Meet Our Team
“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.” -Ronald Reagan
Mila Alexander
Chief pup officer
Paul D. Alexander
Founder & CEO
Hello, I’m Paul Alexander, Founder and CEO of Executive Wood Products. When I designed and built the first product in my basement in 1982, I had a vision. I imagined a factory filled with great people building amazing, innovative, high quality products. My dream came true. Our factory is state of the art, our Lean Manufacturing Cells are the envy of everyone who visits and our employees are all smiling. All of this because I found the right people for every job. It has taken 38 years to bring us to this place, but we have certainly arrived.
It is my ardent wish, that as you learn about who we are as a company’ and as individuals’ you will see how your business means everything to us. We take an old school approach to customer service, customer contact, and a fulfillment of true need. It is not enough that we build the best, safest products in the industry, we want you to be thrilled with what we send you. We want you to return for future products, recommend us to your friends, and fondly remember how much we care every time you use something we produced.
I am an engineer, inventor, father, sportsman, and best of all a dreamer. Thank you for visiting our website, thank you for your interest in our company and our American Made, high quality products. Please allow me to introduce our Leadership Team. I think, when you catch a glimpse of who they are and what they believe in, you will see why our manufacturing company is so special and so sought after by our discerning customers.
Jan Knight
President Emeritus & CFO
Jan worked for me part time through 1999 and came to work full time in January of 2000. She insisted we have state-of-the-art accounting software and the hardware to support it. The year was 2000, our high-tech financial reports printer was dot matrix. It was the size of a small car and sounded like a jet when she printed reports, which was all the time.
Together she and I tackled every problem from Accounting and Production to Human Resources. At the same time, she was raising her two girls who used to sneak past my office after school to visit their mother without me knowing. I did not mind and I always knew when they were there. They are both grown now and have had the privilege of watching their strong, resilient mother attack every business problem possible and still be home for dinner with her family.
In the fall of 2005 Jan accepted the position of President and CFO. I spent much time on the road with our customers and Jan stepped up to ensure that our company stayed on a path of growth, quality, and personal service.
Now Semi-retired, Jan plays golf, spends time with her friends, and is still devoted to the continuous well-being of her girls (including a new granddaughter in 2020). Our equipment is better now, quieter, but Jan’s devotion to our company and to me are unchanged and unmatched. She is my friend, my advocate, and someone our customers can count on to ensure they always receive personal treatment. In an age when most companies want only to do business with you electronically Jan wants you to feel our presence and know we truly care.
Amy Lucas
Senior Vice President
Alexander Eljaiek
Customer Experience Director
Alex joined the team with years of experience in marketing, helping businesses elevate their sales and polishing their brand. His background in non-profit leadership has equipped him with the personal skills to connect with diverse groups of people and collaborate within close-knit teams. Alex is passionate about building strong client relationships and ensuring clients walk away with a feeling of complete satisfaction.
Outside of work, Alex channels his creativity and Zen through woodcarving portraits by hand. He also finds inspiration and relaxation exploring state parks on hiking trails. He can also often be found burying his head in a good book!
Penny Ryland
Creative Director
Penny joins us with degree in graphic design and almost twenty years of experience as a designer and a production artist. Executive Wood Products manufactures beautiful goods, and making the quality and excellence of the products come through in 2-D is a challenging task. Penny’s skills to photograph and demonstrate the sumptuousness and sturdiness of the products assist the customer in understanding why we are the leader in the lectern, podium, anti-ballistic furnishings, and pulpit space. She has created award-winning designs, and we are excited to have her on the team.
In her spare time Penny channels her creativity through exercise, riding her bike to work, and planning her upcoming wedding. She is a mother and a strong believer in the power of prayer.
Mike Hoven
VP of manufacturing & Plant Manager
Mike is a Master Craftsman with over thirty years of industry experience. Mike’s exceptional craftsmanship establishes a benchmark for excellence in the field. Serving as a proactive leader, Mike drives the company’s research and development projects, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation and quality. His inventive methods enable him to transform ideas into products, often predicting customer needs ahead of time to ensure each product surpasses expectations. His meticulous focus on detail and steadfast dedication to quality shine through in every creation, guaranteeing the production of premium goods and motivating his team to strive for unparalleled craftsmanship.
Outside of work, Mike is a passionate outdoorsman who indulges in hunting, fishing, and boating on the Meramec River, usually in the company of his wife and their furry companions.