The Total Package: Conway, Consumers, Containers & More 

Sponsored by Nabholz Construction

Rich Bachus

President of SMC Packaging Group
Rich received his undergraduate degree at Drury University with a major in business and economics and a minor in communications. After a two-year stint at Frito Lay as a Packaging Supervisor, Rich returned to SMC to spearhead their corrugator project in 1983. While in that role he ordered containerboard, plant supplies, scheduled the plant, was safety director and also managed their trucking fleet.

In 1987, Rich took on the role as a Regional Sales Representative and did that until 1992 when he became Corporate Sales Manager. In 1996, he also became President of SMC Packaging and maintains that responsibility to this day.

From 1972 until his graduation from college in 1981, Rich did many things at SMC from cleaning offices and the plant to working on almost all machines during his summers and holiday breaks.

Today, SMC Packaging Group has locations in Springfield, Missouri, Kansas City, Conway and Tulsa. SMC is an ESOP organization with over 500 employees. Rich has been married to the love of his life for 40 years in May of 2021. Rich and Jana are blessed with 3 wonderful children, 2 sons-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 4 amazing grandchildren. 

Trey Bell

Plant manager of West Rock
Trey Bell is plant manager of West Rock and has worked in the packaging industry there since 1999. He graduated from Baylor University and received his M.B.A. from UA-Little Rock, which is where he met his wife.

His career in industry started with a job as a quality manager. He spent the next 22 years at WestRock Company, working in the Folding Carton division in Quality, Process Improvement, and Customer Service. He is a Certified Quality Engineer. He has served as the plant manager at the Conway facility since 2017. The Conway WestRock Folding plant was honored as the Westrock Folding Plant of the Year in 2020. The Conway Folding plant currently has 271 employees. WestRock Company currently has 50,000 employees in 320 locations across five continents.

He and his wife recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. She is a proud graduate of Hendrix College. They have one child, Clifton, who is currently enrolled at UCA.

Matt Syzmanski

Vice president of mill operations at Green Bay Packaging
Matthew Szymanski is Green Bay Packaging’s Vice President of Mill Operations. In this role, he has responsibility for the Company’s Green Bay Mill Division, Arkansas Kraft Division, and Pinecrest Paper Slitting Division.

Prior to being named vice president of mill operations, Mr. Szymanski was the vice president/general manager of Arkansas Kraft Division with previous experience of over 30 years in chemical/process engineering, technical sales, operations management, and general management. Before his work at Green Bay Packaging’s Arkansas Kraft Division, Mr. Szymanski spent much of his career at Green Bay Packaging’s 100% recycled, 100% closed water loop mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he held the position of general manager prior to moving to Arkansas.

Mr. Szymanski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Wisconsin System.

Andrea Woods

Moderator and executive vice president and corporate counsel for Nabholz Construction
Andrea G. Woods serves as Executive Vice President and Corporate Counsel for Nabholz Construction in Conway, Arkansas. The first female board member elected to Nabholz Companies’ parent group, The Nabholz Group, Inc., in 2012, she manages all legal matters for Nabholz companies. Founded in 1949, Nabholz has over 1,200 employees. Nabholz is licensed to provide construction services in 35 states and has office locations in Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Andrea serves as a member of the Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission and the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law. She is former Chair of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Outgoing Chair of the Conway Regional Health System Board of Directors and has served on the Arkansas Bar Association Board of Governors with two terms on the House of Delegates.

Ms. Woods and her husband, Jeff, have been married 26 years and have two grown children.