Top News

Monument Team,

I write to you with much excitement as I began my new role as Monument’s CEO this week. It’s an honor to become part of a team I have long admired, and I am grateful to Amy and Bill for trusting me to build on Monument’s solid foundation of entrepreneurship and growth.

I’m a big believer that when a career opportunity fits, it should really fit. And that’s exactly what happened when The Heritage Group asked me to support them on a range of strategic projects – and I had a chance to learn more about Monument and a potential match. I could share a long list as to why this opportunity truly “fits” for me, but the biggest draws were Monument’s strong, family-owned culture, the clear commitment to investing in people, and an impressive track record of profitable growth.

I have always sought out opportunities to be part of businesses that are growing – and will continue to grow long into the future. I admire Monument’s ability to add new components to its growth story – from new acquisitions to new markets – and to make each of those pieces excel by nurturing unique strengths. That skill has earned this team a solid reputation in the industry, and as we add even more pieces to our growth story, we’ll continue to attract new customers, new talent, and new industry partners who also want to be part of our expanding success. 

In the months ahead, we’ll be getting to know each other quite a bit. For now, I would like to share with you some of the things I am particularly passionate about:

Safety. I have worked in this industry for over 30 years, and like many, I’ve experienced a range of impactful incidents – from actual injuries and process fires to near-misses. These experiences have shaped me and my commitment to ensuring that safety, both personal and process, is always our number one priority. I know Monument has made significant improvements in all areas of HSSE over the past few years, and I’m eager to be part of this ongoing dialogue and learning.

Talent Development. My most rewarding career accomplishments center around building and developing teams. I enjoy helping people discover what they most want to achieve – and then helping them create a path to make that vision a reality. And the best part? These efforts, in turn, enable those individuals to support the growth of their own team members. So you can expect to see a heavy focus on talent development to generate this positive cascade effect throughout the organization.

Working Smarter. I believe that success doesn’t come from being the person who works the most hours, but rather, the person who works hard AND smart. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to innovative technology or novel ways of doing things. I’ve spent my whole career in the manufacturing world, because there are always plenty of opportunities to uncover previously-unseen angles that allow us to work more efficiently or to offer more value to customers.

Monument is certainly no stranger to this approach. In particular, I’m impressed by your many wins throughout the COVID-19 crisis – all of which showcase your ability to think quickly through challenges and act with flexibility, innovation, and care. This includes your incredible efforts to ramp up production of isopropyl alcohol to meet the high demand for hand sanitizer; the Houston team putting its new safety measures to the test to ensure the safety of the team following the identification of positive cases; and your many community outreach efforts, such as the Brandenburg team’s support of Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH) to overcome hunger challenges in the region. And, of course, I enjoyed learning about the Kallo team’s recent anniversary celebration and the highlights of their many successes from the past decade – congratulations!

Global Mindset. By increasing opportunities to learn from each other – across geographies, sites, functions, and teams – we can reap a wide range of benefits, such as HSSE improvements, on-the-mark and timely customer solutions, process efficiencies, and so much more. I’m looking forward to continuing my initial learning with you by connecting with Monument teams at all of our sites. (Side note to the Kallo team…I’m excited for the opportunity to return to Belgium, as I spent four great years of my career near Antwerp. My oldest son was actually born there!)

I’m a curious person by nature, so you’ll be hearing me ask questions just about everywhere I go and with everyone I meet. I’m here to learn and understand more about what you’ve already achieved, what your strengths and experiences are, and of course, how we can build on them. I’d also like to bring some of my experiences and expertise to the table with the aim of finding places where I can encourage that growth.

And since YOU might be curious about ME outside of work… As measured as I like to be in my professional world, I definitely love speed in my personal life. I ride mountain bikes and enjoy amateur motor racing in my two race cars. I have four children, ages 20 through 26. My wife, Lisa, and I had been empty-nesters for about a year – but with the current COVID-19 situation, we have our two youngest children back home with us. It’s definitely been interesting!

I look forward to getting to know each other more in the near future. To those I have already met, thank you for the warm welcome to the team. And to all Monument employees, thank you for all you do to make this organization an exceptional team to join. I’m inspired by the passion and commitment of the Monument family – and your reputation in the industry. Today, I am honored to become part of your team, Monument’s vision for growth, and our many accomplishments to come.

Paul