Gene Miels

Degree:    Bachelor of Science
Major:      Forest Products/Production Management                      

Years in the Field:    26
Current Job Title:     Vice President & General Manager
Organization:            Oshkosh Door Company

How did you find this job?
I was recruited through Industry Network.

Previous Job Titles and Organizations:
Marshfield DoorSystems, Inc. 
        Vice President of Manufacturing
Weyerhaeuser Company
        Vice President of Manufacturing
        Plant Manager
        Operations Manager
        Technical Director
        Lean Facilitator
Marion Plywood Corporation
        General Manager

Please describe your job:
Enterprise level strategic and business management of a commercial wood door manufacturing and sales organization with multiple locations and national representation.

What from your undergraduate educational experience was most helpful in preparing you for this career?
Course work that emphasized communication, interpersonal skills, economics, finance, accounting, and industrial engineering had the greatest impact on my career development. Technical skills in wood and wood material processing got my foot in the door.

What surprised you the most when you entered the field? What is the biggest misconception about this occupation or field?
Biggest surprise: I use my technical training and skill in wood technology a very small percentage of the time.  Biggest misconception: That this is a basic, low tech industry. This is actually a very high tech industry with state of the art information handling systems, people systems and processing equipment going into worldwide markets that have extremely high requirements for quality, speed and innovation.

What advice do you have for current students?
Get an internship with a good progressive company that will give you experiences in project management, group facilitation and team skills (like Lean Kaizen events). Focus on learning Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma concepts and skills. Hone your communication skills and interpersonal skills. Join ToastMasters or Dale Carnegie to learn and master your ability to speak in front of a group and get comfortable in public speaking situations.

Is there anything else you would like to add that we didn't ask you?
I think that many graduates entering the forest products industry have an unrealistic expectation of how fast their career will develop. It takes several years in a position to master it and be eligible for advancement.  With that being said, make sure that you manage your own career— don't look to your boss or anyone else to set your direction or pace— communicate your plans with your superiors and HR professionals. 

Also, most jobs in the industry are still located close to the raw material source— that means in small towns in out-of-the-way places. Over the past 25 years I have seen a lot of people change careers because they couldn't leave the big city behind.