Branim Named President At Barna

September 30, 2004

James "Jimmy" I. Barna, II, chairman of log home manufacturing industry leader Jim Barna Log Systems, announced Monday his appointment of Darlene Branim as president of the company, overseeing day-to-day operations. Barna will remain as owner/chairman of the board and will continue his leadership of the company's strategic direction.

Barna, Jr. began serving as interim president, CEO and chairman of the board in June following the sudden death of his father - the company's founder, president and CEO James "Jim" I. Barna, Sr. - of a heart attack on June 5 at the age of 57.

Branim, age 40, is a 21-year employee of Jim Barna Log Systems and has most recently served the company as executive vice president, a post she has held for 10 years. Branim first began working with JBLS following high school. After several years as Jim Barna's executive assistant, she was given oversight of production scheduling, engineering, corrections and adjustments and customer service. While continuing to work full-time, she earned a bachelor's degree in applied organizational management from Tusculum College.

"Darlene Branim offers experience with and understanding of this company and the log home business that will enable Jim Barna Log Systems to maintain strong industry leadership," Barna said. "For many years, she has been the driving force behind the success of this company. My dad confided to me on many occasions that Darlene was the glue that held the company together. The daily management of this company will be in very qualified hands under her leadership."

Barna said that the demands of his time required in his role as co-executor of his late father's estate led him to determine that shifting his role to a solely strategic capacity rather than in daily management of the company's business would serve the company better.

"My role as co-executor of my dad's estate is extremely important and time-consuming," Barna said. "It is in the company's best interest for me to focus my time in settling this estate with the careful attention to detail that it requires. I will always have a role in this company."

"In light of my history with this company, the deep respect and appreciation I held for Jim Barna and certainly hold today for his son Jimmy, it is a tremendous honor to serve this company as president," Branim said. "Like every employee with this company, I am committed to our continuing leadership and success and feel very confident in our future."

The Oneida-based company operates as one of the largest manufacturers in the log home industry, with nearly 13,000 homes sold during the company's 29-year history, throughout all 50 U.S. states as well as abroad. Jim Barna Log Systems has approximately 150 distributors throughout the United States and Europe.

Jim Barna Log Systems currently produces more than 800 log homes annually, which are sold through a distributor network of 150 dealers and 18 agents at its Tennessee regional sales offices in Clinton, Gatlinburg and Oneida. The company's log homes are shipped throughout the United States and into several countries abroad, all from its manufacturing facility in Oneida.

The company employees 150 people in the Oneida area, with employment totaling 250 for the company's six divisions, which include Jim Barna Log Systems, North American Log Crafters, JBLS Euro, Statikline, Log Home Builders and Barna Financial.

news@ihoneida.com

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