Reynolds still learning and growing at Schwan's after 14 years
"Schwan's People You Need to Know" is an ongoing series of stories that share some of our employees' experiences as we celebrate our 65th anniversary and participate as a founding partner of the Minnesota Super Bowl 52 Host Committee.
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“The warehouse supervisor is a cross-functional position where I get to work with — and help — others from areas like purchasing, production, food safety and quality, research and development, contractors, logistics and transportation, and outside storage personnel,” he said. “There is always something new to learn and experience.”
Kevin joined the company 14 years ago and currently serves as the warehouse supervisor for the company’s dessert-production facility in Stilwell, Oklahoma, where the team makes both Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® desserts.
Kevin recently took some time to tell us about his experiences at Schwan’s, his long-time love of music and passion for learning and development.
Q: What are you passionate about in your job?
A: Making sure people have the knowledge, skills and tools they need to get their job done correctly.
Q: Tell us about your career journey here at Schwan’s.
A: I started out as a temporary warehouse forklift operator on the night shift. I learned most of the warehouse jobs quickly and soon started working on the day shift in the packaging warehouse. I then became the packaging warehouse lead person for a few years. The opportunity came up for a warehouse supervisor position, and I applied for the job and got it. I have been doing the warehouse supervisor job for a few years now.
Q: Tell us why your job is one of the most interesting jobs in the company.
A: I get to work with some really great people and see them change and grow in a positive way.
Q: How have you grown throughout your career?
A: I have really learned the value of making personal relationships with people that I work with and listening to what they have to say. I need to see things from different perspectives and get any preconceptions I may have in check, and the best way to do that is to make people feel comfortable expressing their opinions and ideas and sharing their perspectives of how things are going.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know about you.
A: I have played the drums and guitar for more than 30 years and love to make and play music with friends.
Q: Schwan’s is a founding partner of the Minnesota Super Bowl 52 Host Committee this year. What is your favorite Schwan’s® product to serve at your Big Game viewing party?
A: Ice Cream.
Q: What’s your favorite Schwan’s product?
A: Ice Cream.
Q: What’s your favorite memory in all the years you’ve worked here?
A: Watching my supervisor get inside of a dunk tank and having all of us trying really hard to dunk him. We were successful.
Q: What are you most proud of throughout your career at Schwan’s?
A: Establishing strong and meaningful relationships with the people I work with and learning from them.
Q: How would you describe the culture of our company?
A: Our culture is based on the meaningful participation of everyone and striving to be truly authentic in everything we do and say. It is about hard work, high expectations and working together as a team.
Q: What do you like about our culture?
A: We are encouraged to be authentic, to be who we truly are, and share our ideas and views about how and what we do. We are given the opportunity to improve the way things are done and to reach out to others when we need help or advice.
