PaperChain Chats: Paul Crilly, Spicers Paper
PaperChain Chats | NPTA | August 25, 2021
As the end of the summer approaches, Paul Crilly — the general manager of the Seattle and Portland divisions of Spicers Paper — has one piece of advice for people looking to use vacation time.
“Totally disconnect!” Crilly tells NPTA’s Lauren Liacouras in the latest PaperChain Chat. People might feel like they’re supposed to check their email or spend a few hours working when they’re on vacation, but Crilly vehemently disagrees with this philosophy. If you actually give yourself real time off from work when you take vacation days, you’ll return “truly refreshed and ready to get back to work,” Crilly says.
He also advocates for people to use downtime wisely when they are working remotely. If you find yourself with some free time in your day, try reading a book or taking a class, Crilly suggests. In doing so, you will stay engaged and keep your brain moving, even when things might be slow at work.
Crilly — who grew up in the paper industry thanks to his father’s career — spent 20 years in sales before moving to a management position two years ago. Until he made the change, Crilly’s focus was mainly on sales-related topics. Now that he is managing Spicers’ Pacific Northwest division, he has found himself immersed in every aspect of the business, from finance to operations and more.
“It’s an exciting business; there’s a lot to it,” he says. “It keeps me on my toes every day.”
He is also a member of the Emerging Leaders program, and credits the program with broadening his network. Participating in Emerging Leaders, Crilly says, has helped him meet people from a variety of backgrounds who work in a variety of roles within the paper industry. Through conversations with his peers, Crilly has learned more about the challenges and opportunities facing people across the industry.
Watch the full PaperChain Chat for more.