Student participation in Environment Day at Delta Force

Student participation in Environment Day at Delta Force

On Thursday, August 24, Delta Force students attended an Environmental Awareness Day event where they heard from experts from Billerud and the Michigan State University U.P. Forestry Innovation Centre. The seventh session of this year's Delta Force programme introduced students to Billerud's intriguing growth and history as well as the cutting-edge activities taking place at the Forestry Innovation Centre.

The day began at Billerud's Escanaba mill with a talk by Pamla Versailles, director of health and safety, who provided students a safety overview and discussed the economic significance and history of the Escanaba mill.

Engineer Mike Nelson from Billerud Technical Services educated the pupils on the production of paper.

Charles Detiege, the mill's environmental manager, outlined the vital job the mill conducts to adhere to environmental rules. Detiege, Nelson, and Technical Services Engineers Taylor Kansier and Heidi Cook then gave the party a thorough tour of the mill with an emphasis on environmental stewardship.

The students then went on a bus tour of the Billerud mill grounds and visited the Production, Scheduling, and Distribution (PS&D) and E4 Paper Machine Systems. PS&D Supervisor Joe Versailles gave the group an explanation of the packaging and shipping procedure.

Delta Force students were given an update on the transformation project and the mill's sustainability journey by Billerud Vice President of Technical Services Mike Glodowski following their tour of the mill.

Pam Versailles stated that it was a pleasure to be able to share this dedication with the Delta Force students since "Billerud is committed to protecting human health, the environment, and utilising resources in a responsible and sustainable manner."

Versailles, a Delta Force alumna herself, said her time in the organisation taught her a lot about the neighbourhood. "Billerud puts one or two people in each Delta Force class," she said. We think it's a chance to give back to the community and a terrific method for our staff members to discover how they can have a good influence on their neighbourhood. We anticipate that after they leave Delta Force, our staff members will stay involved in their communities, which is in everyone's best interest.

Patricia West, a Delta Force student, was motivated by the historical significance of the mill and the economic impact of Billerud.

"I really enjoyed combining the history of the paper mill with the walking tour," West remarked. The mill has employed numerous generations of my family over the years, so getting the chance to finally observe how they conduct their daily business let me come full circle.

Then, Delta Force students inquired and discovered more about Billerud's financial effects. The impact is enormous, amounting to an average annual economic impact of close to $360 million, including wages, salaries, taxes paid, and raw goods and services acquired.

Following a lunch supplied by Billerud, students continued their day's activities at the MSU U.P. Forestry Innovation Centre.

Students went on a tour of the sugar bush at the Forestry Innovation Centre to view the maple trees, lines, and tanks. Additionally, they visited several sites in the woods and attended professional presentations on subjects like invasive species and ash trees. They also learnt about the willow and harvest process and how it combines with biomass from Director of the U.P. Forestry Innovation Centre Jesse Randall, Operations Forester Kile Zuidema, and Forest Technician Tyler Tankersley.

After seeing the maple syrup evaporator and the finished goods up close, students learned about the maple syrup production process in the Innovation Center's sugar house and maple store. Adrienne St. Vincent, the coordinator of the Innovation Centre Office, gave kids samples of "Yooper Gold" pure maple syrup treats including maple cream and maple cotton candy while also demonstrating their production.

Search "Yooper Forestry" on Facebook to find out more about the Forestry Innovation Centre.

Students from Delta Force will hear from entrepreneurs and experts in economic development next month during Economic Development Day.