“Success travels in the company of very hard work. There is no trick, no easy way.” – John Wooden

Meet Kevin Bachota | A hard-working Yazoo employee who has been with our company for 11 years and strives each day to make an impact not only on his team but also on the company and our 15,000+ customers. Kevin works vigorously at any given task and completes it with maximum efficiency; always going above and beyond what is needed. He’s passionate about learning new skill sets and helping take the company to the next level which has landed him the promotion to Winding Supervisor.

In his new role, he is responsible for scheduling the work orders between machines in Winding to meet customers’ deadlines, maintaining high-quality standards while ensuring that his operators are also focused on quality, and communicating with various department supervisors to ensure efficiency across the board. He also focuses on driving company policy & discipline, ensuring all safety procedures are acknowledged & followed, and leads, teaches and coaching his team to be successful as well as have the tools and knowledge to continue operating as the supplier of choice for paper tubes and cores.

Kevin contributes his 11-year tenure at Yazoo to many different things. He says “Yazoo Mills is a family-owned company and the people that work here have become a part of my family, literally. The pay and benefits are second-to-none in the area, career advancement opportunities and safety are a priority that is taken very seriously.”

In his spare time, you can find Kevin spinnin’ the DJ table at weddings and events, spending time with his family, coaching his son’s travel baseball team or grilling and relaxing by the fire.

Fun facts:

• Kevin was born in Los Angeles, CA and lived in Vegas until he was 8 years old
• Het met his wife at a roller skating rink and fell in love with her instantly
• He loves to roller skate and is very good at it – “I’m a skate shuffler”

Congrats on your well-deserved promotion, Kevin! We’re excited to watch you grow in your new position.

Layke Ensor is a driven individual who is passionate about helping out his teammates and leading them to achieve daily success within their roles. An energetic employee who leads by example, Layke embodies Yazoo’s mission, vision, and values and strives each day to continue helping Yazoo be the leader in the paper tube and core industry.

Manufacturing has always been in Layke’s blood – he previously worked for a local manufacturer as a forklift driver, material handler, and production operator. Eight years ago, Layke set out on his journey here at Yazoo Mills on 2^nd shift as a Winding Operator. He then transferred to a 1^st shift Winding Operator position then floater and was recently promoted to his most current role as a Lead in the Winding department.

As a Lead, Layke is focused on learning the supervisory role as he manages six employees and their respective machines, helps maintain efficiency, collaborates with his teammates on innovative solutions, and maintains integrity day in and day out.

Layke contributes his tenure to enjoying his job and the family atmosphere here at Yazoo; a home away from home, where everyone has each other’s backs. The ability to be able to teach the younger employees and keep the company’s goals at the forefront are what motivates him.

In his spare time, you will find Layke pulling his camper to a new site to enjoy the outdoors with his wife and five kids as well as locating a cool, new hiking trail that allows them to explore and create memories.

Congrats on your job promotion, Layke! We know that you will shine in your new role!

Exceptional employees are the core of a great business. They are the ones who seek out learning opportunities, find solutions to problems, provide feedback and take responsibility.  All of those great qualities mentioned, lead to career advancements.  Yazoo is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Tanya Berkey to the new role of Administrative Assistant.

Tanya, a 15-year Yazoo Mills veteran, started her career in shipping for a local architectural products business before joining our team as a shipping clerk and then order prep. If you’ve ever stopped by our New Oxford location, you’ve been greeted by Tanya’s smiling face, eager to meet you at the lobby reception window.

In her new role as Administrative Assistant, she is responsible for accounts payable and helps out wherever needed in the front office. She also fills in for shipping and order prep, too.  When asked about what she likes best about working at Yazoo, she said “It’s no secret – Yazoo compensates their employees very well and have wonderful benefits!  I also love the team atmosphere — everyone is willing to work together and help out however they can.”  In her spare time, you can find Tanya enjoying all things outdoors and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Congrats on your promotion, Tanya. We are lucky to have you!