Andy Pirkle
Meet Andy, founder of Cross Plains Group and a second-generation textile professional. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated from Georgia Tech and built a career in textiles. Andy founded CPG nearly 15 years ago to develop recycled fibers, branded as Ancora Fibers—“again” in Italian. That work led to partnerships with European machinery manufacturers, which CPG represents across North America. More recently, CPG added a nonwoven line to expand its capabilities and co-manufacture products for U.S. customers.
Alistair Deas
Meet Alistair, Technical Sales Manager at Cross Plains Group. With more than 60 years in the textile industry, he brings extensive knowledge of nonwoven manufacturing, textile machinery and both the North American and European markets. Well known and highly respected throughout the industry, Alistair works closely with customers to understand their production challenges and recommend practical machinery and process solutions.
Jim Zander
Meet Jim, Director of Textile Sales at Cross Plains Group. With more than 15 years of experience in textile sales, plant management, compliance and sustainability, Jim brings industry knowledge and a practical understanding of daily operations. He works closely with customers and the CPG team to coordinate logistics, manage orders and support projects through delivery. His hands-on approach helps resolve day-to-day challenges and keeps projects and production moving smoothly.
Aubrey Smith
Meet Aubrey, Technical Sales Manager at Cross Plains Group. Aubrey brings many years of experience across the textile and plastics industries, including plant maintenance, technical sales, and machinery support. Having worked across three continents, he offers a global perspective and a broad range of hands-on industry knowledge. Aubrey is passionate about serving his customers, solving technical challenges, and building lasting relationships.
Sumner Pirkle
Meet Sumner, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Cross Plains Group. She brings more than four years of experience in marketing, retail and staffing, with a focus on brand development and customer relationships. A University of Georgia graduate with a background in textiles, Sumner leads marketing initiatives and supports the company’s continued growth.
Joshua Benson
Meet Josh, Engineering and Maintenance Manager at Cross Plains Group. With more than 10 years of experience at CPG, Josh brings extensive hands-on knowledge of machinery, maintenance and production processes. He works directly with equipment, guides testing and trials, troubleshoots technical issues and helps develop practical solutions to keep projects and production running smoothly.