CalStar, manufacturer of sustainable masonry products, has appointed Mike Lemberg as its CFO. Lemberg has spent the last 15 years helping grow and scale early-stage companies, including the last six years in the sustainable products industry.
Lemberg brings a broad set of skills to the CFO position, including strategic planning, supply chain management, and corporate development in addition to the more traditional roles of the CFO.
“Mike brings tremendous strategic insight and financial experience along with his passion to help high-growth companies succeed,” says CalStar CEO Joel Rood. “His strong track record overseeing financial strategy and executing growth strategies at many emerging companies makes him a great choice for CalStar as we focus on rapidly expanding our share of the $12 billion U.S. masonry market.”
Lemberg most recently served as CFO for EcoSMART Technologies, a brand of safe and effective pesticides sold through retailers such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart. Previous experience includes serving as VP of financial planning and analysis for UNICA (acquired by IBM), a global provider of enterprise marketing management software, and VP of corporate development and treasurer of Arbinet (2004 IPO), a leader in the electronics trading, routing and settling communications capacity market.
“I am excited to join such a fantastic team and investor group,” says Lemberg. “CalStar’s sustainable products have all the characteristics I seek in green solutions: They work as well as the traditional technology, have added benefits of sustainability and improved aesthetics, and do not carry a green price premium.”
Showing posts with label CalStar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CalStar. Show all posts
Monday, July 22, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Calstar Opens Manufacturing Facility in Mississippi
CalStar has reached an agreement with Columbus Lowndes Development LINK to open its newest manufacturing facility in Columbus, Miss. The deal closed June 3, and the plant is expected to open for production in Q1 or Q2 2014.
CalStar has taken ownership of a 100,000-square-foot shell building on 23 acres inthe Golden Triangle Industrial Park in Columbus, located in east-central Mississippi near the Alabama border; build-out of the facility will begin mid-summer. An initial staff of 17 employees is anticipated to increase to almost 60 during a three-year period.
“Situated to supply the entire Gulf Coast region from Texas to the Florida panhandle, the new Columbus facility will enable us to meet growing product demand in the nation’s largest brick market within a smaller delivery radius,” says Michael Telischak, VP of manufacturing for CalStar. “This means quicker turnaround times on orders and reduced freight costs, further contributing to our products’ existing economic advantages versus traditional masonry.”
The plant will produce the full line of CalStar’s sustainably manufactured masonry products currently available from its Caledonia, Wis., facility, including bricks, pavers, and Thru-Wall units, and will feature expanded capabilities for trim and accent shapes through the inclusion of an automated cast stone production line. Existing color offerings will be available, along with additions to the color palette made possible by the use of regional materials.
“I am grateful to the CalStar team for selecting Columbus as the home of its new manufacturing operations. I know our skilled workforce and our favorable business climate will help guarantee the company enjoys years of success in Lowndes County,” says Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. “CalStar’s decision to locate in our state reinforces the fact that ‘Mississippi Works!’”
“CalStar is undergoing rapid, exciting changes as we continue to expand our product offerings and grow our manufacturing footprint,” says CalStar CEO Joel Rood. “Columbus is an ideal setting for the new plant, with a central location in the South, an able labor force, and strong government and business leadership. We’re thrilled to call Columbus our new second home.”
CalStar masonry products incorporate up to 37 percent recycled content and eliminate the need for kiln-firing, typical of traditional clay brick, or the use of Portland cement, used to bind concrete masonry products. As a result, each product requires up to 81 percent less energy to make while emitting up to 84 percent less CO2. This dramatic reduction in environmental footprint comes with no sacrifice to aesthetics or performance, and the raw material and energy savings actually equate to more affordable per-unit costs.
“We are pleased to welcome CalStar to Lowndes County,” says Harry Sanders, president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors. “We look forward to a successful relationship with a great company.”
The plant opening comes on the heels of an expansion at CalStar’s Caledonia manufacturing facility, which added a second shift in May.
CalStar has taken ownership of a 100,000-square-foot shell building on 23 acres inthe Golden Triangle Industrial Park in Columbus, located in east-central Mississippi near the Alabama border; build-out of the facility will begin mid-summer. An initial staff of 17 employees is anticipated to increase to almost 60 during a three-year period.
“Situated to supply the entire Gulf Coast region from Texas to the Florida panhandle, the new Columbus facility will enable us to meet growing product demand in the nation’s largest brick market within a smaller delivery radius,” says Michael Telischak, VP of manufacturing for CalStar. “This means quicker turnaround times on orders and reduced freight costs, further contributing to our products’ existing economic advantages versus traditional masonry.”
The plant will produce the full line of CalStar’s sustainably manufactured masonry products currently available from its Caledonia, Wis., facility, including bricks, pavers, and Thru-Wall units, and will feature expanded capabilities for trim and accent shapes through the inclusion of an automated cast stone production line. Existing color offerings will be available, along with additions to the color palette made possible by the use of regional materials.
“I am grateful to the CalStar team for selecting Columbus as the home of its new manufacturing operations. I know our skilled workforce and our favorable business climate will help guarantee the company enjoys years of success in Lowndes County,” says Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. “CalStar’s decision to locate in our state reinforces the fact that ‘Mississippi Works!’”
“CalStar is undergoing rapid, exciting changes as we continue to expand our product offerings and grow our manufacturing footprint,” says CalStar CEO Joel Rood. “Columbus is an ideal setting for the new plant, with a central location in the South, an able labor force, and strong government and business leadership. We’re thrilled to call Columbus our new second home.”
