Genera announces new controller and quality assurance manager

Alan Turner

Alan Turner, Genera Controller

Ricky Rutherford

Genera Quality Assurance Manager Ricky Rutherford

VONORE, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2021 / Genera, a manufacturer of domestically sourced and produced ag-based pulp and molded fiber products, has named Alan Turner controller and Richard Rutherford quality assurance manager.

Turner will oversee all aspects of accounting operations and financial reporting. He will also work closely with Genera’s chief financial officer to plan and manage operating and capital budgets. Rutherford will ensure the quality of Genera’s products through testing, data analysis and training.

“We are excited to add Alan and Richard to our management team,” said Genera COO Keith Brazzell. “As we build on our successful launch, the skills and expertise they bring will be crucial to sustaining that success. Both of them are at the top of their professions, and we can’t wait to see how they will help shape Genera’s future.”

Genera’s Earthable® line of sustainable, ag-based fiber products is designed to meet growing demand for cost-effective and eco-friendly consumer packaging alternatives to single-use plastics and polystyrene.

Turner, who earned his M.B.A. at the University of Tennessee, has extensive experience in the manufacturing sector. He has worked as a plant controller and accounting manager for manufacturers in various industries. He has helped companies improve accounting processes by identifying inefficiencies and reducing costs throughout his career.

Rutherford is a chemist with a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. He has worked as a chemist and managed laboratories throughout East Tennessee. He and his teams have earned multiple awards for quality assurance.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a great deal of experience with manufacturing across a range of industries,” Turner said. “What excites me the most about joining Genera is their innovation. The Earthable® line is a groundbreaking product that is creating jobs and supporting farmers in our region. I’m privileged to be a part of it.”

Rutherford agreed. “The opportunity to help make these amazing products the best they can be is a dream job. I’m excited to work with this dynamic, multi-disciplinary team on Earthable® products as well as future innovations.”

Genera’s fully operational facility processes agricultural crops such as switchgrass into ag-based fiber and the Earthable® line of sustainable food-grade, compostable packaging. The facility, which is the largest fully integrated domestic solution for ag-based fiber and food packaging in North America, will host 160 employees at full production.

For more information about Genera, call (423) 884-4110 or visit https://generainc.com.