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Manufacturing 2023: JOHN PARKINSON
A subsidiary of Duroc AB, a Swedish manufacturer specializing in filament yarn and staple fiber, Drake Extrusion has been based in Henry County since 1996, with Parkinson as its CEO since 2001. Its staple fiber is used in various applications such as flooring, rugs, furniture, technical filters, car interiors and nonwoven fabrics. Drake has expanded […]
Manufacturing 2023: HOWARD BROADFOOT
Broadfoot has been CEO of Electro-Mechanical since 2021, when he was promoted from chief operating officer upon the retirement of founder Russell Leonard. It’s been a busy couple of years since then. He shepherded the equipment electric manufacturer through its November 2021 acquisition by private equity fund Graycliff Partners for an undisclosed amount. He has […]
Manufacturing 2023: DAVID LEDESMA
Formerly the head of DuPont’s plant in Buffalo, New York, Ledesma moved south to lead its facility in Chesterfield County in 2021. Founded in 1929, the Spruance plant is DuPont’s largest manufacturing site in the world, and it produces Tyvek, Nomex and Kevlar, materials that were in great demand at the start of the pandemic […]
Manufacturing 2023: JONATHAN JENKINS
In 1976, Culpeper Wood Preservers started from a single location in Culpeper. Today, the company is a leading manufacturer of pressure-treated lumber products for the residential, commercial, industrial and marine markets, with 17 locations around the East Coast and in Indiana and Tennessee. A 1990 East Carolina University graduate who was recruited by the Chicago […]
Manufacturing 2023: M. SCOTT CULBRETH
Culbreth began working for cabinets manufacturer American Woodmark in 2014 as chief financial officer and was named president and CEO in 2020. The company’s cabinet brands include American Woodmark, Shenandoah Cabinetry, Timberlake Cabinetry and Waypoint Living Spaces. In April, American Woodmark reported its net sales increased 11.3% year-over-year in fiscal 2023 to $2.06 billion. Last [&hellip[...]
Manufacturing 2023: BRIAN D. PALIOTTI
In January, Paliotti took over as Afton Chemical’s president, succeeding Gina Harm, who retired at the end of 2022. A subsidiary of Richmond-based NewMarket, Afton Chemical produces and sells petroleum additives. Paliotti has worked for NewMarket since 2008, most recently as its vice president and chief financial officer. He previously worked in finance roles for […]
Manufacturing 2023: NEIL D. WILKIN JR.
Under Wilkin’s leadership, Optical Cable made a strong finish at the end of fiscal year 2022, with $69.1 million in revenue, up nearly $10 million from the previous year. A three-time graduate of the University of Virginia, with undergraduate, MBA and law degrees, Wilkin was an attorney at McGuireWoods and Kirkland & Ellis before joining […]
Manufacturing 2023: ROB WERGE
Werge became president and CEO of Cadence, a contract manufacturer of medical and drug delivery devices, last year. He has more than 30 years of experience in technology-driven contract manufacturing, including leadership positions at Nypro (now Jabil Healthcare), where he led its consumer and electronics business for the Americas region and also led India operations. […]
Manufacturing 2023: ESTER CODINA
Since 2022, Codina has overseen North American operations for Alfa Laval, a leading manufacturer of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling products. She started her new position at the Swedish company after a stint as senior vice president of its U.S. service and marine divisions, a role in which role she boosted customer satisfaction and […]
Manufacturing 2023: FREDRIK HÖGBERG
A Sweden native, Högberg became president of Volvo Penta North America last year and is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of the company’s operations throughout the continent, covering both the marine and industrial markets. Sharing the name of the vehicle manufacturer, Volvo Penta is a supplier of engines and power systems for boats […]
Manufacturing 2023: TOM HAYES
Hayes began working for the Swedish tobacco products manufacturer in 2006, serving as chief financial officer and senior vice president before becoming president in 2020. Swedish Match manufactures and sells smoke-free oral tobacco products that have a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease and lung cancer than cigarettes, according to the Food and Drug […]
Polish glass fabricator expanding in Henry County
Poland-based Press Glass Inc. will spend more than $155 million to expand its operations in Henry County and add 335 jobs, marking the largest expansion in the county’s history, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. The largest independent glass fabricator in Europe, according to a news release, Press Glass will construct a 360,000-square-foot addition at its […]
