Manufacturing in the United States is going through a renaissance period as consumer focus shifts to locally produced, green and sustainable product options. As more and more people are becoming concerned with where products come from, how they are made, and increasingly who they are made by, we thought we would take the opportunity to introduce you to some of our team. These four individuals represent a cross section of our extended Pioneer Millworks family have been kind enough to share their stories. They all have unique and different backgrounds but, as you’ll see, surprisingly similar reasons for doing what they do. These are some of the people behind our products.

Spotlight: Josh Felty Production Manager for Pioneer Millworks Oregon Mill

Josh is our west coast Production Manager in McMinnville Oregon. A native Oregonian, Josh returned home after some time working in Colorado. Homesick and looking for a change he arrived Pioneer Millworks six years ago bringing with him a lifelong passion for reclaimed wood and a steadfast work ethic.

He believes that if you work hard, believe in yourself, and share a common goal with others anything is possible. Josh brings this sense of purpose and drive into every project he and our team work on. Doing the right thing for coworkers, as well as the community, is a particular passion for Josh who has been a driving force behind many community outreach and charity events.

Josh is also an avid outdoorsman and father of two so preserving the environment for future generations through green initiatives and sustainable, local manufacturing is at the core of who he is. Prosperity, however, has a much deeper meaning as a guiding principle. He believes that prosperity can only be realized through teamwork, fostering a clean environment, surrounding oneself with good friends and family, and making time to enjoy the sense of freedom that can only found in nature.

“I have fallen for Shou Sugi Ban Accoya, more specifically once brushed Cinder. Accoya takes a burn nicely, and once you brush the soot back a little bit to expose Accoyas unique grain patterns it still retains some of the charred texture it is really something to look at. It is harvested responsibly, the treatment process is environmentally safe, shipping is done by cargo ship to help reduce carbon footprint and it comes with a 50-year warranty. Proof we as humans are on the right path to a sustainable future!”

A self-described proud American working in a sustainable domestic manufacturing role brings Josh full circle in his personal code that good old fashioned hard work combined with the American spirit of always striving forward can overcome any challenge.

Spotlight: Dave Crouden Production Manager for Pioneer Millworks New York Mill

Dave came up the long way at Pioneer Millworks. A fourteen-year veteran in the shop, he started working with us as a de-nailer in his twenties. The last thing Dave expected to find was a career, but that’s exactly what he got along with an added sense of purpose and community.

After rotating around the shop at various stations Dave hit his stride working the molder line and found his passion in custom tooling. The scope and range of results that can be achieved from this kind of work inspired Dave to start looking at things differently as working with wood quickly went from being just another job to a career in his mind. This was further engrained on a training trip to North Carolina when more molding machinery came online. As the company grew, Dave began to find himself in supervisory roles that would eventually lead him to become Production Manager of our Farmington New York facility.

Through his modern leadership style, Dave has helped Pioneer Millworks culture grow by having a personal connection outside of work with many of the people on his team. What keeps him passionate after all these years is the sustainable nature of the products he helps produce and the team with which he works. Dave believes that people come first, the planet is our duty to maintain responsibly, and that prosperity is an esoteric concept that can only be realized through group effort, faith, and community.

 “I think one of my favorite projects that is fresh on my mind is the Lyons National Bank in Farmington NY. It was great to see the finished project in person which I rarely get to see. It’s great to know that all our divisions all had a role in it. It’s pretty impressive to see how it all came together when you’re standing in the building.”

He takes satisfaction in the fact that Pioneer Millworks is an American manufacturing company making products that are responsibly sourced and repurposed sustainably in the U.S.A. 

Spotlight: Brie Gebbie Finishing Manager for Pioneer Millworks New York Mill

Brie came to Pioneer Millworks six years ago when the finishing department was a rapidly expanding part of the business. Having the opportunity to work at the same company as her husband TJ was what brought Brie in the door, but the sense of community she found in the finishing shop is what kept her here.

For the first few years as the department was growing Brie and TJ worked side by side in the relatively small finishing department. As the department grew and more staff was brought in to serve increasing production needs Brie became our department manager. She and TJ now work with a large, tightknit crew, but their unique relationship dynamic fits with the rigors of an expanded team and production schedule because of Brie’s natural leadership abilities.  

Brie’s leadership style focuses heavily on communication, transparency, and a desire to create a calm atmosphere which has improved morale in the growing department and has had a transformative effect on productivity. Maintaining open lines of communication with the team and keeping them updated on the bigger picture helps to gain buy-in and makes for a happier, more fulfilling workday.

She is gratified the products the finishing team produce as part of an American manufacturing process keeps quality sustainable products home grown in the U.S.A.

Spotlight: Joshua Peck Yard Manager for Pioneer Millworks New York Mill

Joshua, or Josh as he is known around the shop, has a long history in the manufacturing industry having worked in several different fields before finding his way to Pioneer Millworks. Starting off like so many long-time employees as a de-nailer, Josh eventually rotated through nearly all the production roles before finding Yard Manager to be the position he fit best because of its ever-changing nature and sense of freedom.

In the past sixteen years with us, Josh has always been driven to take on new responsibilities. He believes that creating a collaborative working environment is key to a successful business and is always actively building relationships between himself and his coworkers to keep operations running smoothly. 

Buying locally is a concept that is near and dear to Josh philosophically in his personal life. A father of two, he’s an avid gardener and food preserver who actively tries to buy sustainable and local products whenever possible. It brings him a sense of satisfaction that he helps to produce high quality products that contribute to the local community through manufacturing.

“I love our American Prairie Corral Boards because they look cool and weathered and are cinch to process with exceptional yields.  On the other hand, when I see a nice batch of American Gothic White Oak, I have a deep appreciation for all of the hard work It took to get the material to that point, not to mention the raw material itself seems like it’s becoming scarcer every day.”

Josh sees a deeper meaning in the work he does by providing our American labor force a living wage while producing high quality, reused and sustainable products that you can trust. He is proud of the standard the company sets and the materials manufactured in the U.S.A.