Suzanne Blanchet, Cascades Tissue Group CEO, Wins Gold in 2013 Stevie Awards for Women... -- CANDIAC, QC, Nov. 9, 2013 CANDIAC, QC, Nov. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Suzanne Blanchet, president and CEO of Cascades Tissue Group, has won a Gold Stevie® Award for the "Female Executive of the Year in Canada" category in the 10th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. This internationally renowned award was given to her as recognition of her outstanding contribution to her company and industry. Under her leadership, Cascades Tissue Group has become a billion-dollar leader in the tissue industry, pioneering environmentally sound and innovative paper products. "It is with profound gratitude and great humility that I receive this award," stated Suzanne Blanchet. I would like to share it with my colleagues, who all contributed to Cascades Tissue Group's success and international recognition. Recognizing a Female Pioneer in the Tissue Industry As the first woman to chair a paper company in North America, Suzanne Blanchet was a perfect candidate for a Stevie Award for Women in Business. Her impressive career, which started as a finance intern and evolved to her becoming president and CEO of Cascades Tissue Group in 1997, has been hallmarked by tenacity, dedication to her employees and a willingness to constantly push boundaries and innovate. The launch of innovative products such as Cascades® AntibacterialTM paper towels and expansion of Cascades' tissue activities in the United States - two recent examples of initiatives she's led to expand Cascades' recognition as an industry leader in sustainability and innovation - are indicative of her unique qualities as a visionary and willingness to take calculated risks. "Since her début at Cascades, Suzanne has always pushed the limits," said Mario Plourde, Cascades' President and CEO. She is energetic, direct and transparent, and she's always looking for greater and better things for Cascades. Through her leadership, she successfully built a billion-dollar business starting from a one-plant operation. She is an example of determination and success, and we commend her on this meaningful honor. An Award for Women Changing the Face of Business "For 10 years we have been recognizing the achievements of women in the workplace, and this year's nominations were the most impressive class the judges have ever reviewed," said Michael Gallagher, founder and president of the Stevie Awards. We congratulate all of this year's winners for their achievements. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are the world's top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to submit nominations - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2013 awards received entries from 18 nations and territories. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for "crowned," the awards were presented to winners during a sold-out event at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. More than 1,200 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration. Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 240 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process this year. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Women. Cascades Tissue Group, a division of Cascades, ULC, is the fourth largest manufacturer of tissue paper in North America. Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fiber. The company employs more than 12,000 men and women, who work in more than 100 units located in North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, close to half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to serve its clients with innovative products. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol CAS. SOURCE Cascades Inc.