Great people make companies great, and we have one here at Yazoo Mills. We are a team of over 200 highly-skilled workers dedicated to providing our customers with the best quality, reliability, and customer service in the industry. We recognize that we would be nowhere without our great employees which is why we treat everyone like family.
At the close of our 120th year in business, we had the pleasure of recognizing all the contributions made by our hardworking team at our annual Christmas luncheon held at The Ballroom on Broadway in Hanover, PA. Over 185 employees gathered for a delicious luncheon catered by Hughes Meats, LLC. Additionally, each employee received a $100 gift card, a Christmas bonus, and a certificate or plaque for employees’ service tenure ranging from 5-35 years!
Thank you to our wonderful employees for making our year a success, and we look forward to a memorable 2023! 👏🏼
Yazoo Mills is pleased to announce the promotion of Rob Rummel to Project Coordinator. In his new role, Rob will be a driving force behind the success of all key projects from start to finish—including research, planning, scheduling, and communication.
A graduate from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in Technology Education, Rummel joined Yazoo in 2019 on the front lines of the Winding Department. In a short period following, he moved on to the back lines within the department to produce small ID stock paper cores & tubes and became part of the company’s Concerns Suggestions & Improvement (CSI) program. In addition to his experience at Yazoo, Rummel worked for his father’s business, Rummel Pattern Works, before and after college. The company built various fixtures and tooling for the local manufacturing industry, and gained much experience in a field many people are unfamiliar with. Along with his extensive industry knowledge and education, Rummel’s work ethic, drive, organization and communication skills are among the key components that led to this advancement.
“Communication is everything,” says Rob. “As project coordinator, I strive for clear and concise communication as it’s critical to ensure all areas of a project, whether large or small, stay on track.”
When asked what he likes most about Yazoo, Rummel says “Several things. First, I like the culture. I feel like Yazoo combines futuristic thinking and new technology with old-world values. I feel like this is one of the few companies left, that still takes care of their employees and is genuinely appreciative of their efforts; as well as concerned for their well-being.” Rummel adds, “I feel like they also have a very solid foundation and make smart, sound decisions. They’ve been around for 120 years for a reason.”
Outside of work, Rob cherishes spending time with his family, enjoying the outdoors, going on walks, dining out when possible, and exploring his lifelong interests in woodworking and the paranormal. He enjoys the on-going home projects—many of which can be viewed on his YouTube Channel, “The Shop.” Rob has built 90% of the furniture in his own home, including kitchen cabinets, built-in storage units, head-boards, dining tables, full size beds, tobacco pipes, urns, and many other varieties of things.
Congratulations on your promotion, Rob! We are excited to watch you grow and take Yazoo’s projects to new heights.
Effective leaders are essential to any organization. Not only do they help build strong teams, they also ensure projects are performed successfully and customers’ expectations for quality and reliability are always met. They create confidence among employees and encourage a professional and positive environment. All are reflective to the leadership team here at Yazoo Mills!
As we enter our 120th year of business, we’re excited to announce four leadership team members who were promoted to Directors of their respective departments. Proven leaders with decades of experience, the leadership changes reflect a formal alignment of the team’s individual strengths to support the company’s long-term strategic plan.
Introducing our newest Directors
Michell Trish is promoted to Director of Accounting & Administration. Michell, who has been with the company for 35 years and previously served as the company’s Controller, will oversee human resources, accounting, and information technology functions of the business.
Richard Smarsh is promoted to Director of Facilities, Maintenance, & Safety. Richard, who joined our company in 2013 and previously served as Project and Facilities Manager, will direct all facility maintenance, improvement projects, new construction, and occupational health & safety programs. He will also develop key people for future growth and incorporate continuous improvement within these areas of the business.
Steve McMaster is promoted to Director of Manufacturing. Steve, a 39-year veteran who previously served as Plant Manager, will oversee all manufacturing operations for both the New Oxford and Hanover production facilities that total 300,000 square feet. He will supervise production and collaborate with department supervisors to strategize techniques in maximizing productivity and efficiency, and monitor the adequacy of supply inventories.
