Lawrence Paper Co. (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
been talking to Russ about this for about 15 or 20 years. We didn’t know if it would ever happen, but we continued to talk, and it finally happened.” Andrea and Russ were business owners in North Caro- lina, so they had applicable experience and their children are in high school and college, so the timing for a move was right. The Packards are also minority stockholders in Lawrence Paper Company. Another son-in-law, Mike Cordaro, who is married to Hill’s youngest daughter, Erica, also joined the company as Design and Technical Services Manager, thus ensuring the continuity and stability of Lawrence Paper Company’s fifth generation.
Russ Packard spent a year getting up to speed on the corrugated industry as a whole, and specifically learning the operations side of the business, as well as the process flow on the Lawrence “campus.” He then transitioned into a management role for sales and operations. The Fremont and Hutchinson sheet plants also report to Packard. “It’s actually been a lot of fun but it’s also been and a whirlwind for the past 18 months,” he says of his transition experi- ence. “There were a lot of challenges, especially with the pandemic and the general economic conditions.” “Because we were deemed an ‘essential business’ and a ‘critical supplier,’ our doors were open the whole time,” says Andrea. “We had to make some adjustments. We had people working remotely when feasible and we imposed strict limits on travel. But in terms of our level of business, we’ve been blessed. Our employees didn’t miss a single day of production throughout the entire pandemic, which is remarkable given the tenuous and scariness of the sit- uation.” “The employees should be commended,” adds Russ. “They embraced the challenges. Like other companies in the industry, we’ve had dramatic increases in produc- tion, which put a lot of pressure on the staff, but we came through it terrifically while making some big capital im- provements along the way.” Lawrence Paper invested in an AG Stacker Flexi-Deck Stacker to maximize production and keep its operators safe.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
28 November 15, 2021
www.boardconvertingnews.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online