“ The company will listen to you if you have creative ideas.”
The company is dedicated to promotion from within, said Renelius Sims, who works in sales.
Sims began his career at George’ s as a production worker, but was promoted to shipping and billing and then accounting before starting his current position in sales.
18
Some employees at George’ s poultry plants traveled a long way to find their careers. Cayle Davis, maintenance supervisor, drives back and forth each day from near Harrison. Paul Sehreh traveled even farther to become an operations supervisor in de-boning.
Sehreh, 29, was born in Burma, now called Myanmar, but grew up in a refugee camp in Thailand. His family fled his native country during political upheaval. After 11 years in the camp, a sponsor allowed the family to relocate to Texas. After working for two years at a poultry plant in Houston, a George’ s recruiter brought Sehreh to Springdale.
“ It was a good job opportunity,” Sehreh said.“ I’ m glad I moved here.”
George’ s works hard to find and keep good employees, said Glen Balch, Vice President of Human Resources.
“ We want people who take pride in their place of employment,” Balch said.
George’ s began in the 1920s in Springdale by hauling poultry to market. Today, it owns poultry operations in Arkansas, Missouri and Virginia. Four generations of the George family have headed the privately owned company, which employs about 4,700 people.
“ For a guy who expected to find temporary employment at a chicken plant, I have instead been blessed to work with some of the best people in the industry,” Sims said.
Tiem Loeak, supervisor in a processing plant, used previous experience to gain his promotion from a line worker. His work with an inventory company allowed him to make suggestions that would improve inventory control in the cooler.
The native of the Marshall Islands was transferred to the inventory crew and then promoted to supervisor soon afterward.
“ The company will listen to you if you have creative ideas,” Loeak said.
George’ s also tries to help employees with their problems, said Tahamara Ibarra, a human resources worker.
“ The company will listen to you if you have creative ideas.”