New Leaf Paper. Paper with a Past, and a Future.

Jeff Mendelsohn, President and Co-founder:

Jeff has focused his career on his parallel goals of building a highly successful green business and driving a fundamental shift toward sustainability in the paper industry through his business model. Founding New York Recycled Paper in 1991 and New Leaf Paper in 1998, Jeff has been a visionary leader in the evolution of the green business community. He was one of the early pioneers to create a business with 100% integrity around its mission and values, building them into every product line and every transaction. Jeff was also a pioneer in confronting challenging environmental issues through a positive vision. His vision of a sustainable paper industry, which he shares through frequent public speaking invitations, helped shift the dominant paradigm from equating environment responsibility with cost and remediation to opportunity, business success, and value for the greater community. Jeff has extensive relationships with other green business leaders and actively participates in the evolution of the green business community through membership in Business for Social Responsibility, Social Venture Network, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, and, most recently, as a founding signatory of B-Corporation.

In addition to his responsibilities as CEO, Jeff leads New Leaf Paper’s product innovation, creating a wide selection of market leading environmental papers that fit his vision. Since it was founded in 1998, New Leaf Paper has pioneered the market for environmentally leading papers, and has inspired some of the largest paper companies in the world to pay attention to environmental concerns. He enthusiastically embraces the next phase in the evolution of New Leaf Paper, as the company rapidly grows from pioneer to leader in this new marketplace.

Jeff studied international relations at Cornell University (Class of 1989). His research into international capital flows and the Latin American debt crisis led him to understand the power of business and the imperative to harness that power toward positive ends. He is the recipient of numerous awards from both mainstream and socially responsible business communities for his efforts. Jeff actively enjoys the natural world he works to protect, as a surfer, rock climber, and outdoors enthusiast.

John Black, Vice President of Sales:

John has played a significant role in New Leaf Paper’s growth over the past 7 years by driving the company’s sales from $5.5 million in sales in 2000, to $26 million in 2007. His understanding of the market opportunity and his vision and leadership in developing New Leaf Paper’s sales strategy have been critical components of the company’s success. As a senior member of the company management team, he has recently taken over responsibility for operations, including customer service and supply chain. Under his leadership, the company is improving efficiencies and ensuring that the customer experience is unmatched in the industry. Prior to joining New Leaf, John spent 9 years with xpedx, starting as a Management Trainee and ending his tenure as a National Sales Manager. Xpedx is the nation’s largest distributor of paper and paper products with a focus on retail and commercial printing. As National Sales Manager, he grew sales from $15 million to $100 million, negotiated contracts with the company’s largest customer, and led negotiations with Fortune 500 companies. He was also responsible for a national sales team, support for 125 locations and key contracts with mill partners. After xpedx, he spent one year with PaperExchange, an e-commerce, business-to-business, third party exchange for trading goods and services over the Internet, where he was responsible for e-procurement sales efforts. Prior to xpedx, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1991.

Owen Cox, Director of Finance:

Owen manages New Leaf Paper’s finances, both operationally and strategically, helping define company strategy, future cash needs, and best use of financial resources. Owen brought extensive experience working in paper and related industries to New Leaf Paper, having been a Corporate Controller at a large printer/publisher of yearbooks and a major, international pulp and paperboard producer. Owen is a natural fit at New Leaf Paper. Awakened to the environment harm of traditional paper manufacturing while working within the industry, he left to pursue graduate work in environmental science. After serving a number of environmentally oriented non profits, he found his calling at New Leaf Paper, where he can best integrate his skills, experience, and values. Owen pursues the quiet sports: hiking, cycling, paddling and Nordic skiing at every opportunity. His children and their families are the loving reminders of our relationship with the generations to come.