Erik Absalon new Gladding, McBean general manager

Granite Bay resident Erik Absalon took over as Gladding, McBean general manager in August. He succeeds Bill Padavona.Absalon was one of four vice presidents for Basalite Concrete Products in Denver. He was Basalite Concrete Products'vice president of the Rocky Mountain region.Gladding, McBean is one of five companies Absalon heads. The other four are HC Muddox, Interstate Brick Company, Epic Plastics and Simons Brick Company.A majority of his time will be spent in Lincoln, according to Absalon. Lincoln will be his main office."It was a great opportunity in the company," said Absalon, when asked why he took the position of general manager for Gladding, McBean. "It's really just a reorganization of upper management in our company. People are wearing more hats and there are more responsibilities."Sales managers, plant managers and accounting functions report to Absalon at each facility."I like it. It's a neat old facility," said Absalon about Gladding, McBean. "It's a unique manufacturing facility that manufactures terra-cotta units for building renovations, high-quality clay roof tile, clay sewer pipe and garden pottery It's unlike any other manufacturing facility within our company."Padavona said he will retire after the first of the year and will work part time until then."I'm simply working as an adviser at this point and I'm serving as a mentor," Padavona said.There are currently 115 employees at Gladding, Mcbean, Padavona said, and that business is doing "fairly well considering the housing crisis.""We are running full steam ahead in the architectural terra-cotta business, and the roofing and pipe business are slowed because of the housing crisis," Padavona said.