WOW background
JULY 17 - 20, 2023
Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Atlanta, Georgia

Conference Schedule

Monday, July 17

WIPES Academy

WIPES Academy

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Instructor: Heidi Beatty, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Abbey, LLC

From wipes design and production to cost implications and packaging, the two-day WIPES Academy is centered on every facet of the multibillion dollar wipes product and marketing sector­ from raw materials, converting, wet and dry wipes to medical, industrial, and consumer wipes. The course is essential for technical and management professionals interested in learning the research, development, and manufacturing of wipes.

Separate registration fee. Pre-registration is required.
Learn More about WIPES Academy >>

Welcome Reception

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Imperial Foyer
265 Peachtree Center Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Tuesday, July 18

WIPES Academy

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Instructor: Heidi Beatty, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Abbey, LLC
Learn More >>

Networking

Breakfast Connections
8:30 am - 9:00 am

Start your day with a continental breakfast each morning before the conference and engage face-to-face connections with your customers, business prospects and peers. INDA’s staff can help make any introductions you need – just ask us.

Welcome

9:00 am - 9:05 am

Moderator: Tony Fragnito, President, INDA

CEO Panel: Priorities & Predictions

9:05 am - 10:05 am

Moderator: Chris Astley, Principal, Astley Consulting

Inflation, supply chain and capacity/demand balance remain top concerns for wipe producers in 2023. As business leaders drive both structural and financial responses to these issues many are also looking to seize opportunities for differentiation. Join our panel discussion with nonwoven executives to discuss this changing landscape and implications for our industry. Topics will include subjects as diverse as inflationary impacts across the organization, surging wages, re-shoring as well as domestic and international drivers to supply/demand balance.

CEO Panel: Priorities & Predictions
Steve Gallo, CEO, Diamond Wipes International, Inc.
Learn More »
Markus Mueller, Vice President Sales & Marketing Reifenhauser Group and Sales Director Reicofil, Reifenhauser Reicofil GmbH & Co. KG
Learn More »
RJ Rudolph, Group Director - CMS-RT, Rockline Industries
Learn More »
Jodi Russell, Vice President R&D, Cleaning Innovation, Packaging & Sustainability, The Clorox Company
Learn More »
Robert Weilminster, EVP & General Manager - US & Canada - HHS, Berry Global
Learn More »

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
10:05 am - 10:30 am

Plastic Policy: Closing the Intention-Action Gap

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Moderator: Olivia Reiber, Key Accounts Manager, Wipes & Specialties, Berry Global

Trends for the Plastics Industry - From Regulation to Reputation
Matt Seaholm, CEO, Plastics Industry Association
Learn More »

UN Plastic Pollution Resolution - Update
Lorraine Riffle Caron, Vice President, Global Government Relations, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Learn More »

EU Green Deal: The Next Wave of Legislation Beyond SUPD
Murat Dogru, General Manager, EDANA
Learn More »

Lunch Around

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Take advantage of this extra networking opportunity to enhance your conference experience over lunch at one of Atlanta’s amazing downtown restaurants. Expand your network and get to know your fellow attendees over the lunch break. Lunch Around opportunities will be available on Tuesday, July 18 and Wednesday, July 19. Space is limited; please register in advance. Details regarding your table will be available onsite at registration. $50/person. Space is limited.

Lunch

Lunch (On Your Own)
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

The Road to Rome - Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Sustainable Innovation & Manufacturing: The Impacts of Reducing our CO2 Footprint While Targeting CO2 Neutrality by 2035
Eva Welsh, Evolon Market Manager - North America, Freudenberg Performance Materials
Learn More »

Sustainable Technologies for Sustainable Products
Thomas Weigert, Senior Expert Technology Spunlace & Drying, Truetzschler Nonwoven GmbH
Learn More »

The Nonwoven Wipes Supply Chain Response to “Plastics Free”
Phil Mango, President, Philip Mango Consulting
Learn More »

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

2023 World of Wipes Innovation Award(R) Presentations

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm

WOW Innovation AwardThe World of Wipes Innovation Award® recognizes and rewards innovation within the entire wipes value chain that utilizes nonwoven fabric/technology in a way that expands the usage of nonwovens.

Moderator: Thomas Carlyle, Nonwovens Commercial Manager-Americas, Lenzing Fibers Inc.

Learn More >>

INDA Lifetime Service Award

4:30 pm - 4:40 pm

Moderator: Tony Fragnito, President, INDA

The INDA Lifetime Service Award is given to individuals who have a long-established record of service to INDA, specifically, and the Nonwovens Industry as a whole. Recipients of this award have maintained an active partnership with INDA. This individual would have held a key role in planning and executing the long-term success of at least one of INDA's major events or services. This person is an avid supporter and spokesperson for the nonwovens industry. In summary, the Lifetime Service Award is given to the individual who has given his or her best both personally and professionally to the service of INDA and the Industry.

INDA Lifetime Service Award Recipient
Jan O'Regan, Principal, O'Regan Consulting
Learn More »

INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award

4:40 pm - 4:50 pm

Moderator: Tony Fragnito, President, INDA

The INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award will recognize an individual whose technical achievements, over a career of 20 years or more, have meaningfully contributed to the growth of the nonwovens industry. This technical professional will have a long history of innovation, INDA involvement, and/or commercial success.

INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award Recipient
Seshadri Ramkumar, Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University - TIEHH
Learn More »

Lightning Talks

4:50 pm - 5:20 pm

Moderator: Matt Schiering, Professor of Marketing, Dominican University

Whatever your role within the wipes industry, then the WOW Lightning Talks are your opportunity to connect with a wide range of industry professionals. Lightning talks are “supersized elevator speeches” covering new trends, products and ideas in rapid-fire succession with speakers rotating every five minutes. Five minutes – that’s it. WOW Lightning Talks are a limited-space, first-come, first-reserved added opportunity for tabletop exhibitors to present their latest innovations just ahead of the networking reception. To reserve one of these 5-minute timeslots on either Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, please contact Joe Tessari at jtessari@inda.org or 919-459-3729.

Tabletop & Reception

Tabletop Displays and Reception
5:20 pm - 7:20 pm

Get in front of wipe leaders, innovators, and prospective customers from all over the world. You won't just meet potential clients. You'll meet potential collaborators.

A World of Wipes® tabletop display has proven to be one of the most cost effective ways to reach out to hundreds of wipes senior leaders in one place at one time to promote your brand, products, and yourself.

Wednesday, July 19

Networking

Breakfast Connections
8:30 am - 9:00 am

Consumers: What Are the Little Rascals Up to Now?

9:00 am - 10:45 am

Moderator: Kyra Dorsey, Ph.D., Principal, Glory Group LLC

Give the People What They Want! A Road Trip Through the Consumer Mindset on Plastics, Packaging, Recycling, and What They Expect from the Brands They Buy From
Suzanne Shelton, President & CEO, Shelton Group
Learn More »

Wipe Industry Statistics
Richard Knowlson, Principal, RPK Consulting
Learn More »

Closeness to the Consumer – Goodwipes to Uranus: To Boldly Go Where No Toilet Paper Company Has Gone Before
Sam Nebel, Co-Founder, Goodwipes
Learn More »

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
10:45 am - 11:00 am

Wipes: Whats New & Improved!

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Moderator: Nick Carter, Vice-President of Marketing, Avgol Nonwovens

A Holistic Approach Towards Wet Wipes Preservation
Paul Salama, Ph.D., CTO & Head of Innovation, Sharon Laboratories
Learn More »

An Innovative Approach to Sustainable, Hygienic Diaper Ointment Application & Packaging
Michelle Duchnowski, Psy.D., Founder & CEO, Bringabouts(TM)
Learn More »

Lunch Around

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

See description and registration information on Tuesday’s schedule.

Lunch

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Transparency in the Supply Chain

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Moderator: Jonathan Layer, Director of Commercial Business Development and Marketing, Fibertex Nonwovens

Consumers are becoming more concerned about workers’ rights and the materials that go into consumer products. The need for a transparent supply chain has reached critical mass. A company’s supply chain practices face scrutiny from almost every angle – workers’ rights, product safety and integrity, and environmental responsibility. Very few organizations have the needed systems in place to monitor their supplier network. Join our panelists as they frame the issue. Discover the steps and tools that can be used to protect your company from the legal, financial and reputational risk created by having information gaps in your supply chain. Audience Q&A will be held after a short break.

Why Companies Should Be Managing Their Supply Chain & the Risks of Not Having a Resilient Plan In Place
Chuck Rogers, Americas Director, Technical Consulting & Supply Chain Solutions, Bureau Veritas
Learn More »

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol – Can Nonwoven Manufacturers Create and Follow a Similar Document to Avoid Making Misleading Claims?
Deepika Mishra, Ph.D., Consultant, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Learn More »

Traceability - Documentation, Testing Technologies & New Regulations. Providing Education and Support to the Global Supply Chain
Vikki Martin, Vice-President, Fiber Competition, Cotton Incorporated
Learn More »

Certified Traceability Systems - Their Value & the Security Offered When Making Sustainability Claims
Matt Kocian, Product Manager Director, Berry Global
Learn More »

The Potential Consequences of Incomplete or Absent Claims and Compliance Systems
Edward Steiner, Senior Director, International Trade & Government Relations, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
Learn More »

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm

Transparency in the Supply Chain - Q&A

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Moderator: Jonathan Layer, Director of Commercial Business Development and Marketing, Fibertex Nonwovens

Networking

Coffee & Networking Break
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Lightning Talks

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Moderator: Matt Schiering, Professor of Marketing, Dominican University

See description and reservation information on Tuesday’s schedule.

Tabletop & Reception

Tabletop Displays and Reception
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday, July 20

Networking

Breakfast Connections
8:30 am - 9:00 am

Flushability: Regulation, Innovation, Standards & Education

9:00 am - 11:00 am

Moderator: Marc Morin, Principal Technical Manager, Rockline Industries

Improving Product Attributes of Flushable Wipes / MTT Using Fibre innovation for Better Consumer Experience
Rahul Bansal, Assistant Vice President- Global Sales & Marketing - Nonwovens, Birla Cellulose
Learn More »

Flushability In A Nutshell
Kyra Dorsey, Ph.D., Principal, Glory Group LLC
Learn More »

Flushability Briefs - Consumer Education
Lara Wyss, President, Responsible Flushing Alliance
Learn More »

Flushability Briefs - Legislative Efforts
Wes Fisher, Director of Government Relations, INDA
Learn More »

Flushability Briefs - Standards Development
Matt O'Sickey, Ph.D., Director of Education & Technical Affairs, INDA
Learn More »

2023 World of Wipes Innovation Award(R) Announcement

11:00 am - 11:15 am

Moderator: Tony Fragnito, President, INDA

OUR SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS