Who Leads NIPHLE and How Is It Organized?
Updated
NIPHLE — the National Institute of Packaging, Handling, and Logistics Engineers — is led by an eight-person team of officers and members-at-large, with day-to-day direction from an Executive Director. The organization is governed by its own by-laws and supported by a Sustaining Companies program that brings industry partners into its structure. The named leadership listed on niphle.org is:
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Joe Madron |
| Vice-President | Jennifer Smith |
| Treasurer | Dr John Schmuff |
| Secretary | Lisa Aversa |
| Executive Director | Mary M. Keane |
| Member-at-Large | Elyse Atoe |
| Member-at-Large | Laura Nelson |
| Member-at-Large | Davies Molloy |
How the leadership roles divide up
The officer positions cover the standard functions of a professional association:
- President — leads the organization and its mission of advancing military packaging, handling, and logistics.
- Vice-President — supports the President and typically steps in when needed.
- Treasurer — oversees the organization's finances.
- Secretary — handles records and official correspondence.
- Executive Director — the named staff lead for the organization, listed alongside the elected officers.
The three Members-at-Large — Elyse Atoe, Laura Nelson, and Davies Molloy — sit on the board without holding a specific officer title, which is a common way for associations to broaden representation beyond the officer slate.
What sits underneath the leadership
Two structural pieces appear alongside the team listing on niphle.org:
- NIPHLE By-laws — the governing document that sets out how the organization operates. If you need the formal rules on terms, elections, or duties, this is the source to check rather than the team page.
- NIPHLE Sustaining Companies — a program for companies that support the organization, described on the site with the invitation to "Join our Select Group Today." This is the industry-facing side of NIPHLE's structure, complementing the government and academic members.
Why the structure matters to you
If you are deciding whether to engage with NIPHLE, the leadership layout tells you where to direct a question:
- Technical or program questions — start with the Executive Director's office, since that role carries the staff lead function.
- Governance, elections, or formal process — go to the By-laws first, then the Secretary.
- Partnership or sponsorship interest — the Sustaining Companies program is the relevant entry point.
NIPHLE was founded on August 8, 1956, in Washington, D.C., and describes itself as a forum connecting industry, government, and academic engineers in military packaging, handling, and logistics. The current team listing reflects that three-sector makeup in how the organization presents itself.