Winston Plywood & Veneer About Products Safety Resources Contact WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER NEWS Winston Plywood Seeing Record Profits After Increasing Minimum Wage POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON OCTOBER 19, 2021 Stephen Pimpo, a reporter with WCBI, interviewed our team to discuss how increasing our wages by nearly 40% has directly increased company profits. “Our wages are the highest in our history and the business is doing better than it’s ever done before,” says president and CEO Bruce Warren. “I think that’s a great correlation.” We thank Stephen and WCBI for the time and access, you afforded us today for the story. View the full story here. WINSTON PLYWOOD AND VENEER RAISES COMPANY’S MINIMUM STARTING WAGE TO $15.25 PER HOUR POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON OCTOBER 11, 2021 Company has increased its minimum wage by nearly 40% in the last 18 months Louisville, Mississippi – Winston Plywood and Veneer, a state-of-the-art plywood mill located in Louisville, Mississippi, announced today the rollout of a new wage structure whereby every associate employed will make a minimum wage of $15.25 per hour bringing the average hourly wage to $20 per hour. This increase follows a significant increase in July 2020 that elevated the company’s starting wage to $13 per hour, effectively increasing Winston’s starting pay by nearly 40 percent in the last 18 months. “This decision was an easy one – it is right for our business and right for our people. We know that only by recruiting and retaining the best team members can we operate at the highest level,” said Bruce Warren, CEO of Winston Plywood. “We’ve worked hard to be an employer of choice in Winston County and are happy to pay a starting wage of nearly double the minimum required in Mississippi to all of our hardworking team members.” Under the new wage structure, all team members will earn a minimum of $15.25 an hour for day shifts and $16.50 per hour for evening shifts, with higher wages for more skilled positions such as heavy equipment operators, material handlers, and maintenance. Opportunities for internal advancement are available and further increased compensation is offered based on experience. “The new wage structure is an investment in our team members old and new that we are proud to make. Our people make it possible to operate safely and productively each day and we are pleased to take this next step to attract, hire and retain the very best talent possible,” said Chasta Rauccio, Vice President of Human Resources. This wage increase for hourly positions follows the launch of Winston’s Ambassador Program, a new initiative announced in September to strengthen workforce recruitment and retention. The Winston Ambassador Program recognizes a select group of leaders from across the company for their leadership, dedication, and selfless approach to making Winston an exceptional place to work. Ambassadors participate in job fairs and community events, share Winston’s culture with potential new hires and coach new team members during their employment transition. The Ambassador Program is supported by the company via a new referral bonus program to reward current employees for each new team member they recruit, with more earnings possible based on the longevity of the recruited team members. “Winston Plywood is a pillar of the Louisville community and an engine for our local economy. These wage increases are the latest action by Winston to demonstrate their commitment to the livelihoods of our families and continue to establish Winston as an exceptional place to work in Winston County,” said Will Hill, Mayor of Louisville. About Winston Plywood and Veneer Winston Plywood & Veneer produces and distributes engineered specialty plywood and veneer products for industrial markets and plywood for the building product markets in North America from its state-of-the-art facility in Louisville, Mississippi. With approximately 400 associates, it is one of the most modern and efficient mills in North America. To learn more, please visit www.winstonplywood.com. Winston Plywood & Veneer Ambassadors POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON AUGUST 18, 2021 Winston Plywood & Veneer Ambassadors: Ken Howard, Shirley Lee, Rose Triplett, Levon Pickens & Shaunery Thompson By STAFF REPORTS Bruce Warren, CEO of Winston Plywood said that members of the Winston team who were selected as the initial ambassadors participate in job fairs and community events, share Winston’s culture with potential new hires, and coach new team members during their employment transition. “What makes Winston special is our people, many of whom are true leaders in Louisville and its neighboring communities as well as in the mill,” Warren said. “We know that to compete and win, we’ll need to continue to attract, hire and retain the very best talent possible. He said that each ambassador has distinguished themselves as mentors and community stewards who share their work experience as a peer resource for questions, mentorship, and camaraderie. “By creating this new Ambassador Program, we’re investing in those who have already taken a leadership role and asking them to help us build an even stronger team in the years to come,” Warren said. Three of the five ambassadors started with the company in 2017. Thompson has the second shortest time with the company with Levon Pickens, who joined the team in May 2021, being the newest. “In many ways, Winston Plywood is the heartbeat of Louisville, Mississippi, and we take that responsibility very seriously. This Program recognizes those who have made the commitment to help us be great, every day, and to help us find those who want to build their careers as part of our family. We could not have chosen a more amazing group of people to be our first Ambassadors,” said Chasta Rauccio, Vice President of Human Resources. The Ambassador Program is supported by the company via a new referral bonus program to reward current employees for each new team member they recruit, with more earnings possible based on the longevity of the recruited team members, Rauccio said. Winston Plywood and Veneer produces and distributes engineered specialty plywood and veneer products for industrial markets and plywood for the building product markets in North America from its “state-of-the-art facility” in Louisville. With more than 375 associates, it is one of the most modern and efficient mills in North America, Warren said. The inaugural members of the Ambassador Program include: Shirley Lee, a recognized leader in the community who has recruited several new team members throughout his tenure who