Please join us in extending a warm welcome to the newest members of the GracoRoberts family. We’re excited to have you on board and look forward to the skills, perspectives, and energy you bring to the team. We wish you every success as you begin your journey with us.
New Hires
Mark Tepera Welcomes Chris Smith, Director of Operations, Arlington, TX
I am proud to announce that Chris Smith has joined GracoRoberts as Director of Operations for the Arlington facility. Reporting directly to Mark Tepera, Chris assumes responsibility for the Arlington warehouse including Shipping, Receiving, and Repack. Chris brings to GracoRoberts a strong background in coatings and sealants from his 20+ years of experience as Ops Manager at Pinnacle Coatings, Hub Manager at PPG, and Branch Manager for Akzo. Since Chris' start date on April 6, he and Renee Carlson have been actively working side-by-side and shall continue to do so throughout the month of April to ramp-up and transfer knowledge. A special thank you to Renee Carlson for serving as Interim and for her continued support during Chris’s onboarding process.
Chris Smith Welcomes Mychal Daniel, Warehouse Operations Clerk, Arlington, TX
I am very excited to introduce our newest member of our GracoRoberts team at the Arlington facility, Mychal Daniel! 🎉
Mychal comes to us directly from Pontiac, MI along with his three wonderful kids with whom he enjoys spending quality, family time. He brings impressive certifications and a background in hazardous materials shipping, having worked the past 12 years at Akzo Nobel.
Please join me in welcoming Mychal to the family!
Mark Tepera Welcomes Brandon Pegan, Warehouse Operations Clerk, Carson, CA
Brandon was born and raised in Long Beach, CA and brings an energetic and adventurous spirit to the team. He enjoys staying active, often spending his free time hiking with his dogs, and has a strong passion for travel and exploring new destinations. Brandon is also an avid fan of live music, frequently attending concerts and festivals whenever possible. In quieter moments, he enjoys playing video games. Please join us in welcoming Brandon as he steps into his role as a fulltime Warehouse Operations Clerk. He is excited to be part of the GracoRoberts team and looks forward to making meaningful contributions.
John Welch Welcomes Anderson Thomas II, Warehouse Operations Clerk, High Point, SC
We are excited to welcome Anderson Thomas II as our new Warehouse Operations Clerk in High Point, NC! Born in Uganda, Thomas moved to the United States in 2016 and proudly became a U.S. citizen shortly thereafter. He has a passion for travel and has visited several countries throughout his life. A die‑hard NBA fan, Thomas proudly cheers on the Lakers—go Lakers! In addition to his professional experience, Thomas is also an accomplished author. His two books, The Autobiography of Ndizeye Hitimana and Why Should We Fear Death? Life After My Mother Died, are currently available on Amazon. He is a Christian and an avid reader who enjoys continually expanding his perspective.
We are thrilled to have Thomas join our team and look forward to the contributions he will bring!
Teresa Gamblin Welcomes Epimenio Galindo, Warehouse Operations Clerk, Wichita, KS
Welcome aboard, Ep!
Julissa Porcher Welcomes Kevin Waida, Buyer I, Arlington, TX
Please join me in welcoming Kevin Waida to the procurement team as our new Buyer! Kevin comes to us with a diverse background- four years at Sherwin-Williams, logistic experience from DHL, and additional time in the oil and gas industry. He also earned his Supply Chain Management degree from UT Dallas, giving him a strong foundation for his new role. When he's not working, you will likely find him on the golf course or rooting for the Pittsburg Steelers. We're thrilled to have him with us!
Brittney Jones Welcomes Benjamin Keltner, Procurement Coordinator, Arlington, TX
Please welcome Ben Keltner to the team! Ben comes to us from the University of Oklahoma with a master's degree in Supply Chain Management, and his background speaks for itself. His leadership as President of the American Inventory Control Society, along with his work at Penske improving warehouse efficieny-particularly his optimization of warehouse lanes in support of Starbucks, is truly impressive. We are confident his expertise will add immediate value and help us continue driving smart, efficient operations. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is a proud Sooner fan, and we will do our best to not hold his loyalty to the Detroit Lions against him! Welcome aboard Ben!
