Granite Valley Forest Products Brings Jeff Thebo Onboard
Granite Valley Forest Products, based in New London, WI, recently brought Jeff Thebo onboard as their new operations manager. As operations manager, Thebo will have a hand in all aspects of the company, including sales.
Granite Valley produces Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Walnut, Basswood, Aspen, Hickory, Chestnut, Poplar and eastern white pine in thicknesses of 4/4 through 8/4, all Forest Stewardship Council certified, BMSB certified in Australia and New Zealand, as well as European Union and United Kingdom compliant. They offer ripped to width lumber. Granite Valley has 40 dry kilns, 60 bay green bin sorter, 100 carts off their dry line and two sawmills. Granite Valley purchases 400,000 board feet of kiln-dried lumber monthly (5 million board feet annually).
Thebo’s first job in the forest products industry was as a rewinder assistant at Appvion, formerly known as Appleton Papers, in 1991. He went on to be a machine operator, shift supervisor, area manager and operations manager at Appvion. He then spent seven years at Thermal Value Stream as operations manager before joining Granite Valley.
Thebo went to high school in Clintonville, WI, and earned his associate’s degree from Fox Valley Technical College. Thebo is a Continuous Improvement Leadership Instructor, Conflict Resolution Instructor and the winner of the Chairman’s Award for Service and Quality in 2006 and 2007.
In his spare time, Thebo enjoys spending time with his wife of 31 years, his two sons, Jared and Austin and his grandson, Carter. He is a fan of all collegiate and professional Wisconsin sports.
For more information, visit www.granitevalley.com.
Automation & Electronics USA Welcomes Tyler King
Automation & Electronics USA (A&E), located in Arden, NC, recently welcomed Tyler King as their new optimizer salesman. A&E manufactures optimization and controls solutions for the wood products industry.
King has been in the forest products industry since 1996, where he started at Pittston Coal Company and oversaw land management and log procurement. He has also spent time at Cranberry Lumber as plant manager and a harvesting forester, New River Hardwoods as vice president of West Virginia operations and vice president of sawmill operations, as well as Allegheny Wood Products as plant manager and project manager.
King earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Tech in 1996.
In his spare time, King enjoys hunting, fishing, running and cycling. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
A&E is a member of the Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club.
For more information, visit www.automationelec.com.
iDRY Releases Their New Air System, iDRY AIR
iDRY, located in Barre, VT, who is known for manufacturing vacuum kilns for drying mainly niche wood products, recently developed a new kiln system, iDRY AIR, that can be bolted on to a shipping container or similar structure, providing a low-cost easily accessible solution to drying hardwoods or softwoods.
The iDRY AIR is designed to dry 4,000 board feet in a 20-foot side-loaded shipping container. The exterior dimensions of a suitable chamber would be 8x8x18. A container or shed can be insulated with a closed-cell spray foam product or Styrofoam panels.
iDRY is effective and efficient for drying wood products that have lower value or provide lower margins, noted Brian Kingsbury, iDRY’s lead engineer, including Red Oak, pine and even firewood. The AIR system allows airflow to move heat to the wood. There are times when the drying process does not require as much heat and airflow. This allows for a reduced fan speed, providing a substantial savings in energy costs, according to Jim Parker, owner of iDRY.
For more information, visit www.idrywood.com.
MiCROTEC Welcomes Todd Gibson
MiCROTEC is thrilled to welcome Todd Gibson as the new sales account manager, based in the southern United States. Gibson brings over 21 years of experience in the sawmill industry, including nine years in optimization. He played a key role in launching three Lucidyne scanners during his time at Weyerhaeuser. In his free time, Gibson enjoys hunting and cheering on Mississippi State University.
According to a MiCROTEC spokesperson, they are proud to offer leading scanning and optimization solutions backed by a team of industry experts, ex-graders, engineers and specialized technicians. MiCROTEC is a member of the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Southern Forest Products Association, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association and the Western Wood Products Association.
For scanning solutions in the southern United States, contact Todd Gibson at todd.gibson@microtec.us or to learn more about MiCROTEC’s scanning solutions visit www.microtec.us.
The AGL Group Welcomes Adis Nadarevic As Their Newest Drayage Analyst
Adis Nadarevic recently joined The AGL Group as a drayage analyst, where he is poised to make a significant impact on the company’s drayage operations. In his new role, Nadarevic is responsible for optimizing drayage processes, analyzing performance metrics, and developing strategies to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. His expertise aims to drive the success of AGL’s drayage program and foster continuous improvements in service delivery.
Nadarevic graduated from Englewood High School in Jacksonville, FL, before earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of North Florida. With nearly a decade of experience in the Transportation and Logistics sector, Nadarevic has established a strong track record in freight management and transportation coordination. His career commenced as a freight specialist at a brokerage firm, and he further honed his skills at Florida East Coast Rail, managing transportation operations across Jacksonville, Atlanta and Charlotte. This background underscores his capability to navigate complex logistical challenges and deliver operational excellence.
Prior to his focus on transportation and logistics, Nadarevic accumulated valuable experience in the financial services sector, including roles in auto finance and the mortgage industry. This diverse background has endowed him with a keen analytical perspective and a thorough understanding of financial management, which he now applies to enhance logistics operations and improve financial outcomes for AGL.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Nadarevic is an avid soccer enthusiast and a dedicated supporter of Manchester United. He enjoys attending various sporting events, such as soccer, basketball and football. Nadarevic shares his life with his fiancé of eight years and their Golden Retriever. Together, they value time spent at home, visiting the beach and engaging in other leisure activities.
For more information, visit www.theAGLgroup.com.
