Who’s Who in Hardwoods – November 2024

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Who's Who in Hardwoods - November 2024 1
Rebekah Manthei

Rebekah Manthei is co-owner with Sam Manthei of Northern Michigan Hardwoods Inc., located in Petoskey, MI.

Northern Michigan Hardwoods is a manufacturer of hardwood flooring, kiln-dried lumber and landscape mulch. The company purchases an annual total of 130,000 board feet of Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Walnut, Cherry, Ash and Poplar (Select and Better, No. 2 Common, green and kiln-dried lumber, rough, 4/4 through 8/4).

Manthei has been with the company for a total of 19 years and in her current position for 10. As owner-operator, her duties include lumber purchasing, overseeing sales, staffing, inventory, scheduling, logistics, as well as being an equipment operator. She is a graduate of Christian Encounter High School in Grass Valley, CA, and attended North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI. Manthei has been in the forest products industry since her teenage years, when she worked at a sawmill, pulling lumber from the green chain and operating the edger and forklift.

Northern Michigan Hardwoods is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association, the Michigan Association of Timbermen, the Walloon Lake Association, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce.

Additional information can be found at www.nmhardwoods.com.

Who's Who in Hardwoods - November 2024 2
John Griffin

John Griffin is regional vice president of Frank Paxton Lumber Company (Paxton), one of the industrial flagship brands of ADENTRA Inc. ADENTRA is a distributor of architectural products through a North American network of 86 regional customer service centers, they provide supply solutions to over 75,000 customers and clients and do so using four channels to market: industrial, home center, ProDealer and architects and designers.


Griffin is based in Paxton’s Denver office and has oversight of their Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas City and San Antonio locations. Paxton purchases over 10 million board feet of hardwood lumber products yearly, while the ADENTRA companies sell over $230 million in hardwood lumber annually. Hardwood species include primarily Alder, Ash, Basswood, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Hickory, Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Walnut and Poplar, as well as a variety of imported species with a range of thicknesses from 4/4 to 16/4, as well as specialty width sorts and grades from both rough and surfaced material.


Paxton is a manufacturer, importer and niche distributor of premium hardwood lumber, millwork and architectural sheet goods. Each of their facilities manufactures custom architectural millwork and mouldings, and their network of industry relationships enables their team to import or source wood products worldwide. The Paxton branches provide industrial will call and delivery services in their markets. The Paxton Cincinnati and Denver branches offer retail services as well in those markets. Each branch offers value added services including surface planers, ripping, moulding and sanding services.


Griffin has been in the forest products industry for 30 years. He started his first job in the industry as an inside sales representative for Paxton. Currently, he is the regional vice president for Paxton. He also served on the National Hardwood Lumber Association board from 2017-2024. Griffin attended Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.


In his free time, Griffin enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, men’s league hockey and has volunteered as a high school hockey play by play announcer. Griffin has been married to Colleen Griffin for 20 years and has two sons. Paxton is a member of National Hardwood Lumber Association and the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association.
For more information, visit www.paxtonwood.com or www.adentragroup.com.

Angela Smith is the purchasing and work order entry coordinator at E. F. San Juan Inc., headquartered in Youngstown, FL. She is responsible for the purchasing of lumber, raw goods, hardware and shop supplies. Smith is also responsible for the entry of company work orders.


E. F. San Juan is a manufacturer of custom millwork and mouldings, interior doors, exterior doors, impact doors, windows, cabinetry and stair parts. The company purchases approximately 400,000 board feet in species including: Poplar, Red Oak, Appalachian White Oak and Steamed Walnut in FAS1F; Cherry in Select & Better, Soft Maple available in Select & Better SAP, Hard Maple available in FAS1F and Select and Better Nos. 1 and No. 2, Mahogany, Ipe available in No. 1 Premium, Select Cypress in Select & Better, new growth Cypress, Pecky Cypress, old growth Select Heart Pine and sinker Select Cypress. The company uses thicknesses ranging between 4/4 and 16/4.


E. F. San Juan has always prided itself with atmosphere and employee efficiency. The company’s focus is to showcase the natural beauty of wood through expertly designed and crafted custom millwork and cabinetry.
Smith began her career in the forest products industry at E. F. San Juan 16 years ago and has been in her purchasing position for 14. In 2002, Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Florida State University.


In her free time, Smith loves visiting the beach near her home or spending time at her pool. She and her husband, Donny, have three children together. Donny is also an employee with E. F. San Juan.
E. F. San Juan is a member of the Cabinet Makers Association and Institute of Classical Architecture and Art.


To learn more about E. F. San Juan, contact Smith directly by email at asmith@efsanjuan.com or phone 850-403-0370 or visit www.efsanjuan.com.

By Miller Wood Trade Publications

The premier online information source for the forest products industry since 1927.

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