Glens Falls, NY – Investment in top-notch industry professionals is fueling Finch Paper's transformation from an opaque mill to a manufacturing partner. In order to deliver new, customer-specific products as well as oversee continuous improvement throughout operations, Finch Paper has appointed industry veteran Ken Chartier, formerly of NewPage Corp., to Director, Quality and Continuous Improvement. Chartier reports to Bob McDonald, VP Operations, Finch Paper.

As Director, Quality and Continuous Improvement, Chartier is responsible for ensuring that the mill's quality systems meet the needs of its customers, and that these systems are being used effectively.  As a key member of Finch's Manufacturing and Strategic Leadership Teams, Ken  provides leadership across the organization in developing a vision for quality and continuous improvement, as well as implementation of supporting systems and processes that will drive success.

Ken will work closely with the company's sales, marketing and product management groups to understand specific customer needs in the context of broader trends and issues in the marketplace.

Chartier brings over 30 years of industry experience to Finch Paper. At NewPage, he held various positions including Technical Manager, Assistant Paper Machine Superintendent, Senior Process Engineer, Professional Services Manager, and Paper Mill Technical Manager.

Bob McDonald, VP, Operations for Finch Paper, says, "Ken Chartier is a welcome addition to the expanding Finch team of qualified leaders. His impressive industry experience, coupled with certification as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt project leader as well as many awards and honors, is exemplary of the professionals we are fortunate to have on our team."

A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt project leader, Chartier is active in various leadership and improvement activities in the civil sector, as well. He is a recipient of the Graduate Honors Award from the University of Wisconsin; won first prize in the Virginia-Carolina section of TAPPI's Frank Ferrell Memorial Awards Papers Contest; and is a member of both the Beta Gamma Sigma MBA Honor Society and Alpha Xi Sigma Forestry Honor Society.

Chartier holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, and a B.S. in Paper Science and Engineering from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

For more information, visit: www.finchpaper.com.