Roseburg Forest Products reports that Jake Elston will join the company as senior vice president of operations on February 18, 2019. In addition, Mike Reardon was named director of industrial products manufacturing, effective January 1.
Elston will be responsible for all Roseburg manufacturing operations, including both industrial and structural products. The company says he has an established and respected reputation in the wood products industry, with 23 years of experience in manufacturing and operations.
Elston began his career as a superintendent and technical director at Willamette Industries, became manufacturing director for Weyerhaeuser Co.’s North American Composites Business, and moved on to Arauco North America, where he served most recently as vice president of operations.
He served seven years as an aviator, mission commander, and flight instructor for the U.S. Navy. He earned an MBA from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“We are thrilled to have Jake join the executive team at Roseburg,” Roseburg President and CEO Grady Mulbery says. “His extensive history with wood products, including broad national and international experience, allows us to structure our executive leadership to maximize opportunities for continued growth and development.”
Elston will work closely with Roseburg’s Ashlee Cribb, who has been promoted to senior vice president – chief commercial officer, responsible for the sales, marketing, and logistics functions, and the supply chain initiatives for the company.
“While the face of the company remains unchanged in the marketplace, our internal ability to leverage the strengths and collaboration that Jake and Ashlee bring to the table will propel Roseburg to continued success in future opportunities,” Mulbery adds.
In his new role, Reardon will oversee the entirety of Roseburg’s industrial products manufacturing structure. This is the third promotion for Reardon since he rejoined Roseburg in January 2017 as plant manager for the company’s composite panel plant in Simsboro, Louisiana.
Reardon served as plant manager for another Roseburg facility from 2006-2009.
“In the past two years, Mike has made a significant impact through process improvements at Simsboro and our other industrial products plants,” Industrial Products Business Director Jim Buffington says. “After more than 30 years in wood products, he brings a depth and scope of experience to improve and enhance oversight of our operations.”
Mike Henry replaced Reardon as plant manager at Simsboro Composites, effective January 14, 2019. Henry brings 25 years of experience successfully managing particleboard, MDF and TFL operations for companies including Jeld-Wen, Del-Tin Fiber and Arauco. He most recently served as vice president of operations for Essential Cabinetry Group in Greenville, South Carolina.
