The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) recently presented its most prestigious accolade, the Robert T. Gair Award for lifetime achievement, to former President and CEO of WestRock, Steven Voorhees, during the association’s Fall Meeting and Leadership Conference in Savannah, Georgia. The industry stalwart accepted the award surrounded by family, colleagues, and other folding carton industry leaders.
During his acceptance speech at PPC’s Fall Meeting, Voorhees explained his leadership philosophy. “Great leadership is based on commitment, knowledge and support,” said Voorhees. “Not the ‘New Year’s resolution’ kind of faux commitment, but the deep commitment to something where you’re doing that [as] opposed to something you’d rather be doing. Knowledge, meaning the foresight to do something efficiently and then effectively. And lastly, support, by giving feedback to others when others don’t necessarily want to give it.”
Voorhees said it was the teamwork of all employees that made his time at WestRock both worthwhile and successful. “Design, marketing, sales, operations would not be standing without the commitment, knowledge, and support of our team. I hope that I’ve given a small portion of all that you’ve given me, because I’ve been given so much,” he said. “You can’t be successful without the support of others.”
WestRock Chairman John Luke reflected on Voorhees’ ability to lead with both humanity and kindness. Luke said, “Steve is a wonderful leader, incredibly bright, but even more important to me was that he was a wonderful person, extremely humble, an excellent listener. He truly cares deeply about his people and the entire organization, and those attributes led Steve, as CEO, to make transformative change in our culture.”
