NEWPORT –– Joshua Houlihan, Plant Manager at Columbia Forest Products in Newport, recently recognized Nancy Gleason for her 24 years of service, and Glenn Foster for his 29 years of service, upon their retirement this month.
Nancy Gleason
Born in Newport, Gleason graduated from North Country Union High School. While in High School she did a lot of odd and end volunteer jobs such as painting the walls in the prison. In 1979, Nancy became a Nurses Aid, and continued that job for 21 years, before coming to Columbia Forest Products.
Nancy joined Columbia Forest Products on August 28th, 2000 as an unspliced piler on 2nd shift. She trained fast and quickly became an unspliced grader.
She trained in other departments for a short stint of time, however, was found that it was productive to keep her as an unspliced grader. She eventually went to 1st shift, where she finished out her service at Columbia Forest Products.
Nancy’s retirement plans are to get some work done on her house, continue working on training her puppy, and spending time outside.
Glenn Foster
Born in Portland Maine, Foster graduated from Gray-New Gloucester High School. He received his Mechanical Engineering BS at the University of Maine, where he graduated in 1988. From 1988-1989 He attended the Nuclear Engineering school in the Navy, and then Joined the Submarine Service from 1990-1995.
Glenn joined Columbia Forest Products on August 18th 1995 as a Management Trainee for 6 months, then became the Plant Engineer. In 1998 He became Plant Manager, and held that position until 2014. At that time he became the Division Engineer, which he held for the remainder of his time at Columbia Forest Products.
Glenn and his wife Kim live in Newport Center. They were blessed with 4 children and have 6 grandchildren. His retirement plans are to obtain his CDL as well as start a small excavation business. He plans to continue his youtube channel (timber&terra) as well as manage the woodlands that he owns.
Glenn says that Columbia is his un-biological family and that he truly does feel that he is leaving family members.
“All of us at Columbia deeply appreciate Nancy and Glenn’s dedicated service,” Vanessa Bowman, Human Resources Assistant at Columbia Forest Products said.
