Around CGC
In this issue:
Wayne Farms to Build New Facility
Wayne Farms has announced plans to begin construction of a three-phase, state-of-the-art, further processing facility in Decatur, Alabama. The company plans to break ground with a $55 million investment for the first phase of the facility this fall and to complete the project in the spring of 2006.
The 100,000 square foot facility will support two fully cooked production lines and will be constructed to allow modification and initiation of phases two and three during the next five years, which will add an additional four production lines.
Guy Hinton, Vice President of Operations, says the new plant will be a prototype for the industry, with segregated fresh and further processed areas and a modular design that allows for enhanced allergen and microbial control. He notes that the new plant will complement the company's existing, recently expanded further processing facility in Decatur.
The new facility will bring approximately 165 new jobs to Decatur during the first phase of operation and additional jobs during phases two and three.
Danville Hatchery Reaches Milestone
Wayne Farms Danville Hatchery employees are committed to having a safe place to work. This commitment has resulted in twelve consecutive years without a lost-time accident, an outstanding record that recently earned the hatchery a special Accumulative Years Safety Award from the Arkansas Department of Labor. This accomplishment doesn't come without a lot of hard work and dedication. A Very Big Congratulations goes out to all of those who participated in this achievement. Without everyone's commitment, this milestone could not have been reached.
–Ted Weisenbach
 |
|
The Danville Hatchery Team – Marking 12 Years of Safe Operation. |
Safety Achievement at Colorado Beef
The Colorado Beef team has now completed more than four years without a lost-time accident. Colorado Beef's 50 employees market about 125,000 cattle a year. Congratulations to everyone at Colorado Beef!
Jim Barron Joins Wayne Farms
Jim Barron has joined Wayne Farms as Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Business Development. He is a member of the company's operating committee and has responsibility for leading and managing sales, marketing, business development and associated areas of the business. Jim will provide strategic vision and direction to achieve maximum market penetration, revenue and profitability objectives.
Jim comes to the company from Pilgrim's Pride, where he was most recently Vice President of Sales for National Accounts. Jim's background includes leadership positions in Sales with other food companies such as Bryan Foods, a division of Sara Lee, Landry & Associates, and IBP Corporation.
Cimarron Processing Crew Takes First Place
The Cimarron Feeders processing crew – Nicholas Seaman, Manual Rojo, and Leandro Sandoval – won first place in the Beef Empire Days cattle working contest held earlier this month in Garden City, Kansas.
 |
|
First Place Winners, from left, Nicholas Seaman, Manual Rojo, and Leandro Sandoval |
The annual contest is designed to promote the proper use of animal health products and equipment and the correct handling of livestock, and to provide quality assurance education. Each member of the crew received a check for $90 and a personalized belt buckle. The team also received two traveling trophies, a painting of a doctoring crew working cattle and a plaque listing contest winners from the last five years. The plaque and the painting are on display in the Cimarron Feeders main office. Cimarron Feeders is very proud to have such a hard working and dedicated processing crew.
–Ken Walls
Foundation Scholarship: 20K for College Tuition
Parents, please note: If your son or daughter is taking the PSAT/NMSQT this fall, they may qualify for the ContiGroup Foundation National Merit scholarship.
The scholarship now provides up to $5,000 a year–$20,000 for four years–for qualified students beginning college in the fall of 2006. Please see the program guidelines and application form more information.
The Foundation also offers matching funds for contributions by CGC employees to U.S. colleges and universities. See program description and application form for details.
As always, the ContiGroup Foundation would like to support your volunteer work and help in your community. Please send your ideas and suggestions to Susan.McIntyre@conti.com.
Baca Named to Missouri Governor's Commission
Tommy Baca, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Milan, has been appointed to the Missouri Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs. The commission will serve as a statewide advisory body to the Governor and the General Assembly on issues of importance to the Hispanic citizens of Missouri. The commission's responsibilities will include gathering and disseminating information; monitoring legislative issues pertaining to the Hispanic community; making recommendations to state agencies and private-sector entities; and, where appropriate, recommending legislative initiatives to the Office of the Governor.
PSF Milan and Clinton Plants Recognized for Safety
Over last year, PSF's Milan processing facility had the fewest number of recordable injuries in the company's history. The strong record has resulted from efforts to empower associates to promote safety on the job.
Because of its safety success, the Milan processing facility received the Award of Honor this spring, the highest safety award available from the American Meat Institute (AMI). The award is presented to those facilities that demonstrate continuous improvement in their safety programs based on an evaluation designed and administered by the National Safety Council. Only about one percent of U.S. slaughter plants achieve this level of honor.
In addition, the company received the Gold Star Award for maintaining a lost-workday rate that is 50 percent lower than the average within the meatpacking industry. Leading up to its record year this past year, Premium Standard Farms has seen a downward trend in total recordable injuries over the last seven years.
The North Carolina operations of Premium Standard Farms have also been recognized and for their commitment to worker safety.
The Clinton processing facility was recognized by the American Meat Institute in April, receiving two workplace safety awards at this year's AMI Foundation Conference on Worker Safety, Health, and Human Resources in Phoenix. In addition, 27 different departments throughout the processing plant and farms divisions were honored by the North Carolina Department of Labor for maintaining good safety records in 2003.