Tom Radovich

"I tell people that I’m a proud Iron Ranger who just found better scholarship money in the forest products programs at the University of Minnesota," saidTom Radovich, a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Natural Resources Paper Science and Engineering program.

Growing up in rural Hibbing, Minn., Radovich learned the value of hard work and a good education. 

"There were four seasons at our house; cutting, splitting, stacking and hauling poplar into the house," said Radovich with a laugh. "When my younger brother and I left for college, my dad switched over to fuel oil."

Radovich started working at the Potlatch Cloquet mill as an intern in the summer of 1994. The mill was acquired by Sappi in 2002 and provided new opportunities for leadership growth. For 10 years he worked as an Operations Superintendent responsible for the two paper machines that produced premium coated paper for catalogs and brochures. In 2007, Radovich was assigned to various capital investment projects and gained experience in engineering project management. Soon after he was promoted to Paper Technical Manager in 2015 and Paper Mill Manager in 2017. He became Mill Director in December 2019. 

“I was fortunate to manage several mill departments before taking over the mill manager role,” he said. 

During his tenure, Radovich focused on improving union relations and operations efficiency and diversifying the product portfolio. His proudest achievement was reaching 3 million manhours without a lost time accident in 2025. He retired from the mill in June 2025. He was retired all of five months when he took the role of Executive Vice President of Minnesota Forest Industries. The organization based in Duluth, Minn., supports the primary forest products companies in Minnesota.  

"My wife would say that I have been lecturing people all my life, so why not get into advocacy," said Radovich. "It’s nice to be able to give back, and I’m proud to be serving all the mills in Minnesota."

Radovich and his wife Julie, who is the office manager of Carlton County Soil and Water District, have been married for 30 years. They have three adult children and reside in the town of Carlton. When he isn’t running across the state for various forest industry functions, Radovich is at his cabin on Side Lake and enjoys walleye fishing, grouse hunting, golf, and downhill skiing.