Rina Bethany is a distinguished manufacturing executive with over four decades of hands-on experience leading high-performing teams, driving] operational excellence, and mentoring the next generation of industry leaders. With a career that spans more than 42 years at Weyerhaeuser Company—one of North America’s most recognized integrated forest products firms—Rina has consistently demonstrated her capacity to transform culture, optimize performance, and lead with purpose from the plant floor to the executive suite.
A passionate advocate for the future of American manufacturing, Rina’s leadership philosophy centers around the belief that true success stems from investing in people, implementing sustainable systems, and aligning operations with long-term strategic goals. Her journey from accounting roles early in her career to Vice President of Northwest and Canadian Lumber Manufacturing underscores her unique ability to blend financial acumen with deep operational insight.
As Vice President, Rina provided strategic and operational leadership for seven mills across the U.S. and Canada, overseeing multimillion-dollar operations while ensuring excellence in safety, environmental compliance, capital planning, and workforce development. Prior to this, she served as Panels Manufacturing Director, where she led four mill teams in operational strategy, helping align production with customer needs and corporate objectives.
Earlier in her career, Rina served as Plant Manager for multiple locations, where she was instrumental in changing safety cultures, implementing high-performance work systems, and mentoring plant leaders. She was also the Blackbelt Lean Champion for Weyerhaeuser’s Northwest operations, leading Kaizen events and Greenbelt training that resulted in over $1 million in cost savings and significant improvements in efficiency and employee engagement.
Her credentials include a Blackbelt Certification from Lean Sensei International, Weyerhaeuser’s LEAP Executive Training, and completion of the Weyerhaeuser Leadership Institute. Rina holds an MBA from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Oregon. She also completed Toyota Kata training through the University of Michigan, further cementing her capabilities in competitive Lean operations.
A recognized thought leader, Rina has been a public speaker for organizations such as the Rotary Club and the Governor’s Conference in Michigan, where she shared insights on mill success and leadership in manufacturing. Her contributions as a Lean Greenbelt class coach and member of the Safety Metrics Team reflect her lifelong commitment to continuous improvement and organizational health.
In addition to her professional achievements, Rina is actively involved in her community as a church youth ministry volunteer and was a supporter of The Refuge in Gaylord, Michigan. She is family-oriented and enjoys hiking, traveling, and camping in her free time.
Rina’s mission—“to help people and organizations achieve operational excellence, ensuring not just their success, but also the success of future generations”—captures the heart of her leadership. She brings to every boardroom a powerful blend of experience, empathy, and effectiveness, making her an exceptional candidate for board roles within manufacturing and beyond.
Character: Rina Bethany is a principled and purpose-driven leader known for her integrity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to safety and people development.
Knowledge: With over 42 years of experience in manufacturing operations, financial management, and Lean methodologies, she possesses deep industry expertise and cross-functional insight.
Strategic: Rina excels in long-term planning and operational alignment, consistently driving performance improvements and transformational change across multi-site manufacturing operations.
Communication: She is a clear, compassionate communicator who bridges gaps between leadership and frontline teams, effectively translating strategy into action and fostering trust at all levels.
