Dave Barr
Director of New Product Development – BioriginDave Barr has over 25 years of experience in the paper Industry. Since February 2022, he has been serving as the Director of New Product Development with Biorigin SP.
Dave’s career began in 1996 and he has held various roles including Process Engineer, Product Specialist, Account Representative, Technical Manager, Operations Manager, Mill Manager In both MG and Tissue, and also served as the Director of Secondary Fiber Development.
Brit Swisher
Area Vice President – Northern Region of Midland Paper, Packaging +SuppliesBrit Swisher is Area Vice President – Northern Region of Midland Paper, Packaging +Supplies, one of the nation’s largest independent paper and packaging distributors. He has over 40 years’ experience in distribution and sales of printing and specialty papers. Brit earned a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing and an MBA at Eastern Illinois University. Brit serves as a Board Member of Great Lakes Graphics Association.
Ryan Day
General Manager – BPM PaperRyan Day’s career in the paper industry started in 2003 after graduating from UW Stevens Point with a degree in Paper Science. His career includes positions at Badger Paper Mills and Kemira prior to him joining BPM Inc. in 2009.
While at BPM, Ryan has held roles as Technical/Quality Manager, Paper Mill Manager, and Plant Manager prior to becoming General Manager in 2023. Ryan was born and grew up in central Wisconsin and presently resides in Peshtigo. His hobbies include golfing, bowling, and enjoying the outdoors.
Dean Benjamin
Director of Product Development – AhlstromDean Benjamin received a B.S. degree in Paper Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, he studied computational and experimental fluid mechanics of the roll coating process under Professor L.E. Scriven.
Upon graduation, Dean joined Avery Dennison as a Research Engineer at the Avery Research Center in Pasadena, CA where he led projects to develop coating processes for the production of pressure sensitive labels and tapes.
Dean then joined Consolidated Papers, Inc. as a Senior Research Engineer at their R&D facility in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. After five changes of ownership, he is currently the Director of Product Development for Ahlstrom located at their Stevens Point, WI mill. Dean is focused on developing new specialty paper products for food packaging including barrier and heat seal papers, labels, release liners and other industrial papers.
Dean Benjamin is the Director of Product Development for Ahlstrom in Stevens Point, WI. Dean is focused on developing new specialty paper products for food packaging including barrier and heat seal papers, labels, release liners and other industrial papers.
Mark Hunter
Value Stream Manager andDirector Technology Innovation – Hoffmaster Group Inc.
Mark Hunter has over 25 years of pulp and paper experience as an Asset Manager, Production Manager, and Process Engineering/Technical Superintendent. Currently, Mark is the Value Stream Manager and Director Technology Innovation at Hoffmaster Group Inc. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Maine and an MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Mark leads a team of 32 maintenance and engineering employees at Hoffmaster Group Inc., a leading printed napkin and paper plate plant with 420 employees.
