The Shadow
WestRock’s Covington mill has announced position changes that were internally announced in March and April.
Abigail Tuck has accepted the position of health and safety coordinator in the Safety department.
In this position, she is responsible for overseeing safety in the Fiberline department.
Tuck earned her B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health from Eastern Kentucky University in 2019. Before joining the Coving-ton mill, she was the health and safety co-op for Advan-Six Chemicals in Hopewell.
Brandon Gordon has accepted the position of tour leader for Plant Security.
In this position, he is responsible for conducting perimeter checks, taking first aid and fire calls, investigating incidents in the mill and checking hose stations, alarms and extinguishers.
Gordon received his A.A.S. degree in Administrative Justice and Unarmed Security from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College.
In 2017, he joined the Covington mill as a guard. In 2018, Brandon was promoted to step-up tour leader for Security.
Robert Hinkle Jr. has accepted the position of maintenance supervisor for C8.
In this position, he is responsible for performance and reliability of all equipment, overseeing repairs, and ensuring his crew gets their work done in a safe and timely manner.
In 2005, Hinkle accepted a position with WACO as a helper and advanced to structural welder. In 2009, he joined Mundy as a combo welder.
Hinkle accepted the position of chrome welder with Amec in 2012 and accepted the position of combo welder and pipe foreman in 2013, with Overland Contracting. In 2014, Hinkle returned to WACO as a superintendent. He accepted the position of superintendent for Byers in 2017.
Kelsie Deaner has accepted the position of security guard.
In this position she is responsible for observing gate traffic, printing badges, answering phones, directing calls, monitoring plant security and reporting.
Deaner earned a B.A. degree in Early Childhood/ Special Education from Radford University in 2017. She accepted a position at Walmart as a cashier and customer service representative later that year.
In 2019, Deaner joined Speyside Bourbon Stave Mill as an operator. In November of 2019, she accepted the position of temporary guard at the Covington mill with Garda-World Security.
Freddy Hobbs has accepted the position of wet-end engineer on C1.
In this position he is responsible for machine safety, equipment improvement and runnability for the wet-end of C1.
In 2014, Hobbs received his B.S. in Paper Science and Engineering from N.C. State. After graduation, he accepted the position of associate engineer with Domtar, in Kingsport, Tenn., and in December, accepted the position of utilities process engineer.
In 2015, Hobbs accepted the position of shift supervisor — Bleached Pulp Mill. In 2017, he accepted the position of paper mill process engineer, with Domtar’s Nekoosa, Wis. mill. Hobbs accepted the position of paper mill superintendent in 2019.
Lucas Kirby has accepted the position of senior financial analyst — inventory management.
In this position, he is responsible for all raw material, semi-finished and finished goods and work-in- progress inventory accounting, reporting and analysis, as well as oversight of freight and warehousing expenses.
Kirby is also responsible for all raw material consumption reporting including price tracking, inflation/ deflation analysis and rebate/discount programs.
He will be finance lead for the Woodyard, Pulp Mill, and Stock and Additives, providing finance support on KPI reporting and cost management.
Kirby completed his B.S. in Accounting and Economics from Emory & Henry College in 2015 and received his Master’s in Accounting from William and Mary in 2016.
In 2016, he accepted the position of accounting advisory — senior associate at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in McLean.
