True Story: Drew Anderson

Tell us about where you grew up

I grew up in New London, WI.  It is a small manufacturing/agricultural community in Northeast Wisconsin.  New London’s primary claim to fame is having the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Wisconsin.  My parents did not go to college, but they taught me the value of hard work and the ability to learn from others.

Tell us about where you went to school and what for:

University of Wisconsin Fox Valley- Menasha, WI

Major: Liberal Arts

Tell us about you career path and how you have gotten to where you are today. 

I started at Agropur the fall after completing my second year of school at our Weyauwega facility, working nights in the whey department.  I enjoyed learning all three operator positions within the whey department.  After a little over a year, I applied to be a Production Supervisor at the Little Chute facility, a position I had been keeping an eye on for openings.  After a few months I was given the opportunity to become a supervisor, a position I held until 2015. At that point, I left the company to pursue tattooing.  I’ve always been creative and enjoyed art.  I did that for a couple of years, but now that I have a family, I returned because I enjoy the stability of working for Agropur.

How has Agropur supported your growth within the company?

After becoming a Supervisor, I was encouraged to go back to school to complete my degree.  I worked full time while going to school full time at UW-Oshkosh.  I completed my degree in 2013.   All the while, Agropur has provided other educational opportunities, including attending classes at the CDR (Center for Dairy Research) and the ability to work with master cheesemakers.  Agropur management has shown that if someone is willing to put forward the initiative, they will reward them with more responsibility.

What does your current role entail and what kind of things do you work on?

I am the Plant Controller in Little Chute, responsible for all standard reporting related to the facility.   This includes cost accounting functions, profitability, and analytical tracking.  In December 2018, I took over aggregating all US standard reporting for upper management.  I also assist the other controllers with profitability related analyses.

Why do you love Agropur? 

I love Agropur because I am constantly challenged to grow as an individual and then rewarded for it.  It is incredibly  fulfilling to see my work making a difference in the bottom line of the company.