Hendrik Kelner President of Tabadom Holding, Inc. and PROCIGAR
Known in the Dominican cigar industry as the "Tobacco Man," Hendrik Kelner has dedicated a life to the pursuit of making cigars of supreme quality.
"All my life I had loved tobacco, I had grown up with it and I had worked with it. I wanted to be able to concentrate on making cigars," says Kelner, who is president of Tabadom Holding, Inc. — which produces cigars for famous brands like Davidoff, Avo and Griffin's — as well as president of the Association of Dominican Cigar Manufacturers (PROCIGAR).
Born in the cradle of Dominican tobacco, Santiago de los Caballeros, Kelner hails from a tobacco family of Dutch ancestry in which the men traditionally take on cigar making. However, Kelner was supposed to be exception, as his father asked him to take his college studies in a different direction. "But the calling in my blood was stronger than my father's wishes, and my first professional job was related to tobacco. And I hope my sons, Henrik, Klass Pieter, Marco Enrique and Hendrik Alexander, continue the family tradition — as well as my daughters, Catherine and Monika."
That first job, back in 1969, led to a 14-year career that culminated as general manager of the Dominican Republic's then-state-run cigarette company, La Tabacalera. Feeling the desire to produce cigars, Kelner founded Tabacos Dominicanos, now Tabadom Holding, Inc., with six rollers. But Kelner's proficiency as a Master Blender of tobacco allowed him to create fine cigars that caught the attention of world-renowned brands. He now oversees the annual production of more than 30 million cigars and manages more than 1,500 people.
Kelner is a purist. His permanent attention and dedication guarantees a total control from the seed to the ash, as well as a good selection of lands and traditional growers. He believes that it is impossible to make fine cigars unless he controls the process right from seed to packing. That's why Tabadom cultivates, acquires and processes the best tobacco for wrapper, binder and filler under a strict direction, supervision and control by technically experienced people for the processes and procedures to handle the leaves. These masters know that the respect for time and aging conditions contribute to excellence of the flavor and the aromas of the tobacco, making these Dominican cigars among the best in world and contributing to the prestige and pride of the country.
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