Don Finkell – Founder & CEO
Don Finkell founded American OEM Wood floors as a way of creating a business – and a personal legacy – for his children and grandchildren. The retired CEO of Shaw Hardwood and former CEO of Anderson Hardwood (acquired by Berkshire Hathaway-owned Shaw Industries Group in 2007), Don’s 30-plus years in the flooring industry includes a long list of market-leading product innovations, including pioneering highly designed and hand-scraped hardwood flooring.
A respected industry leader, Don is Vice Chairman of the Hardwood, Plywood and Veneer Association (HPVA), immediate past Chairman of the Hardwood Federation, an association of 25 hardwood industry trade associations dedicated to advancing the interests of the US hardwood industry in Washington DC. He is also past chairman of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), and Chairman of the NWFA Education and Research Foundation.
A tireless sustainability advocate, Don also serves on the NWFA Legislative Relations Committee and was responsible for the NWFA’s adoption of a formal stance against illegal logging, a move that ultimately led to the passing of the Combat Illegal Logging Act (commonly known as the Lacey Act Amendment).
Don has been recognized with the 2009 Green Step Award given by Floor Covering Weekly for environmental contributions to the floor covering industry, and with the 2014 Al Wahnon Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Floor Covering News.
Harry Bogner – Chief Operations Officer
Bringing 14 years of industry experience, Harry comes to American OEM after serving in senior manufacturing and operations positions at both Mohawk and Armstrong. His background includes extensive plant management in engineered and solid hardwood flooring, overseeing both, domestic and international, facilities. He also brings logistical and financial experience from outside of the wood industry, working as general manager for Sunbeam and in accounting for General Electric Plastics. His focus is on creating efficiency in the company’s manufacturing plants and throughout logistics and raw material streams. He also leads the office in Burns, TN.
Harry resides with his wife of 30 years in Nashville and holds a bachelors of science in finance from Auburn University.
Allie Finkell – Executive Vice President
Allie followed her family roots back to hardwood in 2014 when she joined American OEM as executive vice president, helping grow the Anderson-Finkell legacy of beautiful, enduring American-made flooring for the next generation.
A graduate of Furman University, Allie holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Carr Newton – Executive Vice President – Sales
Doug Van Nest – VP Manufacturing
Doug Van Nest has worked in manufacturing for over 20 years, with 13 years experience making hardwood inside prison facilities. He began his flooring career working as an engineer and quality control manager, and joined our family in 2004 as the Anderson Hardwood plant manager at Tyger River Correctional Facility. After working for a equipment company, Doug returned to our team to oversee manufacturing operations for American OEM with his team of industry veterans. An Ohio native, he holds a degree in Engineering from Ohio University and Hocking College.