nov-dec-2019

REBECCA: Thank you. In May 2019, I accepted my current position as Site Training Coordinator at Salida. MARK: You have far exceeded your original goal. What prepared you to take on so many new roles ? REBECCA: Each position gave me the tools and insight to be successful in the next position. I have also looked to my mentors to help guide me. Denise Horn who has been with the company for 40-plus years has helped me understand the Main Production Line. Mary Ann Henriques and Juanita Nungaray have introduced me to the world of Safety and Continuous Improvement. I’ve enjoyed every role I’ve been in! As long as Blue Diamond is growing, I know I will have a place to grow alongside the business. MARK: Yes. You absolutely will. I want to thank Rebecca and Bobby for sharing their successful career journeys at Blue Diamond . It makes me Blue Diamond Proud that each day we send our team members home safely to enjoy time with their loved ones. We have real heroes in the area of safety who make this possible, just like our Safety Manager in Salida, Mary Ann Henriques. MARK: What brought you to Blue Diamond ? MARY ANN: A co-worker from Diamond Foods in Stockton, Dennis Bettencourt called looking for a referral for a Safety Professional. Since I teach Safety Classes, he thought I may have a student I could recommend. When I found out where the position was located, I asked, “Is it alright if I apply ? ” He seemed please I was still interested after he told me, “You will be taking a pay cut.” MARK: Then why were you interested ? MARY ANN: Career accomplishment and making a difference were more important than matching my salary. The plant wanted to become Cal/VPP and I was interested in helping to achieve that status, it is a big challenge. MARK: What does Cal/VPP stand for ? MARY ANN: California Voluntary Protection Program. Cal/VPP recognizes employers and their employees for implementing safety and health programs that effectively prevent and control job hazards. These companies are considered to be the leaders in the field of workplace safety and health. MARK: What was the first initiative you implemented in Salida ? MARY ANN: Reviving the Safety Committee, I started running our meetings like a 4-H Committee and keeping minutes. We set up Safety Champions for our Core Champion areas and started developing them as SME. MARK: It sounds like you have a background in agriculture ? MARY ANN: When I was younger, for 10 years I was in 4-H and a proud member of Modesto High School FFA. I have also acquired several university degrees. Today I live on my brother’s dairy, in my grandmother’s old house, where I grew up. We are the third generation. MARK: Great leadership training. Our Salida plant’s last lost-time accident was 4.5 million work hours ago. That is over four years for 550 employees. How has this been possible ? MARY ANN: Blue Diamond people are open to new ideas and management supports training. We completed OSHA 10 Hazard Recognition training which links the inter-relationships between work and home; and between departments. It allows us to review deeply ingrained assumptions and generalizations, that influence how we act. It provides the ability to reflect on actions, and clarify personal vision. Our people excel not because they are told to, but because they want to. MARK: That is a powerful insight! What is next ? MARY ANN: This year we will be adding five new programs to meet our Blueprint for Success, six key expectations, and our safety culture teams, which all lead to Cal/VPP. MARK: Recently Mary Ann was asked to participate on the curriculum update for the U. S. Department of Labor, OSHA Training Institute. Quite an honor! This year, from the Safe Food Alliance, Salida was awarded Plant of the 9 N O V E M B E R – D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9