Mrs. John D. Besse This is Me

Education

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1. 1. The Daily Press - Ashland, Wisconsin

   www.ashlandwi.com/placed/index - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/16/2001   Last Visited: 8/3/2001

   Besse receives Entrepreneur of the Year award. Last Updated : Monday , July 16th , 2001 09 : 58 : 53 AM
   
   Submitted Photo John Besse , center , 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year award winner , is congratulated by Melissa Besse and Greg Besse.
   ...
   BUTTERNUT -- John D. Besse , founder of the Besse Forest Products Group and President of Butternut Veneers , Inc. , and Birds Eye Veneer Company in Butternut was awarded the prestigious 2001 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the manufacturing sector for the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Region.
   
   The Entrepreneur of the Year Award program was created to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs whose achievement place them among the country's leaders in business. The program was first held in Milwaukee and was inspired by the professional services firm of Ernst & Young LLP.. The program has since grown to include 46 regional programs in the United States and similar programs in over 18 foreign countries.
   
   As the award winner for the region , John Besse is an automatic finalist in the 2001 National Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The 2001 national awards will be held in Palm Springs , California in November.
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   Besse was recognized for his life long achievement in the manufacturing sector. After earning his Masters Degree in Forestry from North Carolina State University , his early career in the forest industry included work as a logging superintendent for Roddis Lumber & Veneer Co. of Sault Ste Marie , Vice President and General Manager of Canadian and Vermont Operations for Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd , and Executive Vice President and General Manager for Indianhead Plywood of Vermont.
   
   In September of 1966 , Besse founded Northern Michigan Veneers in Gladstone with 12 employees. Since that time , the company has grown to provide over 1100 jobs at its 7 veneer mills and 4 sawmills in Michigan , Wisconsin , and Indiana and at its corporate office in Gladstone. The company maintains sales offices in Michigan , Washington , Wisconsin , Alabama , Georgia , Ontario and Quebec with sales of hardwood veneer , specialty plywood and lumber expected to reach $150 million worldwide in 2001. The company owns over 1 million square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space in six states.
   
   Kevin Tenpas , President of Wisconsin Business Bank nominated Besse for the award and commented , John Besse embodies what entreprenuership is all about and is truly deserving of this award.
   ...
   His management expertise attributed to the turnaround of at least two companies that were on the verge of extinction when John acquired them. He has successfully managed Besse Forest Products Group for many years , creating jobs and stimulating economic growth in small communities. Wisconsin Business Bank is a full service bank that specializes in the needs of small to medium size businesses throughout Wisconsin , Michigan , Illinois and Minnesota.
   
   Besse's award nomination cited his achievements , management philosophy , and service to the community.
   
   Since 1966 , John Besse has guided Besse Forest Products Group through a period of sustained growth. The group has acquired 9 companies some of which were either closed or struggling financially. By implementing production changes and sound capital investments , each company within the group has improved production capacity , increased sales and provided additional jobs in the local community.
   
   Besse Forest Products continues to grow with the founding of the group's 11 company , Besse Forest Products Canada , Inc. in June of this year. In Delta County , the company is planning to expand Northern Michigan Veneers with the construction of an additional 27 , 000 square foot warehouse in 2001.
   
   ...
   John Besse has been a Northern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula resident for most of his life and is a strong believer in community involvement and philanthropy. He is a life long member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus and has held a number of director positions throughout the Upper Peninsula. He is a major contributor to the United Way of Delta County , St. Francis Hospital , the Bonifas Center , Michigan Technological University , and Northern Michigan University. Besse is also an active supporter of local youth activities including scouting , little league and boys and girls athletics programs.
   
   Besse states his decision to locate his companies in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula was strongly influenced by the work ethic of the local employees and the quality of life that the area provides. Birds Eye Veneer Company and Butternut Veneers , Inc. employ 200 in Butternut.
   
   The company owns and manages over 10 , 000 acres of forestland in Michigan and Wisconsin and employs 18 degreed foresters from New York to Michigan. Company foresters annually purchase over 39 million board feet of cut logs , over 8 million feet of standing timber , and 57 , 000 cords of pulpwood from private and public sales. In 1993 Besse purchased 25 specially designed and equipped rail cars to transport random length logs. This innovation allowed the company to increase the area from which it draws raw material while cutting transportation costs by as much as 60% on most long distance hauls. Besse practices sustained yield forestry in its managed land which is open to the public for hunting and fishing.
   
   Recognizing the importance of a safe work environment , Besse has concentrated on improving the safety records of all his plants. Three of Besse's mills have recently been recognized by federal and state officials for their successful safety programs. The number of work related injuries in Besse plants has decreased every year for the past four years.
   
   Besse Forest Products Group is one of the largest family owned businesses in Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. The company is also one of North America's leading producers of Birds Eye Maple , hardwood veneer and lumber.

2. 2. Clickpaper.com - News - Industry News

   www.clickpaper.com/site/html/n - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/18/2001   Last Visited: 7/20/2001

   2001/0716 , The Daily Press ( Ashland , Wis. ) BUTTERNUT , Wis. , July 16 , 2001 ( The Daily Press ) -- John D. Besse , founder of the Besse Forest Products Group and President of Butternut Veneers , Inc. , and Birds Eye Veneer Company in Butternut was awarded the prestigious 2001 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the manufacturing sector for the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Region.
   
   The Entrepreneur of the Year Award program was created to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs whose achievement place them among the country's leaders in business.
   
   The program was first held in Milwaukee and was inspired by the professional services firm of Ernst & Young LLP.. The program has since grown to include 46 regional programs in the United States and similar programs in over 18 foreign countries.
   
   More information at : http : //www.ashlandwi.com/placed/index.php?sect rank=2&story id=78138&refer url=

3. 3. OSF St. Francis Hospital - Escanaba, Michigan - Foundation

   www.osfstfrancis.org/foundbess - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/1/2008   Last Visited: 1/1/2008

   Mr. and Mrs. John Besse and the John and Melissa Besse Foundation donate $5 million to OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group. Click for more OSF St. Francis Hospital - Escanaba, Michigan - Foundation
   
   Besses donate $5 million to OSF
   
   OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group received a $5 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. John Besse and the John and Melissa Besse Foundation in August to support the enhancement of medical services in Delta County and surrounding communities.
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   "We are working closely with Mr. and Mrs. Besse on finalizing details of the projects for which this gift will be used. It is our intent to put this gift to use as soon as possible for the betterment of our patients and their families."
   
   Mr. and Mrs. Besse have given to OSF on numerous occasions in the past, including annual donations for OSF Bay de Noc Hospice, a $10,000 gift in 2000 for dialysis services and a $1 million donation in December 2003 that was used to provide permanent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services.
   
   "My wife and I feel fortunate that we have had opportunities to give back to the communities in which we live and work," said Mr. Besse. "Access to high quality healthcare is critical and we want to ensure access is available for generations to come."
   
   Mr. Besse is the founder of Besse Forest Products Group, a family-owned business he established in 1966 and currently operates with his son, Greg. Growing significantly over the years, the company now includes 14 manufacturing facilities throughout the Midwest and sales and distribution operations around the world, with over 1,200 employees. The Besses have donated time and money to many organizations over the years within each of the communities it does business. Delta County residents have benefited on numerous occasions from their hard work and dedication.
   
   "We are truly grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Besse for their continued commitment to Delta County and the patients we serve at OSF," said Jennings.