THE BRANDON SUN • WESTMAN BUSINESS • OCTOBER 26, 2024
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Empowering education in Brandon
K och Fertilizer Canada (Koch Fertilizer) is committed to supporting local education to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn and reach their full potential with a fulfilling career. Based in Brandon, Koch Fertilizer employs nearly 300 people in fields in- cluding engineering, operations, main- tenance and skilled trades, logistics and other areas. According to site leaders, developing and nurturing the next generation of skilled workers is essential for a com- munity to thrive, and empowering in- dividuals through applied education is not a new endeavor for Koch Fertilizer.
Fertilizer prior to becoming a full- time employee. While a student, Brown began his career as a fer- tigation operator with the com- pany. He returned the following summer as an engineering intern with the electrical team. After graduation, Brown started full time as a project manager for the engineering team. Now, over the course of a de- cade with the company, Brown has carved a career path that has included roles in several diverse areas. He says Koch Fertilizer gave him the opportunity to develop and demonstrate his leadership qualities, rather than forcing him down a prescribed career progres- sion. “Koch is a unique place to work because they are willing to take a chance on people,” Brown said. “When you have the drive to con- tribute and make positive change,
Plant Manager Rodi Sveis- trup sees a solid connection between helping students achieve their goals and meet- ing the community’s need for job-ready graduates. “Partnering with schools in our community gives us an opportunity to both support and attract local talent who understand the area and see Brandon and the surrounding community as a place they want to set roots,” Sveistrup said. “The long-term com- munity impact of investing in people and education bene- fits us all.” Through initiatives includ- ing a university internship
Partnering with schools in our community gives us an opportunity
to both support and attract local talent.. ...The long-term community impact of investing in people and education benefits us all..” – RODI SVEISTRUP, PLANT MANAGER
Managing Director Kelly Simonson and Plant Manager Rodi Sveistrup with Koch Fertilizer Canada. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
tributes to the advancement of skilled trades, particularly in the areas of power engineering and instrumentation. The company aims to help al- leviate financial burden while fostering an environment that allows students to achieve their
for welding supplies and how many Koch Fertilizer employees had gone through the program at Crocus Plains, managing director Kelly Simonson says it was an easy decision to continue do- nating annually to assist the Industrial Arts program with purchasing of tools and equipment critical to the students’ success. “Seeing the number of employees on our team who had benefitted from this specific program, we got together and decided this is definitely something we should keep doing,” said Simonson. “At Koch Fertilizer, we look for relation- ships that are mutually beneficial, and this is a perfect example of that type of relationship.” Koch Fertilizer believes in develop- ing the next generation. By offering internships, providing financial schol- arships, and contributing to local edu- cational programs, they are committed to investing in the present while help- ing to foster a prosperous future for the community. » Submitted
they find a place where you can grow and make a difference — and often- times it’s not where you thought you were headed, but you’re glad when you get there.” In addition to Brown, operations leader Jeewana Dasayanake, project manager Lukas Schulz, and plant en- gineers Meher Meethal and Smit Patel were all hired after interning at Koch Fertilizer. The company currently has students from the University of Manitoba, the University of Calgary, and McMaster University participating in their intern- ship program. Scholarship programs at Assiniboine Community College and Saskatche- wan Polytechnic are another way Koch Fertilizer supports education and con-
program, financial scholarships at As- siniboine Community College and Sas- katchewan Polytechnic, and support of the Crocus Plains High School Industri- al Arts program, Koch Fertilizer recog- nizes the importance of education and supports efforts to help students dis- cover, develop and apply their unique abilities. Koch Fertilizer has several employ- ees who were hired after participating in the site’s university internship pro- gram. Each year, they hire interns in various disciplines, such as engineer- ing, skilled trades, and instrumenta- tion. Through the program, students gain valuable hands-on experience in a meaningful real-world setting. Maintenance leader Steven Brown is an employee who interned with Koch
goals by creating hands-on opportu- nities to discover new ideas, develop marketable skills, and drive innovation that will build a brighter future. At both schools, co-op programs are available for students to gain work ex- perience in areas like engineering and operations at facilities like Koch Fertil- izer, helping to ensure they are head- ing in a career direction that fits their capabilities well. In addition to the university intern- ship program and financial scholar- ships, Koch Fertilizer’s educational support includes the Crocus Plains High School Industrial Arts program. Support for the program began several years ago with a donation to fill an im- mediate need in the welding program. After recognizing the ongoing need
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