New management named at County apparel business

FORT KENT – New management has been put in place at Kent Inc., nearly one month after the plant manager severed ties with his former partners.

Mark Coburn, a partner in the company, has been appointed chief operating officer, responsible for manufacturing, distribution, planning and purchasing for the company.

Taking over the duties of plant management at Fort Kent is Bill Clapp, a Massachusetts man with 30 years in the apparel and home furnishing industries.

The changes were announced recently by Michael Gans, president and chief executive officer of the company.

Last month, Peter Pinette, plant manager at Fort Kent and vice president of manufacturing with the company, severed ties with the company after working at the plant since the early 1980s.

Work at the plant had continued without interruption since the Oct. 17 changes. Clapp was on the job last month, just a short time after Pinette left.

Pinette also resigned as a director of the corporation and sold his shares in the business back to the company.

Pinette said the change was due to differences with his business partners. The differences, which he did not describe, could not be resolved, he had said at the time.

Pinette, Coburn and Gans were instrumental in late 1996 and early 1997 in reopening a plant that had been closed by Gerber Childrenswear, owner of the plant since 1985.

While Coburn’s presence in Fort Kent will be increased, he will continue to work out of Portland, where he plans to base finance, purchasing and planning for the company.

Clapp, an industrial engineering graduate of Central New England College, has worked for Enro Shirt Co., Wilson Sporting Goods, and most recently L.L. Bean. He and his wife will be relocating to Fort Kent.

“I am confident that these personnel changes will continue to contribute to the ongoing success of Kent Inc., and its commitment to creating employment and economic opportunities for Maine residents and especially for the people of Fort Kent,” Gans said in his release.

While many U.S. companies in the apparel industry have moved off U.S. shores, the rejuvenation of Kent Inc. has been hailed as a tribute to Maine workers by Gov. Angus King.

The company has garnered several awards since reopening the plant at Fort Kent nearly three years ago.

“The achievement is a testament to the skills of many people in the company who have been responsible for developing and executing marketing, manufacturing, sourcing and financial plans,” Gans said.

The company has been advertising jobs to encourage people to join the work force at Fort Kent throughout the period of change during the last month.

Kent Inc. is a manufacturer of children’s clothing that was rejuvenated under new ownership after Gerber Childrenswear closed the plant in January 1997.

The plant at Fort Kent employs about 150 people, and had sales of over $14 million, a year ago.

The plant has more than 40 years of history in Fort Kent since it was started as Princess Kent in the early 1950s by Lloyd and Bernadine Dunn.