Heather

MANAGER OF INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE

What's on your iPod?: I like to listen to upbeat music. Something that helps motivate me to run longer distances.
What's your most unusual or impressive skill?: My arms are double jointed; it looks like they hyper-flex. It's a little gross.
What are your favorite books?: My favorite books are definitely Harry Potter!
What made you choose to work at Nestlé Purina?: I'm originally from Michigan and have been around the automotive industry throughout my life. So the most that I knew of Nestlé Purina was that they made pet food. I had never thought of Nestlé Purina as a potential employer. I went to the Chicago career fair and had spoke to the Davenport plant HR personnel. The people were really personable; When I interviewed I liked the interaction of people and feel of "family." It’s the main reason I took the job.
What motivates you to continue working at Nestlé Purina?: The opportunities that Nestlé Purina has for future development as well as the willingness for the company to offer those opportunities to you and have employee development as a priority.
What has been the most advantageous opportunity provided to you at Nestlé Purina?: To become a part of the Corporate Operations—Operations Improvement team (CO-OP), which has lead me to my current position. Both responsibilities have provided me with a communication network that has had a huge benefit to optimize effectiveness and conduct work efficiently.
What has been the most rewarding thing about working at Nestlé Purina?: Working with a team of people that have an unbelievable wealth of knowledge from the pet care industry and have a personal interest in your personal and professional well-being.
What do you wish you would have known about Nestlé Purina while you were searching for a job?: The pet care industry is a pretty stable industry, people will always want to feed their pets! Pet care isn’t a scary place to work in. Pet food and litter have to be manufactured just like any other product. The technology and science to perfect and enhance them are extremely interesting.
What has Nestlé Purina done to help you develop professionally or personally?: Opportunity to travel and work with CO-OP has helped both professionally and personally. I started in the engineering field and wanted to learn more about the business as a whole. I have been able to do this through CO-OP and my current role. Travel, culture and new experiences are also a personal passion. The two were combined into one during the CO-OP experience. Currently Nestlé Purina is supporting me for my executive master’s degree in international business. This will also be a personal and professional benefit.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?: Travel, new experiences, exercise, being with friends and family.
When you're out on the town, where are we most likely to run into you?: I like to try different restaurants in various parts of St. Louis. My objective is to go to places I am not familiar with but have heard great things about. It can be fun trying to find these places. I usually meet interesting people along the way! The place I frequent most is Mosaic. It is a "modern fusion” tapas restaurant with great food and a great atmosphere!