Laminations Begins Leadership Transition Process

The leadership of Great Northern Corporation’s Specialty Group will change hands at the end of 2008 when Rick Detienne retires and Gary Hietpas becomes the new president.

Detienne, president of Great Northern Corporation’s Specialty Group, which includes Laminations and Rollguard, has been with the company for 23 years. He joined Laminations as Executive Vice President in 1984 and became President in 1986. He became President of the Specialty Group when it was formed in 1995.

Hietpas has been with Laminations for 21 years and Vice President of Sales & Marketing since 1991.

“We are fortunate to have Rick’s continued strong leadership through 2008,” said Bill Raaths, President and CEO of Great Northern Corporation, in making the announcement. “We are also fortunate to have an internal successor to Rick in Gary, who will carry forward the many positive elements within our Specialty Group while adding his own strengths to the position.”

The company will utilize the next 16 months to make the transition a totally seamless one, Raaths emphasized. The announcement is being made now in order to maximize the comfort level of customers and employees with the succession plan, he said.

“We are announcing our intentions early and beginning the process now in order to make the transition happen in a way that won’t stress the organization,” Detienne said. “Gary and I have worked closely on many key initiatives over the years. He has done an outstanding job leading our sales efforts and is held in the highest regard by our customers and his co-workers.”

For his part, Hietpas said hopes to build upon the strong foundation of success and growth that has taken place under Detienne’s leadership. That growth has included the opening in recent years of new plants in Pennsylvania, Florida, Oregon and California.

Hietpas said he will continue the open-door leadership style and continue to foster the family-like atmosphere that has worked so well at Laminations. “There is good chemistry among our employees and I’d like to maintain that,” he said.

Gary Hietpas (left) and
Rick Detienne