Blake Millinor, the recently named President of Valdese Weavers, announced a transition in key executive positions as a part of a carefully developed succession plan for the future leadership of the company.
Roger Berrier will succeed Carson Copeland as Chief Operating Officer. Copeland has served Valdese Weavers for 43 years and is planning to retire. Copeland was instrumental in designing the manufacturing structure of the company that grew from one weaving facility to a completely vertical manufacturer with four facilities totalling over a million square feet and employing over 700 associates. Berrier has more than 20 years experience in the textile industry, most recently with Valdese Weavers as the Senior Vice President of Operations and the Vice President of Supply Chain. Berrier will continue to lead the company’s global sourcing in addition to overseeing all manufacturing operations.
Katie Pritchard will succeed Janet Kuck who has been with Valdese Weavers for 33 years and is also planning to retire. Kuck has been Chief Financial Officer since 2016 and was previously Senior Vice President of IT. She was a key leader in the company’s implementation of SAP, which refined business processes and secured IT infrastructure. The success and innovation behind this new technology elevated Valdese Weavers to a worldwide player in the global textile industry. Pritchard has 28 years of accounting experience and has been the Vice President/Controller at Valdese Weavers since 2011. She played an integral role in the company’s acquisition of Dicey Fabrics in 2015 and the company’s transition to a 100% ESOP owned company in 2016.
“It is rare for companies to have the vision to build a succession plan to this degree and we are incredibly fortunate that Mike Shelton, Carson, and Janet have put us in this enviable position. The foundation they established has positioned our new leadership team for growth and success,” says Blake Millinor. Pritchard and Berrier’s transition to their new roles will be official on July 1.