Chris Evans is promoted to North American Sales Director. Chris, who joined our company in 2017 and previously served as Sales Manager, oversees the sales and customer service teams to ensure customer’s goals are met and exceeded through our products and services. He will continue his responsibilities for driving and expanding business by directing the sales team as well as implementing sales strategies to maximize the use of existing data in our systems and develop new territories & markets.
Each member has played an essential role in the company’s success and growth. They are among our top-level leadership group that worked together as a team and advanced through progressively more responsible positions during their tenure. Sharing our organization’s mission and values, they look to continue with the organization’s forward-thinking vision to provide our customers with the best of the best, create an experience that builds long-lasting relationships, and direction among our nearly 200 employees.
Congratulations to Michell, Richard, Steve and Chris on your well-deserved promotions. We are grateful and proud to have you part of the Yazoo team, our 120-year journey, and we look forward to your continued leadership and drive in maintaining Yazoo Mills as the supplier of choice for years to come!
At Yazoo Mills, we take great pride in our employees and the work they do for our company. We provide on-site training for all employees to ensure their jobs are being done safely as well as helping them learn new things that will potentially lead to a job advancement. We love to see our employees excel in their job roles, especially when an employee is promoted to a new position.
Meet Kevin Bachota. He’s been with Yazoo for over 9 years and started out as a 1st shift winding operator. Throughout his tenure here, he has also held other positions such as a winding trainer and a floater. Through hard work, persistence and his drive to learn new things, Kevin has recently been promoted to a Lead in our Winding Department. Within his new role, Kevin is responsible for ensuring that quality of production is up to Yazoo’s standards, assists in production efficiency by gathering daily materials needed for the operators, help maintain a safe and pleasurable environment and assist his supervisor with projects and daily duties.
When asked what he likes best about working at Yazoo, he replied with a big smile “I like the competitive page, the way they treat their employees is top-notch, my co-workers are great (and hardworking!) and the growth of the company is never-ending which gives me great job security.” Kevin also goes on to say “Yazoo Mills create a family environment and makes it easy to come to work every day with a smile and positive attitude!”
In his spare time, Kevin likes to spend time with his wife and son (AJ) and watch his some play travel baseball and basketball. His family also owns a DJ entertainment company on the side so you can most likely find Kevin spinning some tunes at weddings, school dances and private events.
Job well done and congratulations on your recent promotion, Kevin. You deserve it and we look forward to watching you excel in your new position with the company!
Being a manufacturer of paper tubes and cores for over 115 years, we have continued to grow our business and with growth comes opportunities for our employees. We believe in giving our employees the chance to continue growing with the company as they move up the ladder in their positions.
Kevin Hentz has been a long-term Yazoo employee for the last 30 years and is truly a jack of all trades, filled with a lot of knowledge. He started out as a Winding Operator on 1st shift then went to Winding Operator/Supervisor on 2nd shift to Supervisor/Co-Scheduler to his most recent promotion of Winding Manager on 1st shift. Kevin’s new role as Winding Manager entails overseeing production/scheduling in Winding as well as complete scheduling for our Distribution Center, located in Hanover.
When asked what Kevin likes best about working at Yazoo, he responded with “the stability of the company has allowed and continues to allow me to work to my fullest potential and help the company continue to succeed.” Outside of work, Kevin enjoys spending time in the woods hunting for deer, finding new IPA beers that intrigue his taste buds, and relaxing at home. Congratulations on your promotion, Kevin – it is well deserved!
We know a thing or… twenty when comes to being a successful business. Yazoo has been in business for 115 years, that’s right… we started in 1902. We have seen it all; the highs, the lows, and have always made it out on top.Being a successful company surely doesn’t happen overnight and certainly doesn’t happen without having a plan, motivation, ambition, good employees, and taking chances.
Yazoo has also been motivated beyond financial success. Our entire company is fueled by producing the best, high-quality products in the paper tube and core industry. One attribute to our success is our working environment.We have created an atmosphere composed of employees who are suited for the jobs that they do and policies designed to motivate them to continue working well.
Remember, a company would be no where without their customers. Yazoo is tremendously passionate about our customers and how we can be the solution they have been searching for. We take care of our customers not only by offering outstanding customer service, but also understanding our customers so well that we can anticipate and fulfill their needs.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to take risks. With everything always evolving, you must be able to adapt quickly and take chances to better yourself and your company. Don’t forget, nothing worth having comes
easy.
