Generations of Appalachian Hardwood Lumber Professionals
Yoder Lumber is proud to be family-owned and operated. Yoder Lumber is now under the leadership of President and CEO, Bob Mapes and the third generation of the Yoder family.
Robert Mapes, CPA, President and Chief Executive Officer [CEO]
Experience: Bob Mapes joined Yoder Lumber in 2013 after serving for many years as Director of Tax Services, shareholder, and Board member at a Top 100 Public Accounting Firm headquartered in Ohio. He has in-depth expertise in federal income taxes, mergers and acquisitions, IRS dispute resolution, and the development of business processes utilizing Lean Six Sigma techniques.
Education: A Certified Public Accountant since 1976, Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Accounting and Finance from Ashland University.
Industry/Community Involvement: Bob has been actively involved in leading regional business organizations for more than 40 years. He is past President of the Wooster Ohio Chamber of Commerce and served on the Chamber’s Board and as Treasurer for more than 20 years. He was a Board member and President of Wayne County Ohio Airport Authority, served in several positions in the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants, was a Board Member of the Nick Amster Sheltered Workshop for over 18 years, and served several terms on the local Goodwill Industries Board.
Trent Yoder, Chief Operating Officer [COO]
Experience: Trent started working for Yoder Lumber as Assistant Accountant in 1997 and moved to IT Coordinator in 1999. In 2001, he became Assistant Location Manager at the Buckhorn location. In 2007, was promoted to the Buckhorn Location Manager, where he managed over 60 employees. In 2016, Trent was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Education: Trent earned an Associate of Applied Business degree with a major in Business Management from Kent State University. He has advanced training in Lean Six Sigma management techniques.
Industry/Community Involvement: Trent serves on several committees with the Ohio Forestry Association and is active in his church in Walnut Creek, Ohio as a sound technician. He is currently Co-Chair of the Forest Heritage Festival, which raises funds for Akron Children's Hospital. He is a member of the Millennial Council of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, which is designed to train the next generation of leaders in the hardwood lumber industry. He has been involved with Hiland High School athletics as a coach for junior varsity soccer.
Tony Yoder, Chief Production and Technology Officer [CPTO]
Experience: Tony joined Yoder Lumber in 1998 as a general laborer at the Charm sawmill. He served as a lumber grader, forestry assistant, and general laborer at the Berlin location until becoming Assistant Accountant in 2002 while attending college classes during the evenings. In 2007, he was promoted to Berlin location manager, managing all facility operations for over 60 employees. Tony is focused on promoting and sustaining a Lean Six Sigma initiative across the company. He is trained as a Lean Six Sigma Green belt and is continuing his education in this area. In 2016, Tony was promoted to Chief Production and Technology Officer [CPTO].
Education: Tony earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Business Administration from Kent State University.
Industry/Community Involvement: Tony has been involved in Leadership Ohio, a Holmes County Chamber of Commerce program designed to train and inspire young leaders in the local business community. He is an active supporter of Compassion International, a program that supports impoverished children worldwide.
Nathan Yoder, Chief Financial Officer [CFO]
Experience: Nathan Yoder began his full-time career with Yoder Lumber in 1996 as a lumber stacker at the company’s Berlin location. He was a lumber grader, Assistant Kiln Operator, Assistant Boiler Operator, and Distribution Salesman before becoming location manager for the Buckhorn facility in 2000. In 2007, he was promoted to his current position of Chief Financial Officer.
Education: Nathan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and an Associate of Applied Business degree from Kent State University-Tuscarawas.
Industry/Community Involvement: Nathan has served on the board of the Ohio Forestry Association and Ohio Wood Industries Network. He is currently serving as a board member of the alumni committee at Kent State Tuscarawas and Forest of Hope, a mission organization. Nathan is active in the Living Waters Ministry at the Barrs Mill Church of God.
Craig Yoder, Charm Location Manager
Experience: Craig joined Yoder Lumber as a teenager, working in the pallet shop throughout the summers of high school. In 1990, after attending technical school, he began working in the truck garage as a truck and equipment mechanic, fixing a fleet of 10 trucks and trailers for almost 15 years. In 2005, Craig was promoted to Charm location manager, where he oversees all operation of our Charm sawmill and a team of 20 truck drivers and dispatch staff at our Yoder Logistics division.
Education: Craig graduated from Hiland High School and studied agriculture and automotive technologies at Stark State University Technical School.
Industry/Community Involvement: Craig is actively involved with his son's baseball team and coaches with Walnut Creek farm league teams. In 2012, Craig served on Leadership Holmes County program through the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce.
Ryan Yoder, Procurement and Logging Operations Manager
Experience: Ryan began his career at Yoder Lumber during his high school years, working in the pallet shop during the summer. After graduation, he joined the company's chipping crew as a skidder operator, later moving into timber procurement. He manages Yoder Lumber’s procurement and logging operations.
Education: Ryan graduated from Hiland High School in Berlin, OH and attended Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. He has participated in many continuing education programs in leadership and management.
Industry/Community Involvement: Ryan has served as the Chairman of the East Central Ohio Loggers chapter of the Ohio Forestry Association. He is actively involved with his church in Apple Creek in the children's ministry. He has been on several short-term mission trips to Ecuador. He is a longtime supporter of children through Compassion International and sponsors a child with cerebral palsy in Latacunga, Ecuador.
Mel Yoder, Chairman of the Board and Semi-retired
Experience: Mel grew up in the family business working closely with his father, John Yoder, the company’s founder. Throughout his teenage years, when the mill was portable, Mel assisted his dad and worked in various areas of the company. From the early 1970s to 2007, Mel assumed responsibility for the daily operations of the company, including stacking lumber, selling products, and driving trucks to haul logs from the woods and deliver lumber and pallets to Yoder Lumber customers. Mel became President in 2008 and became CEO in 2012. Mel stepped down from his 50+ years of service to enjoy retirement in the winter of 2016.
Education: Mel studied Accounting and Computer Programming at the Parks School of Business in Denver, CO.
Industry/Community Involvement: Mel serves on the Board of Directors of the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Association and as a member of the Paul Bunyan Show Committee. He is a past member of the Board of the Ohio Forestry Association and was Board President in 1991 and 2001.
Mel is involved with numerous international mission organizations. He is a Board member of the Joel Pomerene Foundation and Walnut Creek Mennonite Church.
