A Massachusetts native and former UMass Amherst soccer player and business major, Jeff relocated to Maine in 2015. When Jeff first joined the team in 2016, he started off pulling boards in the planer mill. Jeff’s supervisor and our sawmill GM noticed Jeff’s potential immediately. Despite being new to the industry, Jeff picked everything up quickly and took advantage of an opportunity to train as a boiler operator and study electrical engineering technologies at Southern Maine Community College. Admittedly, Jeff had a lot to learn, but he also had a desire to further his education and understanding of electrical and automation projects.
Jeff’s learned how to troubleshoot and find solutions to a range of potential issues that help both in the short term and with the longevity of our boilers and kilns. After touring the Bethel mill, Jeff was inspired to create an alarm system to help the boiler operators in Casco be better connected to the critical alarm system. With a sprawling campus and other jobs to be done while working, Jeff used his skills in electrical work and ingenuity to create an automated alarm system that communicates through the team’s 2-way radio.
This innovation in automation eliminated operators having to check the alarm system, in-person, every 15-20 minutes. Jeff didn’t stop there. During this project, he also took the opportunity to freshen up the labeling system to help easily ID sources on breakers and panels and rebuilt and outdated electrical panel. These efficiency gains and innovations make the boiler operators’ jobs easier, more efficient, and creates a safer environment all around. Jeff has flourished in his time here—from taking advantage of growth opportunities to continuing his education. We look forward to his future here and seeing the ways he continues to make an impact.