We are pleased to announce the promotion of Chris Evans to Sales Manager at Yazoo Mills. Chris joined our company in 2017 as an Outside Sales Representative, responsible for creating a new business on the East Coast. He assumes his new role from Sharon Smith, who has spent more than 40 years at Yazoo Mills and will continue working as a Key Account Manager.
With his BA from Rowan University and over 20 years of experience in the tube and core industry, Chris’ knowledge and innovative ideas will help our customers be able to continue to dominate their market. In his new role, he is responsible 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 and markets.
When asked what he’s looking forward to in his new role, he said “Making a difference to my team, increasing the company’s revenues, impacting Yazoo with my industry knowledge and experience, and helping our customers continue operating successfully in their industries.” He continues to say “I like the way Yazoo runs its family-owned business and the way they appreciate their customers and employees. I’m glad to have found my home here.”
Congrats on the promotion, Chris. We’re excited to watch you excel in your new role!
With our company continuing to grow, we are finding our sales department doing the same. Our continuous growth has allowed us to expand our footprint and grow our outside sales team to be able to continue providing a high level of service and exceptional product offerings to over 15,000+ customers nationwide.
We are pleased to announce the hiring of Ray LaBonte, to our Outside Sales team as the Director of Sales – Eastern U.S. Ray’s extensive background, personality and goals align with our vision and values here at Yazoo. A 45-year veteran in the paper tube and core industry with several companies, Ray brings extensive knowledge, development, and success to our team.
In his new position, Ray is responsible for growing business in small to medium-sized companies in the Eastern U.S. territory. Through new and existing relationships, Ray develops strategic innovation to help customers grow their business and focuses on finding solutions with Yazoo’s products that will allow companies profitable and sustainable growth.
What led Ray to Yazoo? He says “I’ve always heard good things about Yazoo’s family-owned culture, integrity within the marketplace, quality, and customer service. What also drew me to Yazoo was how customer-focused they are – they have a strong commitment and dedication to their customers. Yazoo is truly passionate about finding innovative solutions that work for the customer. The culture, values, and how focused they are on their employees showed a solid, devoted team that is continuing to grow and I’m proud to say that I’m part of the team!”
Fun facts about Ray:
- He has his Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing from Franklin Pierce College
- Enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters, and four grandchildren
- Passion for all things outdoors – hunting, fishing, and golf are just a few of his favorites
Welcome to the Yazoo team, Ray! We’re excited to watch you grow with our company!