Meet Our Leadership Team
Passionate about serving our customers.
Greg Rusk
President, CEO & Owner
Cullman, AL
Biography
As far back as the age of fourteen, Greg Rusk has been immersed in corrugated working summers for his father and owner, Bobby Rusk. Greg was indeed hooked, spending the past forty plus years at Rusken in various capacities, and as President and CEO for the past twenty-seven years. Greg is deeply dedicated to the industry as well as maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit and family-based values Rusken was built on. Greg loves partnering with customers to solve packaging challenges, allowing them to focus on their number one priority, growing their organizations. Many days Greg can be found on the plant floor, observing first hand daily output and quality. He truly has “dust in his veins.”
A true family business, two of Mr. Rusk’s three children work at Rusken today. Outside of Rusken and spending time with his family, Greg’s personal passion is vintage cars. If he’s not at the plant, you will likely find him attending a classic car show.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“I have always had a passion for what we do. Corrugated packaging offers such a diverse set of products and services, this spectrum of the industry, people and opportunity ahead is as exciting to me today, as it was forty-six years ago.”
Randy Whiteaker
Chief Operating Officer
Cullman, AL
Biography
With over 30 years of Sales and Leadership experience, Randy brings a unique background of distribution and logistics expertise to our Leadership Team. As Chief Operating Officer Randy is focused on continued growth across all facility locations, while maintaining our customer-centric approach to provide optimal corrugated packaging solutions for our partners. Randy previously led Sales Development and Internal Operating Efficiencies as VP Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining the Rusken team, Randy worked with Shorr Packaging and Pollock Orora, both valued Rusken customers.
When Randy is not busy working, he enjoys serving others through his church, and mentoring young leaders in and around his community.
Randy and his wife Pat of 31 years reside in Atlanta, Ga.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“Daily opportunities to grow and provide value to those we serve, both customers and employees.”
West Brininger
Chief Financial Officer
Cullman, AL
Biography
As Chief Financial Officer, West spends time working across all of the Rusken facility locations. He enjoys working with customers to create credit solutions, whether improving or establishing a credit rating, as well as addressing inventory challenges. Joining Rusken in 2017, West has worked within the packaging and corrugated industry over the past twelve years. His immediate prior role was with Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) as General Manager of Fulfillment, previously a Regional Controller with TimBar, purchased by PCA. He has also held various roles in finance with GE-Bayer Silicones and Bayer.
West is married to his wife, Dr. Teresa Brininger, a retired Army Colonel, and together they have three children, Adler, Alyna and Averiel. Outside of the office, he loves spending time with his children, coaching and supporting them as a fan, whether on or off the field.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“The entrepreneurial and family spirit, from the top down, within the organization is tremendous. And it permeates outside of the company into our relationships with our customers, making them true business partners.”
David Ortiz
Vice President of Operations
Cullman, AL
Biography
David has been in the corrugated industry for 27 years. Originally from Texas, he graduated from the AF Academy in 1990. After 5 years in the AF, David entered the corrugated world working for Gaylord Container and later for Orange County Container Group (OCCG) where he served as a senior executive. In 2012, after the acquisition of OCCG by Smurfit Kappa Group, David was appointed VP of Operations for SKNA, where he led 10 operations.
In October of 2014, David founded Corrugated and Packaging LLC (C&P). As President, he created a $39mm sales success story by building a sheet plant and 2 foam operations in Tijuana and San Diego. In late 2018, C&P was sold to U.S. Corrugated, Inc. After a brief stint with Pratt Industries, David spent his last year with Hewlett Packard helping transform the industry via digital printing technology.
He also holds an MBA/MSEL from University of San Diego. He believes in Servant Leadership…his core values are honor, commitment, integrity & family. When David is not peddling or making boxes he enjoys spending time with his wife in the outdoors hiking, biking, and running.
Nate Henry
Vice President of Sales
Cullman, AL
Biography
Previously serving as the Rusken Harrisburg, AR facility Sales Manager, Nate was promoted to the Vice President of Sales over our entire organization.
As a second generation in the corrugated industry, Nate started out catching sheets off a corrugator as a high school senior. Paving the way to his sales career, Nate always found himself in admiration of the sales representatives who would tell him about their opportunities and challenges when he was just a sheet catcher. Since then, Nate has successfully achieved his goal, serving 27 years in various sales and leadership roles, including 3 and half as Rusken Harrisburg’s Sales Manager.
Similar to Rusken’s own, Nate’s personal core values are integrity, respect, and Servant Leadership. Nate’s strong belief in Servant Leadership ensures that he will always prioritize serving the greater good and focus on putting the needs of his employees and customers first.