CalStar masonry products incorporate up to 37 percent recycled content and eliminate the need for kiln-firing, typical of traditional clay brick, or the use of Portland cement, used to bind concrete masonry products. As a result, each product requires up to 81 percent less energy to make while emitting up to 84 percent less CO2. This dramatic reduction in environmental footprint comes with no sacrifice to aesthetics or performance, and the raw material and energy savings actually equate to more affordable per-unit costs.
“We are pleased to welcome CalStar to Lowndes County,” says Harry Sanders, president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors. “We look forward to a successful relationship with a great company.”
The plant opening comes on the heels of an expansion at CalStar’s Caledonia manufacturing facility, which added a second shift in May.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Calstar Adds Second Shift to Manufacturing Plant
CalStar, manufacturer of affordable, sustainable masonry products, has expanded the capacity of its Caledonia, Wis., manufacturing plant with the addition of a second shift. The expansion will help the company meet growing demand across all of its product lines.
“Increasing interest in our products combined with the improving construction economy had begun to stretch delivery lead times beyond acceptable limits,” says Michael Telischak, VP of manufacturing for CalStar. “Adding a second shift has allowed us to accommodate that growth as well as further bolster our orders.”
The expansion created 17 new jobs at the plant, adding to the 38 existing staff in Caledonia and the 10 sales and marketing team members around the country. Along with new hires, the company’s internal training programs have helped several employees advance into positions of greater responsibility.
CalStar’s growth is felt across its brick, paver, and Thru-Wall lines. Among the largest drivers are a number of large facing-brick projects, such as a high school in Oxford, Miss.; springtime demand for pavers at more than 160 Home Depot locations; and skyrocketing orders for Thru-Wall units, including for several large retailers.
In addition, CalStar has added several new products to its offerings over the past six months, including wet cast products, 12 x 12 pavers, a monarch brick, and numerous colors and blends. The company also is able to create custom molds and color blends on special order for high-volume projects. One of its newest introductions, wet cast, has recently moved from pilot operation to production scale, and has been specified, along with CalStar brick, on high-profile projects, including Courtyard by Marriott and Walgreens’ ground-breaking net-zero store in Evanston, Ill.
“We are thrilled with the growing rate of demand for our masonry products and even more pleased to be adding jobs to the Southwest Wisconsin region,” says CalStar CEO Joel Rood. “This plant expansion is further proof that architects and masons have recognized the sustainability, affordability, and aesthetic benefits of CalStar bricks, pavers, Thru-Wall units, and wet cast products.”
Like all of CalStar’s masonry offerings, the newest products are manufactured with up to 37 percent recycled content in a process that uses up to 81 percent less energy and emits up to 84 percent less CO2. Along with their sustainability properties, the products also cost up to 10 percent less than traditional options.
“Increasing interest in our products combined with the improving construction economy had begun to stretch delivery lead times beyond acceptable limits,” says Michael Telischak, VP of manufacturing for CalStar. “Adding a second shift has allowed us to accommodate that growth as well as further bolster our orders.”
The expansion created 17 new jobs at the plant, adding to the 38 existing staff in Caledonia and the 10 sales and marketing team members around the country. Along with new hires, the company’s internal training programs have helped several employees advance into positions of greater responsibility.
CalStar’s growth is felt across its brick, paver, and Thru-Wall lines. Among the largest drivers are a number of large facing-brick projects, such as a high school in Oxford, Miss.; springtime demand for pavers at more than 160 Home Depot locations; and skyrocketing orders for Thru-Wall units, including for several large retailers.
In addition, CalStar has added several new products to its offerings over the past six months, including wet cast products, 12 x 12 pavers, a monarch brick, and numerous colors and blends. The company also is able to create custom molds and color blends on special order for high-volume projects. One of its newest introductions, wet cast, has recently moved from pilot operation to production scale, and has been specified, along with CalStar brick, on high-profile projects, including Courtyard by Marriott and Walgreens’ ground-breaking net-zero store in Evanston, Ill.
“We are thrilled with the growing rate of demand for our masonry products and even more pleased to be adding jobs to the Southwest Wisconsin region,” says CalStar CEO Joel Rood. “This plant expansion is further proof that architects and masons have recognized the sustainability, affordability, and aesthetic benefits of CalStar bricks, pavers, Thru-Wall units, and wet cast products.”
Like all of CalStar’s masonry offerings, the newest products are manufactured with up to 37 percent recycled content in a process that uses up to 81 percent less energy and emits up to 84 percent less CO2. Along with their sustainability properties, the products also cost up to 10 percent less than traditional options.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
CalStar Adds Oversized Brick to Offerings
CalStar Products has introduced an oversized facing unit to complement its line of sustainably manufactured masonry. The facing unit can be used as a design element for base courses at grade and for contrast bands. The units contribute to multiple LEED credits on applicable projects.
CalStar says it uses proprietary technology to produce bricks that offer unique environmental benefits. The process incorporates 40 percent post-industrial recycled material as the binder, and avoids the energy-intensive kiln firing required for clay bricks. The manufacturing process uses 85 percent less energy and generates 85 percent less CO2, compared to traditional fired brick.
The oversized facing unit is 4 X 8 X 24 inches in size, and is equivalent to a nine-brick soldier course, resulting in time-saving, simple installation. For more information, visit www.calstarproducts.com.
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