Meet Our Team
After a few years spent acquiring industry experience at a local logistics provider, Rusty officially joined the Kontane Logistics team in 2005, though his time spent at his family’s company started many years before. Since he can remember, Rusty has learned the ropes at Kontane from the ground up, working during school breaks to help with trade shows, pack boxes, sweep the floors and load trucks.
Rusty’s Kontane Logistics career started in Charleston, where he worked as Operations Manager. He was promoted to COO in 2007 and is now responsible for the management and daily operations of all logistics facilities while managing a staff of over 500 employees.
Because of his numerous years spent learning the ins and outs of each Kontane facility, Rusty has a deep understanding of the company, our employees and clients. He travels extensively to meet with clients and oversee employee needs, and serves as an ambassador for the goals and mission of the company.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate, Rusty also completed logistics-related coursework and certification programs through Georgia Tech and the College of Charleston.
He, his wife Nell, and two children live in Mt. Pleasant. On the weekends, Rusty can most likely be found playing golf or chasing trout around the Charleston Harbor.
In 1974, while working in Raleigh, NC, Ed’s entrepreneurial nature kicked in and he decided to forge out on his own. Ed and his wife, Polly, moved to Hickory and opened Kontane, Inc. in 1975. The original business manufactured wooden storage containers used by the moving and storage industry and freight forwarders. The company quickly grew to include more services and by the mid-1980’s, Kontane, Inc. had built a reputation as one of the leading packaging designers and suppliers in the Southeast.
In 1995, Ed and Polly founded Kontane Logistics, now a leading dedicated third-party logistics provider with six locations in NC and SC.
Today, Ed continues to oversee all operations across the board at Kontane and Kontane Logistics, including maintaining a vital partnership with COO Rusty Byrd to achieve the organization’s mission, monitor all financial planning and set corporate-wide strategy. As a family-run business, Kontane continues to flourish as they utilize innovation, customer service and experience to maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
Raised in Spruce Pine, NC, Ed originally came to Hickory to attend Lenoir-Rhyne College. Finding something very special about the close-knit, foothills town, Ed decided to plant his roots in Hickory, raising two children, Annie and Rusty, and becoming deeply involved in the local community. Ed generously volunteers his time and resources to a variety of charitable causes, including Piedmont EducationalFoundation, Corinth Reformed Church, Lake Hickory Rotary Club, North Carolina Community Foundation and the Board of Advisors for First Citizens Bank.
After graduating from the University of Alabama with an Operations Management and Supply Chain degree, Zach spent over 5 years in the construction and engineering field around Birmingham.
In 2017 Zach joined the Kontane team in Calera, AL as a logistics specialist for a large CKD export project of a major OEM. Zach was quickly promoted to a managerial role where he was able to drive efficiencies in the operation through KPI development and continual improvement initiatives.
In 2019 Zach transferred to our Hickory, NC location where he has taken over as President of Kontane’s Packaging Division. There he works with customers, team members and suppliers to deliver the best custom wood packaging solutions available.
If Zach isn’t hanging with his wife and young twin children, he’s probably hunting, fishing or watching Alabama football.
Wanda has over 25 years of experience in warehousing and distribution management. Wanda started her career in retail distribution where she worked as a manager in a Belk distribution center. From there she has run several DC’s that focused on order fulfillment and e-commerce distribution.
Wanda joined Kontane in 2017 as Charleston General Manager and is responsible for four DC’s totaling over 700,000 square feet. Wanda’s experience in transportation management, inventory control, warehouse startup and WMS implementation are critical in the success of our Charleston logistics operations.
When she gets out of the warehouse, Wanda likes traveling, scuba diving, grilling with family and friends and time with her granddaughter.
Before joining Kontane Logistics in 2020, Jason spent over 7 years working at the Daimler Trucks Mt. Holly, NC truck manufacturing plant. There he held management positions where he focused on materials management, lean manufacturing, Kaizen, continuous improvement and 5S through the facility. Jason also served in the Navy for 25+ years in multiple leadership positions.
As Director of Logistics, Jason helps oversee warehousing and logistics for our NC operations. He works with our customers and team members to facilitate material flow, planning, inventory management, material presentation and DC operations.
Jason and his family live in Davidson, NC. In his free time, Jason is a gardening enthusiast who enjoys restoring his family’s farmhouse, originally built in 1890.