Joining Premier after 16 years in the food industry, Ohio Valley South Sales Manager Mike Farmer considers our company “innovators,” with founder John Gaynor always looking to the future for an edge on competitors. In this fun interview, the Cleveland native reflects on Premier’s culture and what makes a good sales manager, namely helping his people be the best they can—“I’m Scotty Pippen … you all are MJs.” Oh, and he once wrestled a bear for beer money. No, seriously.

Mekesia Yarborough was looking for “something different and more” when she first interviewed at Premier—but that job was not a good fit. Two years later, Premier leadership remembered the veteran manufacturing and distribution leader and called her when the role of Operations Manager of our facility in Augusta, Georgia, opened up. That’s typical of what Mekesia calls “the Premier Way,” a people-centered culture where you “can reach out to just about anybody if you have a question” and “the opportunities are endless.” As Operations Manager, she juggles employees, vendors, and shipping schedules. She’s excited about her future with Premier.

Premier Power Hour, Premier Packaging, Podcast, Premier Packaging Podcast, Premier Podcast, Packaging Podcast, Supply Chain Podcast, Job Progression, Career Progression, Sustainability, Career Growth, Packagi­­ng Supplies, Packaging Equipment, Automation, Service & Maintenance

Growing up in the strip-mining regions of Kentucky sparked Mackenzie Crigger’s passion for sustainability at an early age. When she joined Premier as our new Sustainability Manager, she found an organization already tracking key sustainability data for logistics purposes, with energy-saving measures such as electric forklifts already in place. Mackenzie highlights Premier’s environmental achievements and challenges, as well as  sustainable swaps each of us can make in our daily lives.