Celebrating decades of service at the Masardis Sawmill

The Masardis Sawmill in Masardis, ME, is celebrating significant employment milestones of four team members.

The sawmill was recently acquired by Irving Forest Products, and has a long history in the community, offering employment to 80 people. For many, it’s a place they chose to commit an entire career.

Patrick Charette marked 43 years at the Masardis Sawmill in February. He’s been a slasher through it all, a role involved in the process of cutting wood, and jokes that he liked the role so he stuck with it.

Patrick says he was first attracted to the career because it offered a good paying job close to home, allowing him to provide a good life for himself and his family while working with a supportive band of coworkers.

Stephen (Steve) Bowring is another 43-year veteran of Masardis Sawmill. Starting out as a debarker operator, Steve received on-the-job training to become an electrician, a role he still holds today.

For Steve, coworkers have become like family, and he says he’s glad he chose to stay at the sawmill throughout his career while supporting his family. Reaching this milestone is a “good feeling,” Steve added.

Jason Baker has been with the sawmill since high school, starting out part time with a clean up position. Thirty-five years later, he’s the maintenance lead, a role focused on building, repairing and fabricating while also providing leadership and training for staff.

For Jason, the choice of career was a no-brainer as someone who likes to work with his hands and always be on the move. He also appreciates that he can work close to home and the employees he gets to work with.

Like Jason, Kevin Baker also chose to work at the Masardis Sawmill because it let him work with his hands. Baker joined the sawmill 36 years ago with a young family to support. Now a maintenance supervisor, Kevin started off in various roles like spareman, greaser and millwright. He says the job has afforded him the opportunity to work close to home while giving him flexibility with his family commitments.