'Just be yourself'

If you have the opportunity to chat with Colin Crusoe in Richland Center, Wisconsin, there’s a decent chance he’ll sprinkle in some fun facts about Mountain Dew. It turns out there’s an entire world to discover – and he’s up to date on most of it.

But Colin is making an impact at Schreiber well beyond his endless soft drink knowledge. He just wrapped up his first full year at Schreiber as an Operations Leader, and he says he couldn’t have found a more perfect fit.

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“It’s been a really good year,” Colin said. “I don’t think it could get any better in terms of job responsibilities, coworkers, pay and benefits. I love my job, and I’m happy I was able to find something I enjoy right out of college.”

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A typical night

Operations Leaders are on the front line interacting with partners from different areas and helping teams work through challenging situations, like a production line going down.

Colin arrives at the plant about 4:45 p.m. so he can be on the floor by 5 p.m.

“I make my way around the production floor, get an update on all fillers that are running and get prepared for meetings with my team of partners,” Colin said.

His 12-hour night shift is filled with paperwork, preparing production reports, troubleshooting with partners and spending a lot of time walking the floor to make sure partners have what they need to run yogurt smoothly.

One of the exciting things about this role is the ability to relocate every couple of years to see many different plants and processes.

His best advice

It sounds simple, but Colin’s best advice to anyone – especially those in a leadership role – is to “just be yourself.”

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“If you feel comfortable being yourself at work, you’re going to enjoy your time here more,” Colin said. “If you feel like you have to put on a mask or be someone different, it will take a toll on you mentally and physically.”

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That’s why Colin isn’t afraid to share things that make him happy, like a little punk rock to pump himself up in the breakroom before pre-shift meetings.

“Having a bubbly personality, most people don’t picture me as a heavy metal fan,” Colin said. “I love going to concerts and being in the mosh pit headbanging.” (His current favorite bands: Driveways, Rise Against and Silverstein.)

But to Richland Center partners, he’ll always be known as the Mountain Dew man. His favorite flavor: Baja Blast. (Did you know the flavor was exclusive to Taco Bell restaurants, but cans are now starting to be released in stores?)

“There are so many flavors of Mountain Dew that it takes intentional research to keep up to date,” Colin said. “I’ll bring in an extra can of a new flavor for partners to try. I love sharing that happiness and joy with others. That’s what life’s all about.”

Interested in a career with Schreiber? We’re more than just a food company. We’re doing good around the world. Check out opportunities at our home office and plant locations: www.schreiberfoods.com/careers