Dwayne Hotaling has been part of our Ancram paper mill for decades. His career with SWM International began when he was a teenager, interviewing for a job dressed in fishing gear. After seven years as Mill Manager, he’s now Product Development Manager, helping Botani develop innovative products while maintaining the traditional expertise that has defined our historic facility since the 1950s. Here, he talks to us about his role and how our time-tested processes are finding new applications in the cannabis industry.
Tell us about how you first got a position at SWM International.
I was fishing in the stream at the mill and my father (who is Mill Maintenance Manager) came out and asked me how much I was getting paid at my summer job, I said $4.50/hr. He told me that I better get inside and interview for a summer position with the mill because they were paying nearly twice my salary. I was expected to save some money to put towards tuition. I already had my dream job, mowing greens which came with free golf, so I put up a bit of a fuss, but before long, I was in the Mill Manager’s office interviewing for a summer position while wearing my hip waders and fishing vest. I got the job.
What is your position now?
I was the Mill Manager for the last seven years and am now the Product Development Manager.
What do you do specifically for Botani?
As Product Development Manager, I’m charged with assisting our business leaders and customers in designing products that work best for the customer while fitting into the range of products we successfully manufacture.
Could you describe a typical workday for you?
My day generally starts with assisting on any issues the facility is immediately facing. After that, we have a series of projects that are in different stages of development, I work to advance those projects towards the end goal. I assist the business team with the more technical matters they may be addressing. We run a lot of development trials so there is a lot of time spent on trial planning and then trial execution.
The Ancram mill has been operational for over 50 years. What traditions have you kept, and what have you had to modernize?
Our process, the Two-Step Reconstitution Process is a tradition that has been I place since the mid-1950s. That process allows us to formulate the best examples of tobacco wrapper and binders. Today that process is lending itself to our Botani product line. The traditions remain in the fundamentals of the reconstitution process, but the equipment has been modernized to be more reliable, more efficient, and less energy intensive.
What is different between working with cannabis products versus tobacco products?
There is little difference between the two. Our intention has always been to protect and preserve the natural essence of raw materials. It came naturally for us to take our expertise with tobacco and transfer that care to cannabis products.
What recent technological investments have made the biggest impact on operations?
Our paper machine has been almost entirely rebuilt/replaced. Year after year we have been given the capital to revitalize a section of the machine. Continued investment in technological advancements such as data acquisition and camera-based defect detection allow us to stay at the forefront of manufacturing expertise.
What is the most challenging part of your job, and how have you worked to overcome it?
It can be a challenge to find the correct information regarding cannabis regulations–be it product design constraints, shipping goods or raw materials. The industry is so new that sometimes the information is not readily available. We have a Product Compliance Group that researches those regulations, and they are available to assist us and our customers if those questions arise.
How does the mill contribute to the local Ancram economy and community?
We have selected a local charitable organization to fundraise for: Ancram Neighbors Helping Neighbors. They have a many faceted outreach program, be it children’s wellbeing, a food bank, and housing. Several events take place during the year amongst our employees with the proceeds benefiting Ancram Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Additionally, we support our local first responders, namely the Ancram Fire Department and the Community Rescue Squad.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned during your time at SWM International/Botani?
Give your customer what they don’t know they need.
You are an Ancram native. Where would you suggest visitors go for a burger and beer next time they visit?
Local 111 is my go-to. They only serve burgers on Thursdays and there will only be one chef’s choice burger on the menu, it never disappoints.