“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.”– John D. Rockefeller
“There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.” – Anthony Robbins
A company that truly and genuinely cares for its employees is very hard to come by these days. Sometimes, employers are only focused on getting a head of their competition while forgetting to put their employees first. Even after 115 years, Yazoo continues to remain a team player for all of its employees.
We recognize that without great employees to produce products and service for our customers, we would have no business. That’s why Yazoo treats every employee like family. We offer healthcare, training, career advancement, and personal growth opportunities. We want our employees to thrive within our company not only as individuals, but also as a team.
Yazoo has the utmost respect for our employees. The thing that really differentiates ourselves from our competition is our people. Our continued growth has not only been achieved by reinvesting in our facilities and our equipment, but also reinvesting in our people and making sure that they are getting the most out of working at Yazoo. One of the many things we provide is leadership training for our employees. This training helps create an even more positive working environment and helps our employees continue to be influential team players.
“To win in the market place, you must first win in the workplace.” – Doug Contant
“Teamwork is the foundation of success.” – Lou Holtz
When you hear the word “roots” your mind most likely goes immediately to “tree roots.” A tree’s roots are the anchor to the tree in the soil and help keep it straight and stable. Tree roots are much like company roots in the sense that they help keep the company stable while they build and have continuous growth over many, many years.
Yazoo Mills has been around for over 110 years. The company was established in 1902 in the heartland of Yazoo City, Mississippi (hence the company name). We started out as a Yarn and Textile Mill and eventually made our way to our current location in New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Even during the recession, Yazoo stayed true to their employees and didn’t lay a single person off. While many companies were struggling, Yazoo was thriving and continued to build and strengthen a successful company.
At Yazoo, we are a family-owned and operated company. We treat everyone like family. Our employees are what keep our roots strong and everlasting as well as help the company
continue to build towards a successful future. While our origins still remain in Yazoo City, Mississippi, we definitely do not forget where we came from and how far we have come since the start of the company. Make sure to always remember where you came from and how far you have come – use the past to get you towards where you want to go in the future.
“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” – James Cash Penney
“Change is the heartbeat of growth.” – Scottie Somers
In this day and age, we find ourselves so caught up in communicating through technology rather than having to verbally communicate with others. In today’s world, it is hard to find a “live”
customer service representative – most times, we end up speaking to a robot who is set with filters to try and accommodate our needs. I’ll start off by saying this, technology is always evolving but human nature as well as human contact is perpetual.
At Yazoo Mills, we recognize that truly remarkable customer service goes above and beyond. It’s about leaving people with a positive memory of your business and we strive to do just that. We have continuously perfected our methods and have created a customer service and sales team having a minimum of 10 years’ experience.
Our staff is the most knowledgeable in the industry, which is why 15,000 customers from coast-to-coast depend on us. Our team works hard and strives to give our customers the best prices and experience. We listen to our customer’s needs and make sure we give them exactly what they want, when they want it, on time, every time. Guaranteed. Each and every day, we receive positive feedback for our customer service and sales team, which makes us strive even more to provide our customers with the best service in the industry.Here are two quotes to keep as a reminder —
“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” – Roger Staubach
“The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best, but legendary.” – Sam Walton
Our company has been continuously growing over the past few years at a rapid rate and in return, we have seen a growth in the number of our skilled and experienced employees. In
May of 2016, Roxanne Erdman joined our Sales Department as a Customer Service Representative.
Before coming to Yazoo, Roxanne worked in Sales and Marketing Analytics for a nationally recognized drug store. She wanted to find a more stable and reliable job that also allowed her to keep her time with her son, which is what led her to Yazoo Mills. Roxanne started her college career initially as an architecture major but then switched to Psychology. Currently, she has one more year left to finish and will be pursing that in the coming months.
When asked what she likes most about working at Yazoo, she said “I like that it is family-owned and a smaller company which gives an open and friendly environment. Everyone has
been so welcoming and eager to help me learn the business. I am eager to see how I can grow in my career with Yazoo.”
She likes to spend a lot of her time with her three-year-old son and enjoys doing crafts as well as DIY projects. She is a big fan of the new adult coloring books and she is a coffee addict.
Yazoo is happy to welcome Roxanne to our team and look forward to watching her grow with the company.