INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the election of five new members to serve on its 2024 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors play a key role in advancing INDA’s strategic objectives, actively supporting both the industry and the membership. Their primary responsibility lies in ensuring that INDA remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members and the broader nonwovens industry, guiding the formulation of policies and programs.

“I am pleased to welcome five industry leaders whose strong skills, experience, and insights will greatly benefit INDA,” remarks Tony Fragnito, president of INDA. “Leveraging their collective knowledge, INDA will continue as the destination for industry and technical expertise, workforce development solutions, market intelligence, and sustainability insights within the nonwovens sector.”

The five new Board members include:

Jaren J. Edwards, president, Stein Fibers
Jaren Edwards graduated Summa Cum Laude from NC State University with a degree in Textile Engineering. Following graduation, he began his career at Stein Fibers as a sales representative. In 2009, Mr. Edwards was promoted to vice president of sales and responsible for leading the domestic and international sales team. During this leadership tenure, he moved the sales organization from a traditional sales mentality to a progressive business development and profit generation focus. In 2021, Edwards was promoted to president of Stein Fibers to begin leading a defined 5-year growth strategy for the organization.

Edward McNally, sales director Nonwovens, Oerlikon Nonwoven
Edward NcNally began his career with ITT Federal Systems, Vandenberg AFB, CA as a range safety engineer assigned to the Minuteman and MX Missile Systems Group. He was then recruited by Raytheon Missiles System Division, MA as a Design Engineer for the PATRIOT missile defense system, spending several years in Japan as a technical liaison between Raytheon and the Japan Defense Agency. McNally then returned to the States to join Johnson Yokogawa as a Controls System Engineer. He left the defense business to enter the Nonwovens world by joining a small startup company, J and M Laboratories, GA. Initially a sales engineer for the U.S., McNally went on to gain responsibility for sales of J and M’s meltblown, spunbond and SMS equipment provisions globally. As sales director Nonwoven at Oerlikon Nonwoven (Germany), he continues to be responsible for these activities today.

McNally earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology in Dallas. He went on to earn his MBA, with the emphasis on International Business, from Regis University in Denver, CO.

Thomas Olsen, senior vice president, Americas Business Area, Suominen
Thomas Olsen is currently senior vice president, Americas Business Area at Suominen. Prior to joining Suominen, he was vice president, Healthcare Sales, Transcendia; senior director, Healthcare and Specialties Sales, Berry Global, Inc.; and sales manager, Eli Lilly & Company – Pharmaceuticals.

Patricia A. Sargeant, vice president, Glatfelter Corporation
Patricia A. Sargeant has over 20 years of technical and global commercial experience within the paper machine manufacturing industry and currently holds the position of vice president, Global Sales and Customer Service at Glatfelter. She is also a member of the Senior Executive Team. During her tenure at Glatfelter, Sargeant has partnered with the Innovation, Sales and Operations teams to develop and successfully execute a comprehensive new business development strategy. In addition to identifying and cultivating new strategic sales opportunities, she has provided leadership for key strategic negotiations, as well as oversight to the Airlaid Materials’ marketing and global product management capabilities. Sargeant has led a high performing commercial team that forges strong customer relationships and delivers world-class customer service around the globe. Sargeant is excited to join the board to serve and further advance industry interests in partnership with this important organization.

Sargeant earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Business Management Certification from the University of Ottawa (Canada) and completed the international executive education program at the INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France. She is a native of Canada and has lived across the globe in the U.S, and Europe. Sargeant is conversant in French and English.

Paul Wood, president, Ontex North America
Paul Wood joined the Executive Committee of Ontex in the new role of president North America, on April 1, 2023. Wood brings a vast experience in general management and commercial leadership, having worked for several large fast-moving consumer goods companies including Frito Lay, Heinz, Samsung and most recently as the chief commercial officer for Church & Dwight. He has an intimate knowledge of the U.S. marketplace including consumer trends, retailer insights and emerging go-to-market strategies, all of which are key to unlocking growth potential in North America. Wood received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and a master’s degree from Webster University.

The Board is comprised of elected Board Officers. One-third of the entire Board is elected each year for a three-year term by INDA’s general membership. INDA’s Executive Committee, empowered to act on behalf of the Board between meetings, consists of the Board Officers plus appointees.

The Executive Committee includes these officers and appointees:

• Chair: Mark Thornton, vice president, The Procter & Gamble Company
• Vice Chair: Barbara Lawless, VP of Sales and Marketing – Medical Products, Precision Fabrics Group, Inc.
• Past Chair: Bryan Haynes, senior technical director for Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Appointee: Mike Clark, president, Filtration Solutions, Hollingsworth & Vose Company
• Appointee: Jodi Russell, vice president R&D, Cleaning Innovation, Packaging & Sustainability, The Clorox Company
• Appointee: Jeff Stafford, vice president of Nonwovens, Milliken & Company
• Appointee: Robert Weilminster, EVP & general manager, US & Canada – Health, Hygiene and Specialties Division, Berry Global
• Appointee: Tom Zaiser, CEO, Indorama Ventures