Rotary Messenger

Rotary Club of Eau Claire Editor: Jerry Reinecke August 29, 2011

In This Issue Overview of the Nestle Company and the Eau Claire • Overview of the Nestle Plants by Eau Claire Plant Manager Rakesh Sreenivasam Company and the Eau When someone mentions Nestle Company, the first thought that comes to Claire Plants mind is chocolates, but chocolates are only one small aspect of this global company. According to Rakesh Sreenivasam, Nestle USA Eau Claire Plant Manager, Nestle is the world’s largest food company. It is essentially a Visiting Rotarians: company of acquisitions that now has • C.J. Kulkarni – Rotary Club 488 factories around the world and of Pune Westend, Pune, India employs approximately around 280,000 people. Its product lines include everything from baby foods to healthcare Guests: and sports nutrition, from cereals to • Raj Aroskar – guest of weight management products, from C.J. Kulkarni beverages to frozen foods and, oh yes, • Mark Franson – guest of chocolate and confectionery. Jack Bartingale Recognizable brand names include • Terry Roe – guest of Gerber, Stoufer’s, Carnation, Nestea, Kyle Kriegl Häagen-Dazs, Purina, Jenny Craig and, oh yes, Butterfinger, Crunch and Kit Kat. In 1867, a Swiss pharmacist by the name Leaves of Absence of Henri Nestlé developed an alternative • Deb Severson source of infant nutrition for mothers (1/1/2011 – 8/31/2011) who were unable to breast feed… the Rakesh Sreenivasam is the • Kerri Stoner first baby formula. Nestlé soon Nestle USA Eau Claire Plant (5/31/2011 – 8/31/2011) recognized the value of branding and Manager. He has been with founded the company that bears his Nestle for 18 years, and he is • Steve Driever th (6/21/2011 – 9/30/2011) name. Nestle corporate headquarters now living in his 9 house. He is have remained in Vevey, Switzerland, a mechanical engineer who spent • Dennis Vanden Bloomen near Geneva, for all of its 145 year much of his Nestle career building (9/1/2011 – 12/31/2011) history. factories prior to becoming the Eau Claire Plant Manger Eau Claire is home for two of Nestle’s The 4-Way Test 120 United States based factories… the Eau Claire Factory on Nestle Avenue Of the things, we think, and the Gateway Factory on Preston Road, both on the west side and both say or do: managed by Sreenivasam. The factories, which include a 134 foot tall mixing and drying tower, make liquids and powders for two different lines of 1. Is it the ‘Truth’? business… the infant formula business and the health care business. 2. Is it ‘Fair’ to all concerned? 3. Will it build ‘Goodwill’ and Nestle Eau Claire employs 477 people, including the 44 added in 2011, and ‘Better Friendships’? they are all literate… a statement that he would have been unable to make in any of the factories he has worked. According to Sreenivasam, Eau Claire 4. Will it be ‘Beneficial’ to all? is a wonderful community for their factories. When he is recruiting, he “wants to hire brain power… smart folks that can handle all of the technology present in today’s sophisticated factories.”

When asked what advice he would give to young people, Sreenivasam said

- 1 - 8/29/2011 Our Calendar he would strongly encourage a heavy dose of math and science. Nestle has an insatiable need for chemical engineers and mechanical engineers, and a • September 5 – no meeting – good math and science background will enable young people to succeed in Labor Day these disciplines. • September 12 – Reclassification Talks • September 19 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin, by Craig Monson, Executive Director

Officers/Board of Directors for the 2011-12 Rotary Year President – Sara Antonson President-Elect – Mary Knight Vice President – Pat Thoney Secretary – Jenn Kane Exec Sec / Treas – Jerry Reinecke Past President – Jon Niebergall Avenues of Service: Club – Angela Hite Community – Bob Schmidt International – Mark Morse Vocational – Bill Klish

Contact Us Rotary Club of Eau Claire P.O. Box 671 Eau Claire, WI 54702-0671 www.eauclairerotary.org Sara Antonson, President 715-855-0081 [email protected] Jerry Reinecke, Exec Sec & Treas 715-838-7640 [email protected] Rotary District 6250 www.rotary6250.org

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