to a wonderful man for 27 years and have two incredible children. I am most proud of my son and daughter. Watching them become incredible young adults has been my most cherished achievement.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about working closely with our customers to create value from waste streams, keeping it from the landfill, continually innovating in our industry, and pushing myself to realize my best for my customers every day.
The recycling industry has grown and evolved significantly in the past 30 years. When I joined, it was largely a male-dominated industry, but that is changing. I see myself as setting the stage for women to continue to become leaders in this industry. My passion is to illustrate to my daughter that women should be expected to be in leadership positions, have a voice, and be successful.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people. I got a hole-in-one on hole No. 3 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.
If you could improve anything about yourself, what would it be? I have traveled the world for a living, and when I am home, I’m working long hours. I would love to improve my work-life balance and spend more time with my family.
What do you like to do in your free time? I love traveling with my family, going to the beach, snow skiing, and attending all FSU Seminole sporting events. We have been season ticket holders for over 30 years. Go Noles!
When and why did your company decide to join ISRI and the PSI Chapter? Our company joined the National Association of Recycling Industries [an ISRI predecessor association] and PSI years before I joined the company. It was our way to learn the standards and practices as well as the rules and regulations.
Have you held any PSI leadership positions? If so, what motivated you to become a volunteer leader? I joined the Membership Committee shortly after going to work at Wilmington Paper and worked with a Subcommittee on Grade Standardization. I felt this would be a great way to meet leaders in our industry and build relationships that I still have today.
What benefits have you received from your PSI involvement as a member and/or leader? I started in this industry only a few years out of college. I found that the PSI members had a tremendous knowledge about policies, grade specifications, and best practices—everything a young person starting out in the industry needed to know.
What are the major challenges facing your company and the overall recycling industry today? Over the last five months, we have seen one of the sharpest drops in pricing for corrugated and brown grades that the industry has ever experienced. The bulk-grade market has been declining since last year but took a nosedive in August 2022. The paper mills have continued to reduce their purchase orders, while some took market-related downtime. This created major inventory and logistical problems as well as added disarray to what has already been a difficult shipping environment. However, the industry is cyclical, has faced many pivots, and is extremely resilient. Despite challenges, I am excited to continue to serve our customers and create value for them every day.
