Have you ever been curious about what it takes to work at Bob's Red Mill? We're doing a series of interviews with some of our fantastic employee-owners across all departments to give you insight into the kinds of folks who have joined our mission to make foods you'll feel great about eating.
Next up is Mario Mejia, a miller who has been with us for several years. After a stint as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service, he loves that he doesn't have to battle the elements at Bob's Red Mill, as he grinds whole grains and makes incredible mixes that are then sent around the world. Read on to learn his story!
Bob's Red Mill: What’s it like to be a miller at Bob’s Red Mill?
Mario Mejia: Milling’s pretty diverse, because we make the flour, and then we make the all the mixes and all the components to other mixes, so we’re really making all the food.
BRM: How long have you worked at Bob’s Red Mill?
MM: Almost six years.
BRM: How did you come to work here?
MM: Actually my sister was a dental assistant, and she was cleaning the old packing supervisor Jeff Schrader’s teeth, and he was mentioning they couldn’t get enough people, and she said, “Oh, my brother needs a good job!” And so I came, I talked to him, and gave it a shot, and they put me in milling, and then, I’ve just been there ever since.
BRM: Where were you working before Bob’s Red Mill?
MM: I had a lot of different jobs. Right before I started working here I worked for the post office delivering mail, and that was okay but incredibly stressful. And so when this opportunity came up, it was a slight pay drop, but with all the benefits, it was more than worth it. And now after all this time it’s a great job.
BRM: Were there any skills that rolled over from mail carrying that helped you here at Bob’s?
MM: Time management. Especially in the mill room, there’s certain jobs you can work at your pace, and other jobs where you’re at the pace of the mill. When something needs to get done, it needs to get done.
BRM: What’s your favorite thing about working at Bob’s Red Mill?
MM: I enjoy all the people I work with. That’s a great thing, that we’re all at least friendly to each other. Really what I love is that I’ll never get rained on. It might seem weird, but working a lot of outside jobs, when it’s raining you’re like, “I’m going to be wet today,” and here it’s like, “Nope!” It might be a little chilly, it might get hot, but I will not get rained on.
BRM: Do you have any favorite Bob’s Red Mill products?
MM: I really love the Gluten Free Muesli and the Scottish Oats.
BRM: What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
MM: I’m really outdoorsy. I like getting out and hiking, camping, I wish I could do more of that. I’ve got two young boys, I spend a lot of time with them. They’re really young right now, so they get all the attention.
Our thanks to Mario for sharing his experiences with us. If you're interested in joining the Bob's Red Mill team, visit our Careers page today!
