Ginger CushingGinger Cushing
Professional Member
Ponte Vedra, FL It isn’t often that you hear someone describe membership in an organization as “a darn good time,” but that’s exactly how TAPPI member Ginger Cushing describes it. “I’ve been active with many industry organizations,” she says, “but TAPPI’s Polymer, Laminates, Adhesives, Coatings and Extrusions (PLACE) Division is unique in that we have a fraternity of colleagues that solve problems, win business together and have a darn good time doing it.” A professional member since 1988, Ginger first joined TAPPI at the urging of her colleagues at Mica where she was a bench chemist. Later she moved on to management positions in R&D, technical support, and sales of adhesives and coatings for the converting industry. Currently Ginger serves as the Business Manager / Americas for Michelman Inc.’s water based coatings for flexible packaging. A graduate of the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Chemistry, she also holds two Master’s Degrees, one in Polymer Chemistry from Polytechnic University of New York (now New York University) and the other in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. An active member in PLACE, Ginger has held all of the Chair positions in the Division council. She has also chaired the Extrusion Coating course, and has written and delivered a host of white papers for TAPPI conferences and symposia, and delivered courses on primers, oxygen barrier and adhesion promotion. A past recipient of best paper and best session awards, she was named one of TAPPI’s Finest Faculty for her participation in short courses and symposia. Her volunteer activities also extend to authoring and presenting technical papers and chairing conferences for organizations aligned with TAPPI’s mission, including the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminates (AIMCAL), the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). In 2007, she was chosen by her peers to receive the PLACE Division’s Leadership and Service Award and Andreas G. Ahlbrandt Prize in recognition of her dedication and service to the Division. Ginger says being so active in TAPPI has provided many lasting benefits to her career, including a go-to network of packaging experts whose knowledge has helped her win new business on many occasions. “They help me understand the individual elements of packaging and how our components and processes work in concert.” Q. Why did you decide to join TAPPI?
A. My coworkers at Mica made me see that TAPPI was the place to be! Q. Please describe your involvement with TAPPI over the years.
A. I have been active in the PLACE division and have held all chairs in the division council, as well as on the former extrusion coating and flexible packaging committees. I’ve also chaired the extrusion coating short course. Q. How has TAPPI helped you in your career pursuits?
A. I’ve developed a network of “go-to” experts who help me understand the individual elements of packaging and how our components and processes work in concert. Through my TAPPI network, I have collaborated with resin suppliers, film producers and equipment suppliers to win business on countless occasions. I have been honored to win the Andreas Ahlbrandt prize for leadership and service, and listed as one of TAPPI’s Finest Faculty. Q. Tell us about some of your interests outside of TAPPI and your professional life.
A. I am a patient volunteer with Hospice, and in training to become an ambassador for the organization. I like to walk on the beach and play bad golf. Q. Can you share a unique or fun fact about yourself?
A. My dogs are smarter than I am, but I don’t shed as much as they do. Q. Closing sentiments?
A. I have been active with many industry organizations. TAPPI PLACE is unique in that we have a fraternity of colleagues that solve problems, win business together and have a darn good time doing it.
Ginger Cushing
Q. Tell us about some of your interests outside of TAPPI and your professional life.