Manufacturing Team
JIM SPINKS
Jim is the Chief of Manufacturing Operations for Thacker Caskets, Inc. A native of Columbus, Mississippi, Jim started in the casket business as a welder for West Point Casket Company in 1989. Jim quickly “climbed the ladder” and became West Point’s Plant Manager by 1995—a position he held until 2002 when he joined Thacker Caskets’ manufacturing facility in Loretto, TN, also as Plant Manager. Jim attended East Mississippi Community College and MUW. Jim's wife, Renee, also works in the Thacker office in Florence. They have a son, Taylor, born in 2000—a “next generation” casket maker. Jim spearheaded the move of Thacker Casket Manufacturing from the factory in Loretto, TN to the new plant in Florence, AL. In his spare time, Jim enjoys attending Taylor's various sporting events and hunting.
TONYA SWEETWOOD
Tonya joined Balanced Line Casket Company in 1986. After moving her way up from order entry clerk to eventual Balance Line Office Manager, in 2008 Tonya and her family moved to Florence, Alabama to become part of our manufacturing operations. Tonya is the Purchasing Manager for our Thacker Casket Manufacturing team, handling all the purchasing duties for the plant. Tonya's husband Mike is also a part of our Thacker team as a department head. Natives of Cambridge City, Indiana, Tonya and Mike have three boys-- all of whom are very actively involved in sports. The boys' hectic schedules keep Tonya busy in her time outside of work.
TAMMY MCINTYRE
Tammy is the Customer Service Manager for Thacker Casket Manufacturing. In 2001, Tammy began her career with the industry with S & M, a casket metal fabrication company located near Loretto, Tennessee. Tammy officially joined the Thacker team in October 2005 and was soon promoted to Customer Service Manager in December 2005. Tammy handles logistics, production planning, and nearly all customer service aspects for the Thacker Manufacturing division. Tammy and her husband, Jeff, and also their two teenage daughters live in Loretto, Tennessee. Outside of work, Tammy keeps busy with her girls' activity schedules.
JUNIOR COOK
Junior began working with Loretto Casket Company as an independent electrical contractor. Before long, Thacker had hired Junior as a full time employee. Junior and our plant manager Jim Spinks are largely responsible for spearheading the manufacturing plant move in 2005 from Loretto, Tennessee to Florence, Alabama. At the time of purchase, the buildings that our manufacturing plant currently occupy were completely empty. Junior and his engineering crew have taken our facility from an empty building to a state of the art casket manufacturing plant that has produced upwards of 300 caskets per day. Junior's current role at Thacker Casket Manufacturing includes the implementation of new plant projects that will ultimately make our plant a more efficient and consistent supplier of caskets. In his spare time, Junior likes to spend time with his family as well as hunt.
GREG ARNOLD
Greg joined the Thacker Manufacturing team in April 2006 as a Senior Production Manager. Greg is responsible for meeting daily production quotas, management of all plant department supervisors, and he also participates in the hiring of plant employees. Greg has been married to his wife Anita for over 25 years and they have one daughter, Christy. Greg and Anita have two grandchildren, Lucas and Hannah Mae. In his spare time, Greg enjoys spending time with his family, going to Lucas' soccer games, car shows, and restoration of old cars.
JAMES KRIETZ
James joined the Thacker Casket Manufacturing team in August 2010. James had previously been the Plant Manager for Ampcor II, one of the most well known casket handle and hardware manufacturers in the United States. After Thacker purchased the assets of Ampcor II, James decided to join the Thacker team in Florence. James works as Thacker's Hardware Manufacturing Manager supervising all internal hardware manufacturing and quality control. In addition, he works with mold & die makers on new tooling and repairs, as well as with suppliers on quality and new products. James has been married to his wife Dora for over twenty years and they have a grown daughter, Katie and a grandson Monte. James enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, and fishing.
NATASHA HAWKINS
Natasha was welcomed by the Thacker Casket Manufacturing Team in August 2010. Currently, Natasha serves as the Receptionist and also the Human Resources Coordinator. Natasha's duties include time clock administration, maintaining personnel records, and managing communications with our outside Human Resources company. Natasha has one young son, Jack Ryan who she enjoys spending time with. Outside of work, she also enjoys spending time with family, friends, reading, and writing.
