When the CEO of one of the world’s largest meat-processing companies comes to campus, people listen. In fact, nearly 300 people filled a packed auditorium in the Behavioral Sciences Building last week to hear JBS CEO Andre Nogueira speak about the company, employment opportunities and the kind of graduates JBS looks to hire.
“We look for people with drive,” said Nogueira. In a rapidly changing business environment, Nogueira noted that JBS focuses on issues that it can control and looks to hire graduates who can apply what they have learned in their studies of agriculture, business or engineering at this multi-national corporation.
Nogueira’s presentation began with an overview of JBS and its mission, and he then took questions from an eager audience of faculty, staff and students drawn primarily from Colorado State University’s Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Business as well as students from other disciplines across campus.
Partnering with industry
“Our college has had a long-standing and important partnership with JBS,” said Ajay Menon, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Our engagement with JBS highlights best the importance of industry collaborations to the development of our faculty and our students. Helping find practical applications for our ground-breaking scientific research is just one more way that our college and university contribute to the global economy while addressing the key global challenges of our times. Additionally, our highly trained students fill the talent pipeline required to make American enterprises productive and thriving.”
The presentation culminated with some examples of job opportunities and training programs offered by JBS. Over the last four years, JBS has hired 33 CSU graduates.
After the talk, attendees were treated to a barbecue on the Monfort Quad with hamburgers prepared by the CSU Meat Lab.
Leaders from across campus
A number of college leaders attended the events, including Menon, department heads from the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Beth Walker, dean of CSU’s College of Business.
“Andre Nogueira is an inspirational leader whose focus on simplicity and core company values has delivered terrific results for JBS,” said Walker. “Mr. Nogueira’s visit to campus was indeed very special, and I know that students and faculty alike were extremely impressed with him and the JBS story.”
About JBS
JBS is a leading processor of beef, pork and lamb in the U.S., a leading processor of beef in Canada and the largest cattle feeder in the world, with operations in the U.S. and Canada. Headquartered in Greeley, Colo., JBS processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, further-processed and value-added beef, pork, lamb and poultry products for sale to customers in more than 105 countries on six continents. The company employs more than 78,000 team members and operates more than 100 facilities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
