1. FRED TATE 25 Years of Experience in Sawmills
1086 Stone Gate Drive  McComb, MS 39648  (601) 810-3889  fredtate@cableone.net
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Safety Leader
Distinguished safetyleader, with notable achievements asPlant Manager due to implementation of2 turnaround
programsat facilitieswith high Recordable Incident Rates, achievinga reduction of RIR down to less than one.
Supervised a team that went 7.5 yearsincident free
Production Optimization
Streamlined production efforts at two facilitiesyielding increased annual production volumes of 20MMBFand 30 MMBF.
Supervised a team that broke mill records with production over 500 MBF on one 8 hour shift, average 62.2 MBF/HR for
shift, and average 54.5 MBF/HR for month
Capital Improvements
Spearheaded numerousCapital Improvement Projectsincluding: Installation ofadditional Kiln, Auto-grader, Package
Maker in planer department, a software upgrade on planer department Trimmer/Sorter line, and a Curve Sawing
conversion
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
DRAX Biomass LLC GLOSTER, MS DEC 2014 – Present
PLANT MANAGER
 Control overall management ofSafety &Environmental, Quality, and Production Volume of 450,000 metrictons
of annual wood pellet production. Consumingmore than 1.2 million tons of round wood fiber
 Oversee& directly supervise a staff of 7 salaried and 50 hourly employees. Managingan overall capital
investment in excess of $130 million dollars
National Gypsum Company NEW ORLEANS, LA Mar 2013-Nov 14
MILL & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
 Recruited bya company leader to support culture change based management and leadership experience
 Led capital project of more than $2.5 million dollarsto convert plant form syntheticgypsum back to natural
rock. Completed project on time and under budget by 15%
Weyerhaeuser June 2000 – Mar 2013; Feb 1988-Sept 1998
DRY-SIDE MANAGER MCCOMB, MS 2011 – March 2013
 Elected by senior management tolead and develop the succession plan for both people development and capital
improvementson Dry-End due to greatest opportunityfor margin improvement for the plant.
 Rehabilitated the plant bycontrolling several million dollars of capital improvement projects, including: Kiln
Drying improvement, Planer Machine upgrade, Installation of an additional package maker, and Software
upgrade on Trimmer/Sorter line to improve speed & grade recovery.
GENERAL MANAGER MCCOMB, MS 2007 –2011
 Controlled overall management of Safety & Environmental, Quality, and Production Volume of 200,000 MMBF of
annual lumber production with a staff of 15 salaried and 180 hourlyemployees. Managed an overall capital
investment of over $100 million dollars.
 Led facility to a major reduction in RIR from 10.5 to less than one with a period of 2.5 yearsincident free,
achievingseveral benchmarksafetyawards.
 Developed a strategy to reduce overall costs duringlumber down turn by 40% to keep facility operatingat a
breakeven. The facility took minimum market downtime duringthisperiod with an overall reduction of 43%

2. GENERAL MANAGER HOLDEN, LA 2002 –2007
 Headed a Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) lumber manufacturingfacilitywith 150,000 MMBF of annual lumber
production of 8’ (2”x4” & 4”x4” products). Overseeing& directlysupervisinga staff of 7 salaried and 100 hourly
employees.Managing an overall capital investment in excessof $130 million dollars.
 Initiated a safety turnaround program to reduce the RIR from 8.2 to lessthan 1, and maintain the facility
incident free for a period of 3.5 years.
 Improved production capacityto 200 MMBF with capital by installingan additional kiln and modification of
Environmental permit duringthisperiod.
DRY-SIDE MANAGER PLYMOUTH, NC 2000 – 2002
 Recruited back to Weyerhaeuser byVP of Softwood Lumber to be part of the lead team of a newlyconstructed
lumber operation. Directly supervised a salary staff of 4 salaried and 75 hourlyemployees. The department
structure was self-supported. (Maintenance and operationsas part of dry-side.)
 Improved production and qualityperformance over 20% during the period. Focus areas to achieve were
improved maintenance practices,dryingof lumber, and training& development of peoples.
SUPERVISOR MCCOMB, MS Sept 1991 – Sept 1998
 Cavenham Forest Company- Acquired by Weyerhaeuser duringperiod.
 Fostered a superior safety environment, directinga team that went 7.5 yearsincident free.
 Supervised a team that broke mill records with production over 500 MBF on one 8 hour shift, average 62.2
MBF/HR for shift, and average 54.5 MBF/HR for month.
QCSUPERVISOR/ OPERATIONS TECH MCCOMB, MS Feb 1988 – Aug 1991
 Promoted to Sawmill supervisor in 1991 for performance.
 Promoted from QualityControl Technician to QualityControl Supervisor within 6 months due to superior
performance.
 Led the efforts on the curve sawing conversion.
International Paper Springhill, LA Oct 1998 – Jun 2000
PLANT MANAGER
 Recruited bySenior VP of Lumber for International Paper to lead chip & saw mill at a plywood complex. Directly
supervise 15 salaried employees and a total of 100 employees.
 Rehabilitated facilityfor a $4 million dollar turns around in less than 1 year.
MILITARY SERVICE EXPERIENCE
US Army, Major- ArmyMilitaryCommissioned Officer 1984-2007
US ArmyReserves 1988- 2007
US ArmyActive Duty 1984-1988
GulfWar 1989-1991
 ArmyMeritorious Service Medal (2)
 ArmyAccommodation Medal (2)
EDUCATION
Alcorn State University Lorman, MS
 BS in Computer Science & Applied Mathematics 1984
Weyerhaeuser Leadership Institute 2003
 Top 10% of Weyerhaeuser ManagersSelected
Center of Creative Leadership 2001