1. CALLIE SPIES
Heritage Village nr. 30, Premier Park, Tzaneen, LimpopoProvince
15 Taiporutu Place, Springfield, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand
Mufasa Eco Lodge Angona Bay Monkey Bay Malawi +265991118639
+27 735 389779
+64 211 437 957
carel.spies@gmail.com
Skype: callie777
OBJECTIVE
I am an experienced general and operational manager with extensive timber background. I
have strong organisational and team-building skills. I amable to work with different
cultures as I have managed plants in four countries. I am looking for a position anywhere in
the world where I can utilise my skills and attributes to add value. I have dual nationality
and can resettle at short notice.
KEY SKILLS
Strategic planning
During the last ten years, I have built up a practical knowledge of how to manage a variety
of factories with diverse cultures with very positive results. I believe it is important to
understand customer and stakeholder needs and I have experience in optimising output to
meet customer demand in full and on time. I know how toincorporate Change
Management and Leadership Development to effectively organisefor high performance. I
am skilled in daily plant-wide resource-based operational planning and scheduling
to optimise output, based on extensive scheduling experience and allocating labour and
materials.
Financial planning
I am experienced in setting, controlling and operating budgets through various plants, and
in analysing and justifying capital requirements such as payback, capital budgeting and
Capex preparation. I also have experience in product and process costing to maximise
profit.
Leadership and motivation
I believe in open and transparent leadership and encourage shared responsibility,
management, continuous monitoring and evaluation amongst team members.
My passion is to encourage and assist with personal and skills development through
sharing of information and to keep team members informed about performance in terms
of strategy and end goal. Because of my transparent leadership style, I have always
included all my fellow employees in supply chain issues so everybody understands the
constraints and what is required of them. This is equally important for quality improvement

2. as I believe quality has to bebuilt into the product and cannot be inspected in.
Initiative
I have taken the initiative of introducing two safe job observation programmes according
to the Du Pont system. Safety is of paramount importance in any organisation. I also
persuaded my superiors of the value of buying and moving a frame and truss plant from
Auckland to Tauranga. I am familiar withtaking the lead when production changes need to
be made, through experience I have gained. I don’t believe in holy cows.
Team development
I believe in facilitating teamdevelopment by learning and understanding the dynamics of
the team, thereby enhancing their strengths while working on their weaknesses.
I always facilitate strong communication within the team and am experienced in working in
a culturally diverse environment and approaching issues in a culturally sensitive manner.
Contract management and project management
I have vast experience in managing material supply contracts, ensuring compliance with
quality and costso that the delivery of contracted goods occurswithin specified time frames
and agreed quality standards. I am also a firm believer in communication with all
stakeholders regarding deviations from agreed timeframes and quality standards in order
to minimise impact or to renegotiate new standards.
I have experience in project management with regard to establishing a framework and
work flow procedure development for equipment relocation incorporating strategic
planning, management, monitoring and evaluation. I am a natural facilitator and can
promote process mapping with all stakeholders with respect to change management,
including budgets, timelines and milestones to support strategy.
QUALIFICATIONS
1994 MBA
University of Stellenbosch
1993 Bachelor of Business Management and Administration withHonours
University of Stellenbosch
1990 Bachelor of Commerce
University of South Africa (UNISA)
1982 National Diploma in Timber Technology
Pretoria Technikon

3. CAREERHISTORY
June 2015 – September 2015 Manager Charcoal Plant Kusa Sawmill
Pigg’s Peak Swaziland
I took a three month contract in Piggs Peak Swaziland to develop a pilot charcoal plant.
Amongst the major success obtained were :
 Shortening the cycle time by 1 hour
 Determining the minimum moisture content
 Major maintenance so that optimum temperature could be achieved
 Increased production through shorter cycle times.
 A major plant is now in planning stages because of the successes achieved
Dec 2014 – March 2015 General Manager Kwakhanyisa Co-0perative
Knysna South Africa
Kwakhanyisa Co-0perative is a BEE company co-operating with South African National
Parks to extract indigenous and foreign invader species of timber from the Tsitsikama
Forests. It is the first Private Public Partnership of its kind in South Africa.
 Took over the general management of the company
 Drew up a sales plan for immediate implementation
 Created and introduced a marketing plan
 Introduced a foreign broker to export timber
 Introduced productivity measures for all teams in the forest.
June 2011 – May 2013 Wood processing manager, Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forestry
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
I undertook a two-year contract role and was responsible for all processing of timber
received from our sawmill and forestry management area. The processing included drying,
re-sawing, planning, moulding and treating for the joinery department, building
department and the market in general.
 Achieved record production for the plant by scheduling and minimising downtime.
 Optimised drying schedules and flow through the factory, reducing double handling.
 Installed disciplines to allow implementation of the computerised inventory system.
 Changed the saw patterns to increase yield and throughput.
Oct 2009 –June 2010 Operations manager, Parkside Timbers
Wandai Drymill, Queensland, Australia
This was a hardwood drymill for 7 sawmills. As operations manager, I was responsible for
the supply chain from the sawmills to the markets ensuring that the customers’ needs

