Drew Blythe
Augusta,GA
Summary
Senior operations leader with 25 years in manufacturing oversight and process engineering. Proven track record in driving cost reductions and enhancing productivity through strategic process improvements and team management. Dedicated to safety, environmental compliance, and operational excellence.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Manager – Pulp and Power
Clearwater Paper
Augusta, GA
05.2024 - Current
- Oversaw operations of pulp and power departments, ensuring efficiency and productivity.
- Led operations effort to reduce mill effluent for compliance with new limits while enhancing cost management and production
- Developed long and short-term capital efforts across operating departments, emphasizing ROI and reliability improvements
- Managing a reliability focused team to identify and eliminate root cause failures
- Focused on fixed and variable cost reductions during market slowback and downtime conditions
- Supporting a crew led safety and operational culture focusing on individual ownership and team concepts with 162 operators and 17 staff
Manufacturing Manager - Pulp
Graphic Packaging International
Augusta, GA
04.2020 - 05.2024
- Led the department with back to back record years of production with properly aligned operational and capital projects
- Managed mill fiber and liquor balance to support maximized production on the 2-coated board machines
- Identified and addressed operational bottlenecks to enhance department uptime and availability
- Oversaw annual outage spending of $6.5MM and managed routine maintenance budgets of $8MM to ensure operational continuity
- Managed the Pulp Department consisting of 2-Kamyr Digesters, 2-Bleach Plants, Kiln/Recaust, and Woodyard
- Supported a crew led safety and operational culture focusing on individual ownership and team concepts with 102 operators and 10 staff
Manufacturing Manager - Power
Graphic Packaging International
Augusta, GA
02.2017 - 04.2020
- Managed the Power department consisting of a Recovery Boiler, 3-Power Boilers, 3-Turbines, and Utilities
- Oversaw $40MM Recovery Boiler rebuild, completing on schedule in 28 days and within budget
- Improved Recovery Boiler throughput and relieved mill operational constraints
- Directed annual outage spending of $7MM while managing $10MM routine maintenance budget
- Oversaw mill energy expenditures for electricity and fuels (natural gas, bark, coal, and liquor burning)
- Supported a crew led operational culture focusing on managing at the proper level with 56 operators and 12 staff
Superintendent - Power
International Paper
Augusta, GA
08.2015 - 02.2017
- Developed process improvement ideas, including 1st effect bypass and alternative use for OSB system, to optimize operations
- Managed department front line leaders and crews to enhance operational effectiveness
- Reviewed departmental systems to establish sustainable improvements
- Assisted mill operations by championing RBSA, NCG, and Basic Care initiatives.
- Provided departmental support by serving as the IEPM, Jumper, and Engagement Champion.
- Supported the BUM and APM by filling in during vacancies.
Power/Recovery/Recaust Area Manager
International Paper
Franklin, VA
05.2012 - 08.2015
- Manage the day to day operations of the Power/Recovery and Recaust/Lime Kiln Area
- Prioritize maintenance work scheduling on a daily and weekly basis while improving reliability
- Coordinated area shutdowns and established inventory targets considering operational downtime
- Reliability, MOC, and MWS champion for the department
- Led continuous improvement and cost-saving projects throughout the department.
- Troubleshot process upsets and identified corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence
- Manage environmental compliance within the stated permits throughout the department
- Collaborated with new team to restart mill after 3 years of downtime while training new operators
Recovery Production Leader
Georgia Pacific
Port Hudson, LA
04.2010 - 05.2012
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the Recovery and Evaporator Area
- Prioritized maintenance work scheduling daily and weekly to enhance operational reliability
- Supervised shift supervisors to align team efforts with production goals
Recovery/Recaust Technical Assistant (Asst. Supt.)
AbitibiBowater
Coosa Pines, AL
03.2008 - 04.2010
- Oversaw daily operations in Recovery and Recaust area, ensuring smooth workflow and adherence to safety standards
- Coordinated area shutdowns and established inventory targets, optimizing operational downtime and resource allocation
- Led two continuous process improvement teams, mentoring hourly personnel to enhance problem-solving and operational effectiveness
- Prioritize maintenance work and scheduling on a daily and weekly basis
- Ensured adherence to PSM regulations and ISO standards.
Recovery/Utilities Shift Supervisor
Willamette Ind./Weyerhaeuser Company/Domtar
Hawesville, KY
03.2004 - 03.2008
- Oversaw daily operations of 10 personnel and 2 maintenance staff to ensure effective workflow.
- Coordinated with maintenance department to resolve planned and unplanned repair issues, minimizing downtime.
- Maintain environmental compliance through monitoring and process changes.
- Managed departmental inventory to support production needs and streamline resource allocation.
- Conducted daily interactions and monthly meetings to promote safe work practices among employees.
- Coach employees to take the initiative to problem solve operational issues.
Process Engineer
Willamette Ind.
Hawesville, KY
05.2001 - 03.2004
- Optimized boiler water chemistry through daily adjustments of feed chemicals, enhancing system performance.
- Implemented process changes that streamlined operations and minimized costs.
- Troubleshot process issues, contributing to reduced operational costs and downtime.
- Supervised co-ops during daily tasks and project activities.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Pulp & Paper Technology
North Carolina State
Raleigh, North Carolina05-2001
Associates of Applied Science - Pulp & Paper Technology
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
Clifton Forge, Virginia05-1997
Skills
- Operations leadership
- Process optimization
- Regulatory compliance
- Cost reduction
- Time management
- Organizational skills
- High-pressure environments
- Team collaboration
- Results-oriented
- Excellent communication skills
Timeline
Operations Manager – Pulp and Power
Clearwater Paper
05.2024 - Current
Manufacturing Manager - Pulp
Graphic Packaging International
04.2020 - 05.2024
Manufacturing Manager - Power
Graphic Packaging International
02.2017 - 04.2020
Superintendent - Power
International Paper
08.2015 - 02.2017
Power/Recovery/Recaust Area Manager
International Paper
05.2012 - 08.2015
Recovery Production Leader
Georgia Pacific
04.2010 - 05.2012
Recovery/Recaust Technical Assistant (Asst. Supt.)
AbitibiBowater
03.2008 - 04.2010
Recovery/Utilities Shift Supervisor
Willamette Ind./Weyerhaeuser Company/Domtar
03.2004 - 03.2008
Process Engineer
Willamette Ind.
05.2001 - 03.2004
Bachelor of Science - Pulp & Paper Technology
North Carolina State
Associates of Applied Science - Pulp & Paper Technology
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College