When Nate is not selling boxes, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 adult children out on the lake, living his best lake life!
Management Team
Jim Baker
Regional General Manager
Jackson & Clarksville, TN
Biography
The General Manager of Rusken’s Jackson, TN facility, Mr. Baker has been with the company for over fifteen years. Dedicated to the packaging industry for over thirty years, prior to Rusken, Jim was with International Paper. Offering solutions to his customers’ service challenges is what makes Jim so passionate about coming to work every day.
Jim is married with two children, and in his free time, you will find him outdoors, enjoying a round of golf, hunting or traveling.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“I love working with customers to solve issues, and ultimately create opportunity.”
Tim Hughes
General Manager
Heflin, AL & Manchester, TN
Biography
Tim Hughes is the General Manager of Rusken’s automotive division located in Heflin, AL. Tim has been with Rusken for over nine years, and dedicated to the industry for over seventeen. He is passionate about working with his customers and team to solve unique design challenges, and assisting with consolidation.
Outside of the office, Tim loves spending time with his family, including his wife Shannon of eighteen years, and three children. He enjoys spending quality time with and teaching his daughter and two sons, watching them flourish and grow (albeit too quickly).
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“I love taking a difficult design challenge and turning it into a simple solution.”
Steve Ingram
General Manager
Conyers, GA
Biography
Steve Ingram is the General Manager of Rusken’s Conyers and Canton, GA facilities. While with Rusken for only the past year, Mr. Ingram is well versed in packaging, having dedicated the past forty years of his career to the industry. Prior to Rusken, Steve worked at WestRock and Advanced Design. Steve truly enjoys finding solutions to his customer’s challenges, and is particularly passionate about the design and functionality of packaging solutions, as well as efficient, on time deliveries.
No stranger to hard work, outside of the office, Steve enjoys operating a small cattle farm. Steve is married with two grown children, and three grandsons.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“I love satisfying both my employee and customers’ needs.”
Donnie Lowe
Regional General Manager- Rusken West
Harrisburg, AR & Olive Branch, MS
Biography
Donnie Lowe is the General Manager of Rusken’s Harrisburg, AR facility, dedicated to the packaging industry for over thirty-one years. With Rusken for the past twelve years, Donnie enjoys working with his customers and team to find innovative solutions, including, but not limited to logistics, inventory management, quality and design for both new and existing product lines. Prior to Rusken, Mr. Lowe was with International Paper and Georgia Pacific.
Outside of helping his customers, Donnie spends time outdoors as often as he can hunting and fishing. He also enjoys relaxing at the lake with his family, including his wife Jeri Ann, his son Cody, daughter Callie, and their four grandchildren.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“I love building and working with our team, who is just as excited about the box business as I am. The results are tremendous when this excitement and commitment is then shared with the customer, showing them our dedication to their success and how important they are.”
John Andy Ward
General Manager
Jackson, MS
Biography
John Andy Ward is the General Manager of Great Southern Industries, a Rusken Company, in Jackson, MS. Mr. Ward has been immersed in the world of packaging for the past thirty years, twenty-four of those with Great Southern. John Andy loves working with his customers to implement Just in Time (JIT) Solutions, including assisting with inventory management. Prior to Great Southern, Mr. Ward held sales positions at Triad Packaging, Boise Cascade and Willamette Industries.
In his free time, you will find John Andy outdoors, whether it be golfing, hunting or fishing. He also enjoys attending sporting events. John Andy is married to his wife of thirty-one years, and together they have two children, Anna Kathryn and Jay.
What do you love most about working at Rusken?
“I love working with our people. Everyone shares the same vision, dedicated to the success of our customers and company.”
Kevin O'Brien
General Manager
Cowpens, SC
Biography
Susan Brackett
General Manager
Knoxville, TN
Biography
Susan Brackett is the General Manager of our Knoxville, TN facility. Susan has been immersed in the world of packaging for the past thirty-two years, eleven of those with Rusken. Using her background in customer service, Susan is dedicated to ensuring her customers are always treated with the utmost care. Prior to her promotion to General Manager, Susan worked as Customer Service Manager for both our Harrisburg, AR and Conyers, GA facilities.
In her free time, if she isn’t off traveling, you can find Susan outside playing golf, shooting sport clays, or skiing.
What inspired you to want to be a Rusken General Manager?
“I have always liked every aspect of the business. There wasn’t just one area that I wanted to be in. I wanted to be involved in all of it! Plus, I love a challenge.”
