Ryan Chappell, former President of Louisiana Corrugated & AICC Board Member

Ryan Chappell, former partner and President of Louisiana Corrugated, Monroe, La., and former member of the Board of Directors of AICC, passed away on Thursday, March 11, following a long illness. He was 62.

He graduated from Caldwell Parish High School in 1976 and attended Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana in Monroe) where he graduated with a degree in accounting along with a master’s degree in business administration. During his years as President of Louisiana Corrugated, Ryan was an active AICC member and was named to the AICC Board of Directors as Regional Director in 2008. He served in that capacity for three years and then served as an Advisor to the Chairman for AICC Chairman Andrew Pierson in 2011-2012. He then was named as a Director at Large, and he served in that capacity until 2015. As a member of AICC’s Board of Directors, Ryan was active in the Membership & Marketing Committee, the Paperboard, Regulations & Sheet Supply Committee as well as the Educational Development Committee.

AICC Technical Advisor Ralph Young remembers Ryan: “He was always searching for better ways well beyond containerboard and corrugated. He was willing to fail even if he though a new product or process would advance the industry. He was the first in line to sign up for innovation and technology even when it was mostly brown boxes. We collaborated on several articles about modern forestry and best land use practices. I was always honored that he would use me for both knowledge and as a sounding board.”

Taryn Pyle, Director of Education and Talent Development for AICC, said, “Ryan was a true mentor. He served on the Education Committee not only when he was on the AICC Board, but also after his retirement from his company. He wrote numerous articles for Boxscore, created a course on AICC’s Packaging School and served as a mentor and guide for AICC’s Emerging Leaders. He had a passion for writing and teaching and was always available to bounce off ideas on how AICC could help its members. One of his main passions was teaching front line employees how to think smart and save the company money on their everyday operations.”

His hobbies included woodworking, cooking, travelling, music, writing, family, and flying. As a pilot, he was a volunteer in the organization Pilots for Patients, donating his flying skills to transport those in need to medical centers around the south-central states.

He is survived by his mother, Sandra Chappel; his wife of 40 years, Susan; one son, two daughters and three grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks a donation to either MD Anderson research or Pilots for Patients.

MD Anderson

https://gifts.mdanderson.org/Default.aspx?tsid=10503&noamt=true&chosen=100&intcmpid=mdaccorg_donate

Pilots for Patients:

https://www.pilotsforpatients.org/default.asp

Or mailed donations to Pilots for Patients 3127 Mercedes Drive, Monroe, LA 71201.