Gretchen Spear

Gretchen Spear is the Regional Government Relations Manager for the Northern Regional for International Paper. In this position, Ms. Spear works as an advocate for International Paper interests and manages state government relations for IP in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

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 Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  

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 and three kids.