Lindgren to retire April 15 as V&M president

By DON SHILLING

shilling@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Now that the plan to build a new pipe mill in Youngstown is under way, Roger Lindgren is retiring as president of V&M Star.

His last day is April 15.

No replacement has been named, but two local executives received new positions Thursday.

Eric Shuster, who had been pipe-mill manager in Youngstown, has been named general manager of Youngstown operations. Ken Johnson, who had been general manager of Youngstown operations, is now general manager of the fine-quality mill, the new mill to be completed in 2011.

Shuster said construction plans are progressing, but he isn’t sure when hiring for the 350 new positions will start.

Lindgren was honored Thursday during the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s annual meeting for his commitment to the chamber.

Tom Humphries, chamber president, said V&M has maintained the highest level of membership in the chamber. Because of that and the company’s commitment to build the $650 million mill, Humphries presented Lindgren with a plaque that named him a lifetime member of the chamber.

Humphries said Lindgren, the one person who could have killed the project at any time, kept encouraging local officials to work it out.