Thomas Mende

Thomas was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. He received a bachelor degree in business from Coastal Carolina College and an MBA from the University of South Carolina Mr. Mende became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1994. 

From 1990 until 2006, he worked for New South Companies, in South Carolina, a manufacturer of Southern Pine wood products. During that time, Mr. Mende focused on softwood exports from the USA to Asia and Europe and imports from South America and Europe.  He also developed the distribution system for his suppliers in Asia and Australia.   

In 2006, Mr. Mende joined Klausner as President of Klausner Trading USA, started the company’s sales to the Middle East and supervised the Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India sales offices for Klausner.   

In 2019, he joined Binderholz, Europe’s largest lumber company and worldwide largest producer of Cross Laminated Timber.  The company’s US branch Binderholz Timber LLC. located in Atlanta is importing lumber, glulam and CLT and operates two Southern Yellow Pine sawmills in Florida and North Carolina 

Mr. Mende has traveled to 89 countries and has conducted business in 48 of these countries. He brings a unique, global perspective to the industry.