Founder and Chairman of the Board of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Jimmy Rane, announced today that 34-year veteran of the company, Mark Callender, will be elevated to President and Chief Executive Officer.
Rane will maintain his role as board chairman while Callender takes over the company’s day-to-day operational leadership.
“Our leadership team has known for some time that Mark would be our next president and CEO, and I’m excited to formally make that announcement today,” Rane said.
“Mark’s taking on the day-to-day duties of president and CEO will give me more time to focus on several initiatives that are important to our board of directors and our long-term growth.” Rane added, “Mark is highly respected both in the industry and within our organization and is uniquely qualified to lead the next phase of our strategic growth plan.”
Callender joined Great Southern in 1991 as an inside sales representative at the company’s Bushnell, Florida, location. He steadily rose through the ranks, serving as sales manager, then as general manager of that facility.
In 2007, he was tapped for an executive leadership role at the Great Southern headquarters in Abbeville, Alabama, and was named chief operating officer, a role he has held for 18 years.
“Clearly, there’s no replacing Jimmy and what he has accomplished at Great Southern,” Mark Callender said.
“As his successor, I am committed to building on the foundation of excellence that Jimmy has established over the past 56 years. Whether it’s in the way we care for our teammates or the unwavering support we provide our customers, Jimmy has always led by example, and that will remain unchanged. Jimmy is not only a legend in this industry, he is a great friend and mentor. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and the rest of our team in my new role.”
The company has long invested in homegrown managers through a Leadership Development Program that rotates rising talent through treating plants and corporate roles, a pathway it launched in 1999.
That program has fed the ranks of sales, supply-chain and general managers across the network.
“Jimmy has always said that it’s the people that make Great Southern special,” Callender said.
“It’s not just one person but everyone on our team at every level of the organization internalizing our commitment to delivering quality products and great customer service. We have strong leadership at every location where we serve customers, and we have strong team members supporting those leaders. I am excited to lead our next era of growth.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
