Employee Spotlight: Dan Sutherland
At WCP, we are powered by people, from our sales team to our warehouse and everyone in between. One of those people is Dan Sutherland from our Burlington division. As Operations Manager, Dan helps keep Burlington’s warehouse running smoothly, whether he is rolling up his sleeves to lend a hand to pull orders or out on the streets driving one of our Big Yellow Trucks. We are proud to have him and feature him in this month’s Employee Spotlight.
Dan’s WCP Story
Since joining WCP in 2000, Dan has worn many hats across warehouse operations. He spent eight years as a driver at WCP Kent, where he says he “did just about everything,” from running routes throughout the southern territory to serving as a relief driver across the northern routes that are now part of the Burlington Division. Those experiences are what introduced him to the area.
In 2006, Dan left WCP to pursue a Driver Supervisor opportunity that later grew into a Terminal Manager role. He returned to WCP in 2013 as Delivery Supervisor in Kent, where he worked closely with Account Managers, Customer Service, and drivers to coordinate daily deliveries, resolve shortages, and ensure customers received the service they expected. After parting ways again in 2022 for a position closer to home, Dan kept an eye on opportunities at WCP. When the Operations Manager position opened in Burlington this past February, it felt like the right fit. Having always enjoyed the area and already knowing the territory well from his years as a driver, he reached out to the team and ultimately returned to WCP once again, this time as Operations Manager at the Burlington division.
When asked what a typical work day looks like, Dan shared:
“A ‘typical’ day could include many things. Depending on workload and staffing levels for the day I could do any of the following: dispatching, driving, receiving, stocking, picking, stock counts, cycle counts, re-organizing, processing returns, reports, helping will call customers. Pretty much anything on the operations side of things.”
More About Dan
Dan was born and raised in Washington alongside his three brothers and three sisters. About 10 years ago, he moved to Elma and this past February he relocated to Skagit County to begin his current role at WCP Burlington.
When he is not at work, you will likely find Dan enjoying the outdoors. He enjoys spending time on the water, camping, or hiking. One of his favorite destinations is Golden and Silver Falls near Coos Bay, OR. Dan’s adventures recently got even better with the addition of a new four-legged friend, Willow, a three-year-old Bull Terrier mix. As Dan shared during his interview, “I just adopted a dog to be my new hiking buddy.” And now that he is in Skagit County, he and Willow are looking forward to exploring all the new trails and beaches the area has to offer.
One fun fact that many people may not know about Dan is that he earned a Paralegal degree while working full-time at the company. He attended school during the day and drove the Portland transfer truck out of Kent at night. “I have always had an interest in the law plus it didn’t require advanced math as a prerequisite. I do believe going to school and getting my degree provided me with some skills that helped me advance in my current career.”
Q & A with Dan
What is your favorite part of working at WCP?
The people and the atmosphere. Like any company there have been a lot of different people that have come and gone but there is a core group that I feel like I have kind of grown up with at WCP. We’ve watched each other’s kids grow up, seen career advancements and even gone through heartbreaks together. If you work together long enough, life happens. It truly feels like a family at WCP.
What is one lesson that your current position has taught you?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of years of experience at WCP and if one person doesn’t have the answer you’re looking for they can most likely point you in the right direction to find it.
Do you have any advice for new people in the industry who are just starting their careers?
Don’t be afraid of change. WCP has done well to evolve and carry the products to meet current demand and bring in qualified individuals to ensure we don’t fall behind. It’s been exciting to watch West Coast Paper transition to WCP Solutions while maintaining our strong presence on the printing paper side.
Can you share some of your favorite memories or stories from your time working at WCP?
My favorite memory has to be when I accepted my current position. I have never felt so welcomed and valued as when I came back to WCP. It felt like coming home.
Employee Compliments
“I have known Dan for many years, and he has consistently demonstrated what it means to be a team player. His leadership and commitment align with our WCP culture, and I am proud to work alongside Dan. I am grateful to have him leading our Operations team!” – Adam Bieghler, WCP Burlington Division Manager
“Dan is a great person to have on your team. Dan is very capable and knowledgeable and is great at solving problems. His goal is to get the customers taken care of.” – Steve Cole, WCP Kent Division Manager
“Dan’s continual growth with WCP has developed him into an Operational leader. His understanding of customer commitment and the “WCP Way” helps him take care of our customers on a daily basis. Dan is team-oriented and continually supports the team and grows the team atmosphere in daily operations.” – Chuck Howard, WP Kent Operations Manager
“I have always enjoyed working with Dan Sutherland. He’s not afraid to ask questions and often brings great ideas to the table. Dan takes pride in a job well done. Taking great care that our customers’ and co-workers’ expectations are being met. Thank you for the time and effort you put into everything thing you do Dan!” – Cindy Tarantino, WCP Kent Print and Merchandising Project Manager
Join the WCP Team
Want to work alongside great people like Dan? Visit wcp.link/jobs to explore current openings, learn about our benefits, and read more employee stories from across the company.
