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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: DePaul Industries Named 2009 Food Processor of the Year PORTLAND, Ore. – DePaul Industries has been named the 2009 Food Processor of the Year by the Northwest Food Processors Education Research Institute. The award was presented Jan. 19 during the 96th Annual NW Food Manufacturing & Packaging Expo and Conference at the Oregon Convention Center. Portland-based DePaul Industries is the Northwest’s outsourcing specialist of temporary and workforce staffing, food and consumer goods contract packaging, and security services. “The Northwest Food Processors Education and Research Institute is pleased to honor DePaul Industries for their innovation and inspirational leadership in developing tools for workers to succeed in the Northwest food processing industry,” said Dave Zepponi, president of Northwest Food Processors Association. “We anticipate that DePaul is establishing a model of improved productivity, quality safety and retention by creating the workforce of tomorrow.” The award recognizes a new and innovative initiative developed by DePaul Industries to instill levels of competency in workers and to give them a broad set of skills. Called the Heart of the Workforce or “HOW,” the program was created to help solve food processors’ staffing shortages for skilled and semi-skilled workers, a major issue facing the industry in the next five to 10 years. “The HOW program evolved from listening to the needs of our customers; we are focused on solving these needs and delivering workers trained in broad basics to supervisory responsibilities,” said Dave Shaffer, CEO of DePaul Industries. “This award is an honor and a tribute to the program and to our ability to provide solutions.” After completing the HOW program, graduates will have earned a number of certifications, including the Oregon Department of Education’s Workforce Readiness program, the Oregon Education Association’s Workplace Safety program and the State of Oregon food handler license. In addition, graduates will be certified in AIB good manufacturing and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point processes. Shaffer says the HOW program ensures that any member of the DePaul workforce will be an ideal, trained and job ready worker. “The program capitalizes on our organization’s integrated strength through both our food packaging operation and our significant temporary and seasonal staffing business and has created a work-based learning program geared toward entry level, semi-skilled and skilled workers for the food processing and related industries,” Shaffer noted. “HOW will help produce the best trained and most inspired workers who are better prepared and better trained that ultimately deliver more results for our customers,” Shaffer said “With HOW, we can say ‘our place, or yours’ and fulfill any commitment with a trained, ready, flexible workforce. As part of this program, we offer customers the ability to outsource what makes the most sense for them, allowing them to focus on their core business. So whether the customer is looking for outsourced temporary or seasonal workers, or for seamless, supply chain packaging solutions within their facility or at our food grade plant, our customers can be assured that the work will be done by trained, competent workers, across the board,” Shaffer added. The Heart of the Workforce benefits customers by providing the tools for their workers to succeed. For more than 35 years, DePaul has offered knowledge and experience to those they serve. About DePaul Industries More information about DePaul Industries is available by contacting Dave Shaffer at 503-331-3816 or by visiting www.depaulindustries.com. Copyright © 2007 DePaul Industries. All rights reserved.
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