Gretchen Spear
Regional Government Relations Manager
International Paper Company
Gretchen Spear is the Northern Regional Government Relations Manager for International Paper. In this position, Ms. Spear works as an advocate for International Paper interests and manages state government relations for IP in in the Midwest and Northeast states. Prior to Ms. Spear’s work with IP, she worked for Dart Container Corporation as the Midwest Government Relations Manager. Additionally, Ms. Spear worked with the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) as the Director of Packaging and Government Affairs. In her position at AF&PA, Ms. Spear worked with the organization’s paper-based packing Sectors to promote the sustainability, renewability and recyclability of the industry’s products and as an advocate for member interests and manage state government affairs for AF&PA in the Midwest.
Ms. Spear holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications with a Political Science emphasis from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, three kids and two dogs.