| 33 Company stars shine Northland Forestry Awards: Rosvall Sawmill FORESTRY A 160-kilometre radius around the mill encompasses forests from Northland’s west coast. Last year’s Northland Forestry awards presented Rosvall Sawmill the perfect opportunity to formally recognise two of the company’s superstars, and Managing Director Mark Hansen says he was so impressed with the awards evening that he would do it again and again. Operations Manager Paul Rupapera was entered into the Wood Processing Excellence category and was announced winner at the prestigious awards evening held at the McKay Stadium in Whangarei. Mark says Paul first joined the company in 2002 as a 21-year-old sawmill worker. “He worked in the mill as an operator and then learned to be a saw doctor, but he was too good for that. He was a natural pied piper, with a gift for leadership, a good communicator and was able to manage the team extremely well. “He got very passionate about the sawmill and learned all about it. He went on to take on the whole site in the operations management role and he has done that better than anyone has done it. “He was very well connected and built big networks throughout Northland, which helped in finding staff. He learned how to keep staff, and keep them happy. I’ve spent a lot of time with Paul over the last twenty-one years, and he’s just one guy I would not want to be without. He’s a little superstar really.” Another superstar that Mark felt needed to be recognised was machinist and planer shift supervisor Jordan Whitehead, who was rewarded with Finalist in the Trainee of the Year category. “Jordan came to us as a labourer ten years ago. He was exceptionally good with his hands and completed the timber machinist trade. “He was the sort of guy who would rebuild a car, turn it into a hot rod and do an amazing job. We have noticed the same sort of skill in the planer mill. Jordan also wanted to learn the art of leading and managing people, so we put him on as a shift supervisor in the planer mill looking after seven staff. He has been very impressive with very high-quality work.” Mark says entering both Paul and Jordan into the Northland Forestry awards was great for team morale on site and the company decided to buy a table at the awards night and bring along a number of the senior leading hands to be part of the industry celebration. “That was a great team building exercise. We were very impressed with how the awards event has continued to grow over the last five years, it has really gained momentum. Bruce Larsen from Northpine had been a loyal supporter of the awards, and he encouraged us to get involved, saying that it had moved on from 10 years ago. “Steve Weir from Manulife Forests also lobbied us strongly to have a look at the awards. So we entered, put a couple of names in, booked the table and it was a really great night. The event was excellent, it was great for the company and it was great to recognise our superstars. I would do it again and again.” “We were very impressed with how the awards event has continued to grow over the last five years, it has really gained momentum.” Mark Hansen:“We do a lot to create long term careers and good work environments.” The ONLY Local Security provider in Whangarei with a Local Security Monitoring call centre, employing local people with local knowledge. with over 43 years in business as a local Whangarei Security provider. PH 09 4388396 | admin@sutherlandsecurity.co.nz 5 Hannah Street, Whangarei CBD We would like to thank Rosvall Sawmill for their business of over 40 years with us. 26/7 COMMERCE STREET, WHANGAREI Ph: 09 438 1441 Email: admin@airequipment.co.nz AIR EQUIPMENT SERVICES Limited PNEUMATIC AND GENERAL ENGINEERS Locally Owned and Operated • Complete shutdown maintenance on a yearly basis or as and when required Supply Rosvall Sawmill with: • Pneumatic components, cylinders, valves, tubing, fittings, pneumatic kits & pneumatic accessories. Manufacture spare parts, cylinders, etc. • Supplied main compressor and service & maintain all compressors. • Advice and install pneumatic solutions. • Rosvall Sawmill has been a great customer to work for.
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