On June 20, 2000, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. John W. Weaver to the Board of the Institute of Paper Science and Technology. Dr. Weaver, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., brings a rich history of achievement to the IPST Board of Trustees and continues its tradition of leadership from the highest ranks of the Pulp and Paper Industry. Dr. James L. Ferris, President of the Institute, said, "We are especially proud to have John join our Board since he is a fellow alumnus of the Institute. We are always pleased when one of our graduates is elected Trustee."

Dr. Weaver earned both his Masters of Science degree, in 1970, and his Ph.D., in 1976, from the Institute. On April 27, 1999, he was promoted to President and CEO at Abitibi-Consolidated following the planned retirements of James Doughan and Ronald Y. Oberlander. Dr. Weaver, the former Vice President of Abitibi-Consolidated and President of Newsprint Operations and Sales, is credited with pioneering many successful initiatives that have been integrated into the company's results-oriented corporate culture. He was instrumental in establishing Abitibi-Consolidated's cost-cutting program and recommended a merger study to prepare the company for its consolidation efforts. A key figure in the 1997 merger between Abitibi-Price and Stone-Consolidated, he also helped execute the company's joint venture with Norway's Norske Skog ASA and Korea's Hansol Paper. Under his leadership as CEO, in February 2000, Abitibi-Consolidated successfully engineered the acquisition of Donohue from Quebecor. Abitibi-Consolidated now produces 6.5 million tons of paper and 2.2 billion board feet of lumber at 25 paper mills and 29 sawmills in Canada, the United States, Britain, and Asia.

Dr. Weaver serves on the Board of Directors of Paprican (Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada), Augusta Newsprint Company, and Alabama River Newsprint Company.

The Institute of Paper Science and Technology is an independent, fully accredited, graduate research school located on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. In a unique partnership with the paper industry, the Institute awards M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In addition, IPST provides the industry with innovative research, informational and technical services, and access to educational development programs.

For more information contact David Bell at David.Bell@ipst.gatech.edu.