Terry Third Thursday

Julie Schertell

When Mativ president and CEO Julie Schertell (MAcc ’92) was tasked with managing the merger of culture and operations at legacy paper firms Neenah and Schweitzer-Mauduit International to create a new leader in specialty materials, she saw the opportunity to build a 21st-century materials company.

Schertell, who served as CEO of Neenah before the merger, spent a career in the paper and materials industry. She tapped into that experience as she brought the two organizations together, integrating the businesses and delivering transformative growth.

Known as a change agent and leader who believes culture and values shape the performance of an organization, Schertell spent 15 years at Neenah before the merger. She took the helm as CEO as COVID was emerging in the spring of 2020 and led the organization through the crisis with record-level cash flows and increased employee engagement.

She began her career at Georgia-Pacific in 1992 in a finance role. During her 15 years at the company, she served in several roles including vice president of sales and marketing strategy, vice president of supply chain, director of sales operations and director of financial planning and analysis.

Schertell graduated from Florida State University in 1991 with her bachelor’s degree in accounting and received her MAcc degree from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business in 1992.