For Ryan Mitchell, the Senior Director of Operations for GSF’s Penn Yan, New York facility, an unexpected temporary job over a decade ago sparked an inspiring career journey with the company’s domestic Dairy Products division, KanPak U.S. He joined the company in August 2010 as a temp associate, packing bag-in-box products on the production floor.
"I was instantly attracted to the dynamic nature of manufacturing, where I was able to utilize my skills to optimize processes and to have the opportunity to be part of a team," said Ryan.
From the beginning with his short-term role, Ryan showed strong initiative and progressed from there to learn every aspect of the business, from blending to sanitation to receiving. This earned him promotions to roles with greater responsibility like Blending Operator, Processing Foreman, Production Planner, and Plant Manager. His passion for continuous improvement led Ryan to complete food safety and process control training through Penn State and Cornell University.
"The company invested in me and my development, which really inspired me to advance my career with GSF," he said.
KanPak recognized Ryan's commitment to excellence with promotions to General Manager and eventually Senior Director of Operations, overseeing all aspects of the Penn Yan facility. He credits GSF's culture of putting people first and offering growth opportunities as key factors in his decision to build a long-term career with the company.
Looking ahead, Ryan says, "What I enjoy most is working with a great team to navigate the unpredictable nature of manufacturing. My goal is for Penn Yan to become a best-in-class manufacturing site."
For Ryan, Golden State Foods has proven to be much more than a temporary job–it's been a fulfilling career built on continual learning and leadership.