John DeJarnette, Smurfit Westrock Senior R&D Scientist, Named Recipient of TAPPI’s Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Award the achievement award recognizes remarkable leadership and service. Also in news Margaret Gorog, TAPPI Fellow, Honored with TAPPI’s 2026 Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award. Renowned honor recognizes inspiring volunteer leaders.
John DeJarnette, Smurfit Westrock Senior R&D Scientist. Named Recipient of TAPPI’s Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Award
TAPPI, the leading association for the pulp, paper, tissue, packaging and converting industry, is pleased to announce that John DeJarnette, has been named winner of the distinguished Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Award. The award recognizes remarkable leadership and service to one or more TAPPI Local Sections. Recipients are individuals whose exceptional service has resulted in significant and measurable benefits to TAPPI Local Sections through a single activity or through longtime efforts.
“Mr. DeJarnette’s continued service and dedication to the Gulf Coast TAPPI/Dixie PIMA Local Section is truly commendable,” said TAPPI President and CEO Lawton C. Roberts. “I look forward to presenting him with the Magnabosco Award at TAPPICon®.”
DeJarnette is a Senior R&D Scientist with Smurfit Westrock leading fiber technology research and development projects from laboratory work to pilot evaluation and mill scale up in the areas of virgin, recycled, and alternative wood fiber types. He is an active member of the Gulf Coast TAPPI/Dixie PIMA Local Section, having served initially on the Executive Committee, later completing the Chair rotations including multiple years as Chaiman of the Local Section. DeJarnette continues to serve by organizing and running technical meetings and local engagements.
DeJarnette holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from James Madison University and was awarded a Graduate Certificate in the Foundations of Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 2018.
The award will be officially presented at TAPPICon, April 26-29, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Margaret Gorog, TAPPI Fellow, Honored with TAPPI’s 2026 Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award
TAPPI, the leading association for the pulp, paper, tissue, packaging and converting industry, is pleased to announce that Margaret Gorog, TAPPI Fellow, has been named winner of the prominent Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award. The Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals for voluntary leadership and their support in advancing the mission and vision of TAPPI and the industry.
“Margaret’s dedication to TAPPI exemplifies the spirit of service that the Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award was created to recognize,” said TAPPI President and CEO Lawton C. Roberts. “For more than three decades, she has volunteered her expertise, time, and leadership to strengthen the Engineering Division, improve technical resources for our members, and mentor the industry’s next generation. Her impact on TAPPI and the industry will be felt for years to come and I’m looking forward to presenting the award to her at TAPPICon.”
Gorog is a Member of Houghton Cascade, LLC and has provided materials engineering support to the pulp and paper industry for over 35 years covering corrosion control, materials selection, inspection, welding and failure analysis.
A TAPPI member since 1990, Gorog has devoted more than three decades to advancing the organization’s Engineering Division and supporting knowledge-sharing across the pulp, paper, and packaging industries. Throughout her career, she has held more than 30 officer roles within the Division’s committees and leadership positions on the Division Council, while remaining actively engaged in the Plant Engineering Committee and other technical initiatives.
Gorog’s service has been particularly influential in maintaining and advancing TAPPI Technical Information Papers (TIPs), where she has participated in numerous workgroups and chaired efforts to develop new and updated technical guidance for mill engineers. Her work has helped ensure that TAPPI’s technical resources remain relevant and valuable for industry professionals working in maintenance, reliability, and asset integrity.
In 2010, Gorog received the TAPPI Engineering Leadership and Service Award and Amec Foster Wheeler Prize. She received the TAPPI Corrosion & Materials Engineering Committee Dennis Anliker Service Award in 2013 and was named a TAPPI Fellow in 2018.
Among her many accomplishments within the association, Gorog was the first woman to serve as chair of the Engineering Division in 2018 and played a key role in revitalizing the Project Management Committee, helping strengthen engagement and participation within the division. Her leadership has also encouraged greater participation from young professionals and women engineers in the industry. She was named TAPPI’s Women in Industry Division’s Woman of the Year in 2025.
Originally from the Vancouver area, Gorog received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Hougthon Cascade Holdings, LLC in 2023, Gorog worked as a materials engineer for Weyerhaeuser and International Paper.
The award will also be officially presented at TAPPICon, April 26-29, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
About TAPPI:
TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and converting industries and publisher of Paper360° Magazine, Tissue360° Magazine and TAPPI Journal. Through information exchange, events, trusted content and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that lead to better, faster and more cost-effective ways of doing business. It has provided management training and networking to the industry’s leaders for over 110 years. For more information, visit TAPPI’s website.
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