PaperChain Chats: Jan Gottesman, Kelly & Spicers Paper
Industry Insights | NPTA | February 18, 2021
“I actually never wanted to be in the paper business,” Jan Gottesman says with a rueful smile.
It seems like an unexpected statement to come from a 35-year paper industry veteran and the chairwoman of NPTA’s board. But Gottesman, who joined NPTA’s Lauren Liacouras for a recent PaperChain Chat, explains that her early resistance to the industry was borne out of teenage rebellion. Gottesman comes from a family with a strong, multi-generational tradition of working in the paper industry, and initially chafed at the idea of following in her relatives’ footsteps. Her perspective changed when she accepted a position with Neenah Paper and ended up falling in love with the paper industry.
Gottesman, who has a strong background in marketing and sales and has worked in both the manufacturing and distribution sides of the business, lauds the paper industry’s camaraderie. Members of the industry forge strong connections and remain close with their peers over the course of their careers, she says. It was this strong connection to her peers that partly inspired Gottesman to take on a more active role within the industry. Her efforts to advance the mission of NPTA led her to becoming the association’s first female chair.
She is excited about the year ahead for NPTA. Though the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancelation of in-person networking activities, Gottesman says NPTA remains focused on the four pillars guiding the association: networking, education, industry trends and advocacy. She is particularly excited for the Paper CEO series currently being developed, which will include webinars and discussions of current industry trends, among other features.
Gottesman also highlights the Emerging Leaders program as an important element of what NPTA is currently doing. The program is focused on helping members of the industry grow their leadership skills and network with peers so that they can become the industry’s leaders in the years to come. The ultimate goal, Gottesman says with a chuckle, is to help them prosper so they can have 35-year careers of their own to rival hers.
Over the course of her career, Gottesman has moved through different roles and responsibilities with different companies. She is now the president of Spicers Paper and Kelly Paper. Gottesman says every stop in her career has been valuable for different reasons.
“Every role I’ve had in the paper industry has taught me something different,” she says.