Paper Days
“The UMPPF provides us access to students/graduates who have a solid education, who know about our industry, and who have work experience in mills or with vendors who support our operations.”
-Dale Wibberly, Human Resource Manager Sappi North America
Where industry connections are made.
Our annual Paper Days event brings students, donors, pulp and paper industry leaders and employers, UMaine faculty and Foundation staff together for two days of networking and special events.
This extraordinary event kicks off with a panel breakfast, followed by guest speakers, entertainment, industry panel discussion and keynote. The two-day event concludes with social hour and banquet dinner attended by all.
Save the Date!
Paper Days 2025
Date: April 1-2, 2025
Location: Wells Conference Center, UMaine – Orono Campus
Paper Days Archives
2024 Paper Days
Date: April 2-3, 2024
Location: Wells Conference Center, UMaine – Orono Campus
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ben Patel, Chief Innovation and Science Officer, WestRock
Tuesday, April 2 – Engineering Building Tours and Tailgate Kick-off Event
Guests who would like a tour of the Process Development Center (PDC) in Jenness Hall, the Advanced Structures & Composite Center (ASCC) or the new Ferland Engineering Education & Design Center (EEDC) on April 2nd should register early (by 3/20/24) to select preferred tour start times. The ASCC requires background checks and tours for that facility cannot be scheduled after that date. Tour group size is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wednesday, April 3 – Full Day Program at Wells Conference Center
Breakfast and Student Panel Discussion, NEW THIS YEAR: Morning Breakout Sessions hosted by NE TAPPI/PIMA, Guest Speakers, Luncheon, Research Presentations, Annual Meeting, Social Hour and Banquet Dinner. Please see Paper Days 2024 Agenda for more details.
2023 Paper Days
Date: April 4-5, 2023
Keynote Speaker: Laurence Mott – Executive V.P. for Development & Technology, Tetra Pak
Another year of Paper Days fun continued at the Wells Conference Center. In addition to tours of the Process Development Center (PDC) and the new Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center (EEDC), attendees heard from industry leaders like Kevin Gunning, Sr. Vice President – Innovation North America, Huhtamaki.
2022 Paper Days
Date: April 5-6, 2022
Keynote Speaker: Heather Dubois, VP and General Manager, Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company
UMPPF’s 72nd annual Paper Days event was themed SUCCESSion Planning – Onward and Upward. We heard from many amazing panelists and speakers, including Wade Merritt, MITC President and State Director of International Trade, and Dana A. Humphrey, Dean of Engineering, Saunders Professor of Engineering Leadership and Management, University of Maine.
2021 Paper Days
Date: April 6-7, 2021
Keynote Speaker: Mark Kowlzan, Chair & CEO, Packaging Corporation of America
UMPPF hosted a virtual Paper Days in 2021, which included streamed presentations, Zoom social hours, and more. Sustainability – Preserving Talent and Resources was the theme of this event. We heard from industry leaders like Joe Clark, Global Sales Manager at Forest2Market, Inc.
UMaine Pulp + Paper Foundation