SHORT
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Ralph L.
Rupert, Center Director,
Packaging Engineer
The Center for Unit
Load Design
1650 Ramble Road (0503)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540)231-7106
rrupert@vt.edu
Instructs:
- Basic Corrugated Packaging
and Unit Load Design
- Unit Load Design Short Course
Ralph earned his Bachelor
of Arts in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron.
He worked in plastics for several years before taking a job with
Weyerhaeuser in northern Illinois, where he managed the containerboard
division test lab and continues to teach classes at Weyerhaeuser.
Ralph joined the Center for Unit Load Design in 1999. His job
responsibilities for the center include: managing all testing
for both the William H. Sardo Jr. Pallet and Container Research
Laboratory and the Unit Load Testing Laboratory, evaluating performance
characteristics, and completing industry contracted work with
pallet makers and users. As director of the center, his goal is
to continue to expand and apply systems based design across the
industry – a concept that fits well with current corporate
environmental sustainability initiatives.
He says the most rewarding
part of working with the Wood Science department’s Center
for Unit Load Design is transferring knowledge and offering technical
assistance to students, faculty, and industry clients.
Ralph enjoys landscaping/gardening,
hunting, auctions, and raising Alpacas.
Marshall
S. White, CEO, Industry Consultant
White & Co.
1872 Pratt Drive, Suite 1575-E
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
(540)552-1158
toll free: 1-800-942-7943
cell: (540)449-2100
fax:: (540)552-1178
mswhite@whiteandcompany.net
Instructs:
- Unit Load Design Short
Course
- Wood Species Identification for Pallet and Packaging Suppliers
- 7 Proven Ways to Reduce Your Packaging Costs
Dr. Marshall "Mark"
White has been a member of the faculty in the Department of Wood
Science & Forest Products at Virginia Tech since 1975. Originally
from New Jersey, Dr. White received degrees from Colorado State
University and Virginia Tech. Dr. White is the former director
of the William H. Sardo Jr. Pallet & Container Research Laboratory
and the Center for Unit Load Design. His research and extension
programs through the pallet lab and the unit load design lab focused
on unit load materials handling efficiency.
As a result of his
research expertise, Dr. White has written many national and international
standards for pallets and containers. He is head of the US delegation
to the International Organization of Standardization (IS) TC51
Committee on International Pallet Standards and chairs the American
Society of Engineers MH1 Committee on Pallet & Container Standards.
In his new role as
CEO of White & CO., Dr. White’s consulting specialty
will be in packaging and pallet design solutions that optimize
supply chain performance.
Mark enjoys vacationing
on New Jersey beaches and raising Newfoundlands.
John W. Clarke,
Technical Sales Director
The Nelson Company
5134 Spotswood Trail
Barboursville, VA 22923
(540)832-0807
johnclarke@nelsoncompany.com
Instructs:
- Unit Load Design Short
Course
John Clarke is the
Technical Sales Director for The
Nelson Company, a provider of transport packaging goods and
services with a focus on the interface - pallet, skid, rack, or
container. Products and services revolve around Total Packaging
Management. A systems-based approach to unit load design defines
materials handling requirements from plastic
pallets to wood.
Previously, John was technical sales director for Grate Pallet,
an emerging company in the steel pallet and crate markets. Prior
to working for Grate Pallet, he was Director of the Center for
Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech for six years. He also served
as a Research Associate for the William H. Sardo Jr. Pallet and
Container Research Laboratory for 6 years.
In his spare time,
John enjoys family (4 kids), any outdoor activity, and VT Football.