4. were met. I also controlled and managed the movement of 550m3 of timber on a daily
basis.
 Created production schedules and liaised with sawmills to ensure accurate feedback to
match orders.
 Decreased the block stack in the racker yard from 2000m3 in Oct09 to 700m3 in Mar 10
by controlling and scheduling deliveries.
 Used financial modelling to determine which products were most profitable.
 Established a dedicated flooring line by refurbishing a moulder and redesigning the
layout with limited funds – project managed the new line.
 Increased profit from $6k for Jul 09 to Dec 09 to $64k for Jan 10 and 194k for Feb 10.
Oct 2008 –June 2009 Production manager, Australian Portable Buildings
Yatala, Queensland, Australia
I was production manager, manufacturing demountable buildings out of steel mainly fpr
the mining industry from two manufacturing sites.
 Increased production from $60,000 per day in October to $110k in November /
December. This was achieved by employingdifferent production philosophies and a
reduction of one supervisory role.
 Enforced quality check sheets with hold points, thereby increasing quality and
reducing quality complaints.
 Delivered a 450m3 $435k complete kitchen and diner to Dumindium Prison within a six-
week timeframe with zero defects.
 Established a “Working at Heights” systemto comply with OHS system.
 Amalgamated two factories into one in February when the economic crisis hit, forcing
difficult decisions and reduction of staff numbers.
May 2007 –July 2008
As a result of a change in personal circumstances, I decided to relocate to Australia. Here I
took a temporary role with Bunnings Frame and Truss as a scheduler in Brisbane.
Feb 2004 –May 2007 Manufacturing manager, Placemakers Manufacturing
Tauranga, New Zealand
I managed and controlled the frame and truss division.
 Visited several factories in Australia to ensure the successful design of new and efficient
factory.
 Project managed the move of a complete frame and truss plant from Auckland to
Tauranga.
 Negotiated with timber suppliers to ensure lowest cost raw materials.

5.  Implemented delivery management system.
 Full financial responsibility for this division, including all purchases and capital
expenditure.
March 2003 –Jan 2004 Production manager, Warner Showers
Tauranga, New Zealand
During this period, I managed the manufacturing and installation of the complete range of
Warner Showers and Atlantis Trays (sister company) as well as the Image Range of acrylic
trays and liners.
 Increased production to match sales increase of 30% through better planning and
reducing down times.
 Reduced raw material costs of resin and timber by 25%.
 Managed supply agreements for acrylic, resin and particle board.
 Reduced overall stock holding by 15% through careful planning and ensuring a timely
ordering system.
 Helped build and install displays for two home shows.
2000 – 2003 Panelling manager, New Zealand
Managed MDF finishing and moulding line and a Particle board
mill.
1997 – 2000 Sawmill and associated work, New Zealand
I dealt with Japanese and Australian exports as well as gaining
hands-on experience.
1994 – 1997 General manager, Clip-Lok
Lydenburg, South Africa
Managed the second biggest plywood mill in South Africa
manufacturing plywood, moulded plywood and Clip-Lok
returnable packaging.
PERSONALINFORMATION
Full name Abraham Carel Spies
Date of birth 29 April 1958
Marital status Divorced
Citizenship Dual : New Zealand and South Africa

6. Interests I am interested in people, easily interact with them and have a
large circle of loyal friends.I am a good conversationalist as I am
well travelled, have wide general knowledge and am passionate
about a variety of subjects ranging from sport and fishing to
philosophy to growing orchids.
REFERENCES
Mr Stephan Powiesnik General Manager : Processing
Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forestry, Papua New Guinea
+61447946909
stephan.powiesnik@gmail.com
skype: stephan.powiesnik
Mr Wayne Minnell General manager: Dixon Homes Ltd ex Joint Venture Operator
Place Makers
Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
+64274 425996 or +647 5742944
wminnell@dixonhomes.co.nz