Glen Oak Lumber & Milling

Locals Build Long-Term Careers with Glen Oak Lumber & Milling

April 22, 2002: The overall employment picture for Somerset and Pulaski County residents has been generally depressing since Hayes Lemmerz, Tecumseh Products Company and Palm Beach/Plaid Clothing Company all closed major manufacturing plants in the area. But, if you focus on local achievers like Bob McQueen, Lee Ingram, Sandy Nevels and Dan Pfeiffer, you get a very different perspective. All found a happy home at the same industrial address: 339 Arthur Drive, Somerset—the thriving and ever growing Kentucky branch of Glen Oak Lumber & Milling.

A 22-year-old privately held company headquarted in Montello, Wisconsin, Glen Oak Lumber & Milling is one of the best-diversified lumber and millwork manufacturers in the US. The company’s wood products are produced and distributed via state-of-the-art facilities in seven states. Its Somerset, Kentucky plants—established in 1995 in the heart of poplar country—manufacture the majority of Glen Oak’s poplar boards, mouldings and shutter components.

Kentucky native Bob McQueen felt right at home at Glen Oak’s Somerset branch after working in Florida 10 years as lead person on the glue line at a Georgia-Pacific plywood plant. Now the area plant manager of Glen Oak-KY, McQueen began his career with Glen Oak at the ground level.

“Starting in January 1996, I worked as a laborer painting the newly-constructed walls in Mill #1,” McQueen reflects on his history with the company. “After that, I drove a forklift, then advanced to running the rough mill and scheduling.” Today, as a full-fledged manager, McQueen schedules the lumber supply for both Somerset mills and manages production of all mouldings.

“I didn’t know what mouldings were when I started here,” McQueen reveals. “I chose employment at Glen Oak over other local job opportunities that were paying a lot more money, because I had faith in what this company said would happen. I can honestly say, I’ve not been disappointed since I’ve been here…not one day.”

McQueen is quick to point out that such opportunities for job satisfaction and advancement set Glen Oak apart from other employers. “For a flexible self-starter who wants to begin somewhere on an average level, excel, and work their way to a supervisory level—this company’s it,” he proclaims.

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