Yvette visited Michelle this November, and they visited Jasper, Alberta, together.
What do you get when you introduce two people who work for the same company but are separated by one international border, nearly 2,400 miles, and a 37-hour drive?
A treasured friendship.
Michelle Mattson, buyer/materials manager lead for our Drayton Valley lumber mill in Alberta, Canada, grew up in and has always worked in the area. Yet after Weyerhaeuser acquired Plum Creek in 2016, Michelle traveled to Montana as part of a team helping align the mills in Kalispell and Columbia Falls with SAP.
Joining her in the task was Yvette Holmes, materials manager at our McComb lumber mill in Magnolia, Mississippi. Michelle said it was friendship at first sight.
“We both have the same roles at our respective mills and similar interests, so we started doing things together,” she says. “Soon I started calling her Mumma Vette, and now we’re best friends.”
Michelle and Yvette have visited one another several times since then. On a two-week trip to Mississippi in 2022, Michelle said they went fishing, did some pool time, and ate crawfish, catfish, boiled peanuts and even pickle pops. Not to be outdone, Michelle and her boyfriend brought poutine, a Canadian staple, to an Easter potluck Yvette had invited them to join.
“Honestly, I think our dish scared people because they had never seen it before,” Michelle laughs. “But it all got eaten.”
Michelle and Yvette even got matching tattoos on their last work trip to Montana — half maple leaf and half magnolia flower, representing both the Canadian flag and the state flower of Mississippi.
“It’s so amazing that networking through Weyerhaeuser gave me the chance to form the friendship of a lifetime,” Michelle says. “My world has been forever changed for the better thanks to Yvette, and I never would have dreamed this would impact my life so much.”
Michelle visiting Yvette in Mississippi this past April.
MEET MICHELLE
Your title is buyer/materials manager lead. Tell us what you do.
I do a lot of things! I manage inventory and order parts and services to help keep the mill running. We run 24 hours a day Monday through Thursday, so my job is important to meet company and customer needs. I also help with contracts for almost everything on site, from janitorial to our millwright services. I help people with SAP a lot too.
Have you always done this type of work?
When I was a new high school graduate, just 17 years old, I started out as a shipper/receiver with an industrial supply company. I learned about bearings, belts, pulleys and stuff, and I was very interested in it all. I started moving my way through the industry in sourcing, procurement and logistics-type roles. I started working with SAP in 2012 and knew I would adore any job that involved procurement. I joined Weyerhaeuser in 2016 as stores coordinator and moved into my current role in 2020.
Michelle and Yvette recently got matching tattoos: Half Canadian maple leaf, half Mississippi magnolia flower.
Tell us what your day is like.
I typically walk into the mill and have someone waiting for me in my office or calling me or emailing me right away. I’m usually “running” around finding parts, reviewing invoices, or making sure our stores inventory is accurate. And I’m always up for the challenge! I really like helping people.
What does your work area look like?
My office is in the dungeon — sorry, I mean basement — of the mill. It can be a bit dreary and chilly, so I have lots of pictures of my dogs, boyfriend and family, along with a small heater. I’m a big fan of Halloween, so I decorate my office for all of October. And I always have candy.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I find it so rewarding to help people when they come to me for assistance, whether it’s figuring out SAP, tracking down parts, fixing invoices or something else. I work with people from all over Canada and the U.S., and I really enjoy that.
Michelle with her dogs Budd-E and Nala.
You must have some challenges. What are they?
My main challenge is aligning people with the processes we have in place. Sometimes I’m afraid they think I'm trying to make their life difficult, but I’m really trying to help. Also, the supply chain issues the last couple of years have been draining. Long lead times were — and still are — a challenge.
Tell us something about your job that might surprise people.
It’s more complicated than it looks to most people. I can’t just magically order any part. We need to make sure the part and vendor are set up in our system. And if the vendor is visiting the mill, I need to make sure their safety programs align with ours. There are many behind-the-scenes steps involved, and attention to detail is very important.
Michelle and her boyfriend Stephen on a 45-kilometer hike in Banff, Alberta, this past July.
When you were young, what did you want to do?
I wanted to be a vet, but once I came to the harsh reality that I would one day need to put down an animal, I knew it wasn’t for me.
Tell us about your other interests. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I love camping. I take my dogs and tow my 30-foot trailer into the mountains any chance I get. I love fishing, quadding, paddleboarding, hiking, snowmobiling, cross country skiing… basically anything outdoors, especially when I’m with my boyfriend, family and friends.
