CARGILL’S plant in Northwest Arkansas processes 50,000 reimbursement program that pays for classes to grow your career.
turkeys a day and has a distribution center that ships its products
nationwide. There a lot of different careers at the Springdale
complex including production associates, maintenance mechanics,
electrical technicians, food quality and food safety associates,
refrigeration technicians and wastewater operators. Many jobs
pay between $30,000 and $50,000 a year. Elvia Osornio grew her career at Cargill by following in her dad’s
footsteps. “He worked at the Springdale plant and told me it
was a good company to work for,” she says. “There are a lot of
opportunities here.” She started out on the production line and
moved up to several positions over the past nine years including
one she’s especially proud of.
It takes a team of 1,200 people to keep the plant running, and
Susana Huila plays an important role as a coordinator for the
plant’s largest department. She started at Cargill more than four
years ago after moving from Mexico. “I was a line lead in re-hang - an area that’s usually all guys,” she
explains. In that part of the plant, team members lift whole turkeys
onto a moving line that carries them through the facility. “I wanted
to show that a woman could do it! More than half the plant relies
on that line starting up on time each morning.” Osornio is now a
trainer for the plant’s environmental health and safety department.
“I didn’t speak any English when I first started, and I was nervous,”
she says. She soon built her confidence and skills. “I started
moving up to different jobs after a year-and-a-half. When my
supervisor told me I should apply for my current position, I wasn’t
sure I could do it, but I decided to go for it.”
Huila compiles important production reports for the plant by
managing hundreds of thousands of pounds of products each day,
tracking employee schedules, making sure the tools used on the
production floor are accounted for and ensuring the plant meets
health and safety standards. It takes a lot of attention to detail and
good computer skills. Huila admits it was
challenging at first.
“I took English classes to communicate
better with my managers,” she says.
“Now I feel important because I know
people are depending on me.” The
company will help you advance.
“If you’re interested in learning and taking
classes to move up, your supervisors will
help you,” she adds. Cargill has a tuition
“I teach new associates how to do their job safely and make sure
they’re happy and find solutions if they’re not,” she says. Osornio
wants to make sure everyone loves their job at Cargill like she
does. “For me, it’s like my second family because I see these
people each day and want to help them whenever I can.”
Helping people is something Cargill believes in. The company
fights hunger by donating16 tons of turkey products each year
to local charities and encourages associates to volunteer in the
community. Cargill also honors diversity
with multiple cultural celebrations
throughout the year. At the Springdale
plant, you’ll find employees representing
nine different countries.
If you are at least 18 years old, are driven
to succeed and want to be part of a
successful team, you can thrive at Cargill.
To find your career, scan the code or visit
http://cargill.com.
FAYETTEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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