have become long-term employees since joining Winston in 2017. Shirley is a leader in the community and co-sponsors a back-to-school celebration and supply drive for underprivileged children. Levon Pickens, who in his short time since joining the Winston team in May 2021 has already become a leader on the floor and recruited multiple new employees. Rose Triplett, who has earned the reputation as a leader of the hourly team members since joining Winston in 2017. Rose is a trusted source of guidance for team members, whether new or veteran. Ken Howard, who joined Winston in 2017, speaks to many of the orientation classes and represents Winston in the community, resulting in many talented recruits introduced to the company. Shaunery Thompson, who is a member of the Choctaw Reservation and has recruited several team members since joining the company in 2018. Winston Plywood & Veneer Officially ‘Open for Business’ POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON APRIL 5, 2017 Premier Plywood Mill in North America Officially Opened at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony; Governor Phil Bryant, Mayor Will Hill Highlight Unique Partnership Hundreds of New Jobs Created as Winston Plywood Helped Community Rebuild Louisville, MS – Joined by federal, state and local leaders, company associates and members of the community, Winston Plywood & Veneer today hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new plywood mill in Louisville, Mississippi. The location was once home to a shuttered mill that was destroyed when an F4 tornado struck three years ago. Today, in its place stands a state-of-the-art plywood facility that employs over 300 associates and is expected to generate tens of millions in annual economic activity for the region. “Today is a great day for all of us who work at WP&V,” said Winton Plywood & Veneer President Jon Pierce. “We could not be more thankful for the collaboration and support we’ve had from Mayor Hill, Governor Bryant, the Mississippi Development Authority and those across our community. Everyone has stood with us as we worked together to make this mill a reality.” “The grand opening of Winston Plywood & Veneer is a momentous occasion for this community and for our great State, showing what can be done when business partners with government at all levels to create jobs and spur economic growth,” Gov. Bryant said. “I am thrilled to be back here, standing with these newly-hired workers and this company, to celebrate the official launch of this outstanding manufacturing business in Mississippi.” “When we broke ground here two years ago, in the aftermath of a devastating storm, we said we would stay the course until we delivered and opened the finest plywood mill in North America. I am very proud to say today that we have kept that commitment, and that the future for this business is bright,” said Andrew Bursky, Chairman and Co-Founder of Atlas Holdings LLC, the parent company of New Wood Resources LLC. Winston Plywood & Veneer is an operating company of New Wood. “This occasion is to celebrate hard work, partnerships, community, and most of all hope. Our community has experienced the great recession, plant closures, and a devastating natural disaster in recent years. Winston Plywood & Veneer’s commitment after the storm forged a storybook partnership, giving hope to a community in need,” said Louisville Mayor Will Hill. “I am eternally grateful for the cooperation with our partners and sincerely believe this project is a beautiful example of how public/private partnerships work in economic development. The synergy of Federal, State and local government working with the private sector has given a rebirth to plywood manufacturing in Louisville, Mississippi. I would also congratulate all the hard-working people of Winston Plywood & Veneer for making history in our community.” Winston Plywood & Veneer is well positioned for sustained success in the marketplace. The company’s leadership team collectively brings nearly a century of direct industry experience and expertise; overall, the team includes 304 professionals, nearly two-thirds of whom are residents of the local community. Each associate has participated in extensive skills development training relevant to their job function and completed a comprehensive, mandatory workplace safety curriculum executed by WP&V. The safety and well-being of each team member is the primary pillar upon which the company is built. The first such plywood mill constructed in the United States in over two decades, the WP&V facility boasts 287,000 square feet and is over 765 feet in length — large enough to house five football fields. The company sells structural and industrial plywood and veneer, procuring its logs from sources all within sixty miles of the facility. The company’s products are used for industrial applications, furniture and residential construction. About Winston Plywood & Veneer Winston Plywood & Veneer is an operating company of New Wood Resources LLC, an Atlas Holdings company. With over 300 associates, its new facility in Louisville, Mississippi is a state-of-the-art mill spanning nearly 300,000 square feet long and 765 feet in length. It is one of the most modern and efficient mills in North America. The company can be found on the web at www.winstonplywood.com. About Atlas Holdings LLC Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, Atlas and its affiliates own 17 companies that employ approximately 21,000 associates and operate from more than 120 facilities across the globe, generating more than $5 billion in revenue annually. Its companies are engaged in a variety of industries, including steel, paper and tissue, packaging, aluminum processing, automotive, building materials, capital equipment, construction, energy, industrial services, power generation, and supply chain management. Visit www.atlasholdingsllc.com to learn more. Winston’s David Morel Receives NAACP Award POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON DECEMBER 13, 2016 Click here for the full article. Jon Pierce named Winston Plywood President POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON NOVEMBER 7, 2016 Click here for the full article. WPV Mill Ships First Major Orders POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON NOVEMBER 7, 2016 Click here for the full article. Machinery Parade POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON JULY 5, 2016 Read the full article here and a second article here. Louisville Municipal School District Partners with Winston Plywood POSTED BY WINSTON PLYWOOD & VENEER ON JUNE 22, 2016 Read the full article here. 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