New operations bosses at northwestern Ont. sawmills: Forest industry veterans restocking the ranks at WRC Timber.

• Position: NEWS

WRC Timber (WRC) has put new leadership in place to manage its sawmill and harvesting operations in White River and Hornepayne.

Sean Lauzon is the new mill manager at White River Forest Products, a random length sawmill located on the Trans-Canada Highway between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.

Lauzon took over on Jan. 21. The operation had been without a mill manager for six months.

"Sean is a seasoned forestry professional and experienced industrial manager," said WRC president Tony Wyszkowski in an April 8 news release.

"He has the drive and passion to unify the team and lead it towards efficiencies now crucial with current lumber prices."

WRC Timber is a privately owned company, founded and chaired by Frank Dottori, with a majority stake in the two operations and a cogeneration plant in Hornepayne.

Lauzon is regarded as a "seasoned forestry professional and experienced industrial manager" known his efforts at driving continuous improvement and his knack for teambuilding.

He recently worked as the area and operations manager for LafargeHolcim in Northern Ontario.

Before that, Lauzon's held leadership positions with Georgia-Pacific North Woods LP, Grant Forest Products, and Gilles Malette.

Lauzon is a graduate of Sault College with forestry technician and welding engineering technology degrees.

Up the road in Hornepayne, Rick Merling was promoted to site general manager and chief engineer of Hornepayne Lumber LP on Jan. 15. He joined the company as assistant general manager last October.

Hornepayne Lumber LR formerly known as Olav Haavaldsrud Timber Company, is also a random length sawmill, about an hour's drive north of White River.

The operation includes Hornepayne...