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New Hires and Promotions - May 2026

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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

Chris Smith - Director of Operations ARL

 I am proud to announce that Chris Smith has joined GracoRoberts as Director of Operations for the Arlington facility. Reporting directly to Mark, 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 have been actively working side-by-side and shall continue to do so throughout the month of April to ramp-up and transfer knowledge. 

Chris Smith Welcomes Mychal Daniel, Warehouse Operations Clerk, Arlington, TX

Mychal Daniel - Warehouse Operations Clerk

 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!

Derek Needham Welcomes Brandon Pegan, Warehouse Operations Clerk, Carson, CA

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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

Anderson Thomas - Warehouse Operations Clerk

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

Epimenio Galindo - Repackaging-Mixing Clerk-1

We are excited to welcome Epimenio to the GracoRoberts family! Ep came to us about eight months ago from Aerotek and has done an amazing job. He first started on the 10p8-11 pumps and is now consistently pumping out the spirit 10P4-2 weekly orders.
In his spare time, Ep likes to spend time with his kids and grandkids as well as hit the punching bag, work on cars, and go fishing.

Welcome aboard, Ep!

Julissa Porcher Welcomes Kevin Waida, Buyer, Arlington, TX 

Kevin Waida - Buyer

Please join me in welcoming Kevin Waida to the procurement team as our new Buyer! Kevin comes to us with a diverse ackground-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 

Benjamin Keltner - Procurement Coordinator

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

Valerie Monroy - Customer Service Rep PCC

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

Ashley Hughes - Customer Service Rep PCC

Everyone join me in welcoming Ashley as our newest Customer Service Rep at PCC!
 
Ashley comes from a background in sales and customer service with a focus on building relationships, understanding client needs, and delivering a positive experience. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor activities and going to the ballpark to watch the Mariners! We look forward to working closely with Ashley and excited to have her on board!
 
 
 

Jess Gulley Welcomes Miguel Dejesus, Warehouse Associate Receiver, SkyGeek - LaGrangeville, NY

Miguel Dejesus - Warehouse

Please join us in welcoming Miguel to the team! Miguel brings a positive attitude and a genuine eagerness to learn as he begins his career with us. He is excited to learn from our experienced team members, continue building his skill set, and contribute meaningfully to our work. We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to the energy and value he brings to the team.
 
Welcome Miguel!
 
 

Promotion/ Transfer

Mark Tepera Congratulates Sergio De La Torre on his promotion to Warehouse Operations Supervisor, Arlington, TX

Sergio De La Torre - Warehouse Operations Clerk

Huge congratulations to Sergio De La Torre on a well-deserved promotion! In this role, Sergio will take on direct supervisory responsibilities for the shipping team in Arlington. It didn't take long after joining the team in 2024 for Sergio to become a "go-to" resource on the shipping floor but it is his charisma, empathy, and a desire to teach that really illustrates his inherent leadership qualities. We are fortunate to have an individual of Sergio's talent to help lead the Arlington facility.
 
 

Brittney Jones Congratulates Lizandro Garcia on his promotion to Buyer, Carson, CA

Lizandro Garcia - Manufacturing_Repackaging Planner

Huge congratulations to Sergio De La Torre on a well-deserved promotion! In this role, Sergio will take on direct supervisory responsibilities for the shipping team in Arlington. It didn't take long after joining the team in 2024 for Sergio to become a "go-to" resource on the shipping floor but it is his charisma, empathy, and a desire to teach that really illustrates his inherent leadership qualities. We are fortunate to have an individual of Sergio's talent to help lead the Arlington facility.EDITS
 
 

Brittney Jones Congratulates Becsy Flores on her promotion to Supplier Performance Analyst, Arlington, TX

Becsy Flores - Buyer (1)

Huge congratulations to Sergio De La Torre on a well-deserved promotion! In this role, Sergio will take on direct supervisory responsibilities for the shipping team in Arlington. It didn't take long after joining the team in 2024 for Sergio to become a "go-to" resource on the shipping floor but it is his charisma, empathy, and a desire to teach that really illustrates his inherent leadership qualities. We are fortunate to have an individual of Sergio's talent to help lead the Arlington facility. EDITS
 
 

Lee Sullivan Congratulates Jeff Cross on his promotion to Director of Operations, SkyGeek - LaGrangeville, NY

Jeff Cross - Operations and Compliance Manager SkyGeek

I'm pleased to announce that Jeff Cross has been appointed Director of Operations, SkyGeek!
Jeff's career reflects the very best of SkyGeek's history and culture. He began working in aviation in 1990 fueling planes at the Sky Acres Airport, later working for Steven Styles, SkyGeek's founder. Jeff continued with SkyGeek through its acquisition by GracoRoberts in 2022 and has remained a steady, trusted leader through a period of significant growth and change. Over the years, Jeff has worked across nearly every area of the buisness and most recently served as Operations and Compliance Manager, with his responsibility for Warehouse and Purchasing. His deep operational expertise, hands on leadership style, and commitment to the team make him exceptionally well suited for this role. Please join me in congratulating Jeff on his well-deserved promotion!