Editor’s note: Through 2022, FlexPack VOICE®will feature a short profile on a member of the FPA team based in Annapolis, Maryland. “Meet the FPA Staff” is a way for you to get to know those you work with in a more personal way. Abigail Trumpy is FPA’s director, regulatory affairs.
FlexPack VOICE®: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Abigail Trumpy: I was born in Annapolis and raised on the rural Eastern Shore of Maryland. I graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a B.A. in English and from Maryland Law School with a concentration in environmental law. I moved to Baltimore to attend law school and have been there ever since.
FPV: What was your career path and how did you end up at FPA?
AT: I decided to attend law school, because I was interested in regulation and legislation, particularly as they pertain to the environment. I stumbled upon this position at FPA not too long after graduating from law school, and it allows me to engage with all those interests and much more.
FPV: Talk a little bit about your duties with FPA. What do you like best and what are some of the challenges going forward?
AT: I am the director of regulatory affairs at FPA. I began in September 2021, and am filling—as best I can—the role of Ram Singhal as he retired after his long career here. I work a lot with our environmental, health, and safety (EHS) committee to stay on top of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations, as well as with the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council (SPMC®). I help to facilitate communication between our committee members, answer questions, draft comments, and provide regulatory updates. Since I am new to the industry and do not have a technical background, learning about the details of the flexible packaging industry has been both the most interesting and most challenging part of my job thus far.
FPV: What do you like to do when you are not working?
AT: I like to hike, read, and spend time on the water. In college, I was on the rowing team, and I hope to pick that hobby back up someday.
FPV: Anything that you would like to say about your family?
AT: I live in Baltimore with my boyfriend and our very spirited dog, Merit. I feel very fortunate to be close with my parents and little brother and to be able to spend time with them often.
FPV: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
AT: I’m very happy to be part of the FPA team and to be working in an industry that is so impactful and innovative. I look forward to seeing the industry develop from a firsthand perspective, and I look forward to continuing to work with our members.