Jose Lozada Welcomes Valerie Monroy, Customer Service Representative, PCC - Fife, WA
Everyone, please join me in welcoming Valerie as our newest Customer Service Rep at PCC!
Valerie comes from a background in customer service retail where she excelled in customer interactions and delivering positive experiences. She is originally from SoCal and enjoys the outdoor scenery with her French Bulldog named Silver. We look forward to working closely with Valerie and are super excited to have her a part of the team.
Jose Lozada Welcomes Ashley Hughes, Customer Service Representative, PCC - Fife, WA
Jess Gulley Welcomes Miguel Dejesus, Warehouse Associate Receiver, SkyGeek - LaGrangeville, NY
Matt Letts Welcomes Joseph Clayton, Product Information Administrator, Silmid - Coleshill, UK
I am delighted to welcome Joe Clayton to the team. Joe joins us bringing a strong background in administration, data analysis, and operational support. Joseph has several years’ experience working within large, fast‑paced organisations, most recently at Central Co‑op, where he held a number of roles across finance, pricing, and data administration.
His experience includes improving data quality, supporting business-critical systems, and turning complex operational information into clear, meaningful insights for stakeholders. Please join me in giving Joe a warm welcome to the team! I am thrilled to have Joe on board!
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Please join me in welcoming Matthew Dearlove to the team. Matthew brings hands‑on experience across first‑ and second‑line IT support roles within both SME and corporate environments. He began his career in customer‑facing retail before progressing into IT through an apprenticeship, achieving a distinction and gaining recognised Windows Server fundamentals along the way. Since then, he has supported users across a range of business-critical systems, resolving technical issues efficiently and providing clear, reliable support to colleagues at all levels. We are thrilled to have Matthew on board and look forward to seeing Matthew flourish in his new role.
Promotion/Transfer
Mark Tepera Congratulates Sergio De La Torre on his promotion to Warehouse Operations Supervisor, Arlington, TX
Brittney Jones Congratulates Lizandro Garcia on his promotion to Buyer I, Carson, CA
We are very pleased to formally congratulate Lizandro on his internal promotion to the Buyer I position. On behalf of the team, welcome to this next chapter of your career with us.
This opportunity is a well‑earned milestone. His progression within the organization reflects the strong ownership, attention to detail, and supply chain acumen he has consistently demonstrated in his role as Manufacturing/Repackaging Planner. His deep understanding of inventory management, production scheduling, ERP systems, and cross‑functional collaboration will be a tremendous asset as his transition into procurement and strategic buying responsibilities. What stood out most throughout the selection process was his proven ability to connect planning, inventory readiness, and cost visibility with broader business objectives. His experience partnering closely with procurement, maintaining pricing accuracy, and identifying risks to supply continuity positions him well to succeed as a Buyer and positively impact our purchasing strategy from day one.
The team is excited to have him onboard in this capacity, and he will have our full support as he continues to learn, adapt, and lead in his new role. Congratulations again on this achievement—we look forward to seeing the impact Lizandro will make as a Buyer I. Welcome to the team!
Brittney Jones Congratulates Becsy Flores on her promotion to Supplier Performance Analyst, Arlington, TX
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Her hands-on experience and deep understanding of our procurement processes will be a great asset in supporting supplier management initiatives. We’re confident that Becsy’s quality-driven mindset and expertise will contribute to continued success in her new role.
Congratulations Becsy!
Lee Sullivan Congratulates Jeff Cross on his promotion to Director of Operations, SkyGeek - LaGrangeville, NY
Ciara Jones, joined Silmid in 2012 and has progressed through the organisation, being promoted to Purchasing Team Lead and subsequently Purchasing Manager in 2019. Ciara is known for her keen eye for detail, enthusiasm for analysis, and ability to remain calm and composed in even the most challenging situations. In her new role as Interim Director of Operations, Ciara will take responsibility for Purchasing, Quality, and Warehouse, with a strong commitment to working closely with teams to deliver ongoing operational improvements and to report back to the wider business using her exceptional analytical skills.
We are confident Ciara will thrive in this role and wish her every success.
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