When I was at Auburn University studying public relations and marketing I never imagined myself working in the milling industry after college. For me, flour and grain was something I consumed daily (probably far too often), and I didn’t think twice about the procurement and manufacturing of the flour and grains I ate.
But fast forward a year and a half after college graduation, and I have found myself smack in the middle of the flour and grain business working as a marketing associate at a milling company in the Southeast. Best of all, I couldn’t be happier with my career-path decision. The milling industry is lucrative and growing—there are new technologies, innovations and brands being introduced into the industry at a fast pace. As a marketer, this industry growth makes for an exciting and challenging environment to thrive in. We are constantly trying to stay ahead of the competition and find new, creative ways to increase sales and put our brands in the spotlight.
Apart from the communications-side of the industry, milling has a vast selection of career paths to choose from, all with their own respective challenges and rewards. You may be surprised at the diversity of the people working in the flour and grain business. Being new to the industry, I had originally stereotyped the milling industry as being generally older and having a sleepy work culture. What I realized is that there is an amazingly diverse demographic of people in the industry—both men and women, vast age ranges, numerous personality types and a very innovative culture. There is a spot for every type of person within this industry, and I think many graduates will find it a rewarding and exciting career choice to pursue.
– Whitney Jones
2 years in marketing and communications
