GROWMARK and FS member companies work hard to recruit and retain top talent, and there are a few reasons they’ve had success.

“The two things that we’ve done to really try to recruit top talent are to make sure that there is great, positive brand awareness around our employment brand, and the increased use of technology to make sure our message has gotten to the right people,” said Tom Swearingen, director of talent management.

Swearingen said the top resource within the GROWMARK system is people. He credits using more social media to recruit talent, as well as a strong internship program with approximately 50 interns available each year. Swearingen said typically 50 percent of students who complete an internship with the company will eventually be hired as a full-time employee somewhere within the GROWMARK or FS system.

Swearingen said retaining talent is just as important.

“We really work hard to preserve the integrity of our culture here,” he said, citing an open, active and fully funded benefits program as well as the family feel of the company as to reasons why people stay.

It’s not uncommon for GROWMARK employees to celebrate 25 years or more with the company upon retirement.

Listen to more with Tom Swearingen here:Interview with Tom Swearingen, GROWMARK