Rosy Covarrubias

Rosy Covarrubias is innovation director – Packaging at Buckman Laboratories in Memphis, Tn., specializing in sales, project management, marketing, technical service, and research and development. She began her career at Buckman in 1997 as a senior development specialist and has held roles of increasing responsibility ever since, including project leader, manager of product development, technology director, and product line manager.

Prior to Buckman, Rosy worked for Papelera De Chihuahua S.A. De C.V., in Chihuahua, Mexico as a process engineer. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the Instituto Technologico de Chihuahua in Mexico, a Master’s in polymer chemistry from the University of Portland, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a Project Management Certification from Western Carolina University.

Rosy joined TAPPI in 1997 and is a TAPPI Fellow. She has presented at several PaperCon Conferences and has served as a Session Chair since 2005. Rosy serves on PIMA’s Women in Industry Executive Council and is an active member of TAPPI’s 2021 TAPPICon Steering Committee. She also served on TAPPI’s 2015 Centennial Celebration Steering Committee and as Chair of the Paper and Board Division Steering Committee, Papermaking Additives Committee, and Papermakers Technical Program Committee. Rosy has also contributed to TAPPI’s Technical Information Papers (TIPs) reviews and instructed the TAPPI Tissue Runnability Workshop.  

She is the recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Chemistry Award and TAPPI’s 2021 Paper and Board Division Leadership and Service Award and the Oscar May Prize. Rosy has more than 15 patents and has authored over 75 publications including Micro and Nano Particles in Papermaking and Make Paper Products Stand Out, TAPPI Press's recent release.

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?When I first moved to the USA for my master’s degree, I had to take English composition as a pre-requisite; that class sparked my interest in writing. Once I joined the workforce and started my career in research and development, I found that writing fostered my ability to explain and refine my ideas to others, and gave me the opportunity to present my work at different conferences and in magazines. I find writing rewarding and relaxing.

2. What is your work schedule like when you’re writing for a TAPPI publication?
I work full time and I am fortunate that my company allows me to spend time writing articles or technical papers as part of my personal development. I tend to do my best writing in the early morning when I can focus 100% of my attention without interruptions.

3. What advice do you have for anyone considering writing for a TAPPI publication?
Just get the courage to do it. Select a topic in which you are an expert and write as much as possible, then you can refine. It takes time and hard work to become a master at anything, but you will find it very rewarding. Writing for TAPPI gives you the opportunity to make an impact in our industry.