Success Profiles

What are some of your responsibilities or daily tasks in your current position?  Tyson Foods of Alabama feeds and processes almost 2 million chickens each week that end up on many menus of the fast food and casual dining operations where you and I feed our families. I am honored to be a small part of a team that takes great pride in what they do each and every day to provide a quality food product that helps feed the world around us where we live and raise our children.

What is your advice to students considering a career in Poultry Science? Even in the poultry industry there are many career paths to choose from. What ever direction you decide to take in beginning a career, do it with determination to be the best and always treat people with respect.  Surround yourself with good people that have the same work ethic as you do.  Just think for a moment, people around the world have to eat, and chicken is one of the best and cheapest proteins available.  I could have chosen many career paths, but I have found great pleasure in a job where I have been able to help so many people and be part of feeding the world.

What are some of your responsibilities or daily tasks in your current position? Over see 4 Broiler operations.  Peco has three Complexes in Mississippi and one in Alabama. All four complexes place a total of 3,500,000 broilers per week. My responsibilities include the Pullet/Breeder and Hatchery departments, the Feed Mills, the Broiler Departments, the Live Haul departments, Ingredient Purchasing, and Live Quality Control.

How did Auburn’s Poultry Science program prepare you to be successful in the poultry industry? Auburn University had and still has great instructors that taught about real world experiences that we would face in the industry even today.

What did you enjoy about the Poultry Science program at Auburn? What is your favorite memory? The people. From the instructors to the students. The contacts and friendships that were made will be live long. The poultry science intramural softball team (The Fowlers) made the playoffs. The fund raiser chicken cooking was always a great time. Getting together with friends.

What are some of your responsibilities/daily tasks in your current position?Responsible for manufacturing and distribution of approximately 10,500 tons of broiler and breeder feed per week.  I am also responsible for managing approximately 40 hourly employees and 11 salaried employees. 

How did Auburn’s Poultry Science program prepare you to be successful in the poultry industry? Auburn Poultry Science introduced me to a larger world.  Being from a small town in south Alabama, I was unaware of the scope of the poultry industry.  Shortly after coming to Auburn I realized that it was the largest agricultural industry in the state of Alabama.  It was the fastest growing meat producing industry and innovation was a key component of its success.  Auburn Poultry Science allowed me to be a part of this industry.  I will always be grateful and will do what I can to promote its continued success.