Koen Hennon, Rogers Plant Engineer
Q: How long have you worked at Rogers?
A: Since September 1995 – 24 years!
Q: What is your current position at Rogers and have you had any other positions while there?
A: My Title is Plant Engineer. HACCP Coordinator (Food Safety).
I also manage the following Areas at RPC: Maintenance Department, Sanitation Employees, IT Department, Trucks.
I interface with the Regulatory Agencies: USDA, FDA, Los Angeles County Health, State of California Health, Sanitation Districts Of Los Angeles County, Air Resources Board, State of California Storm Water Board, City Of Vernon, City Of Huntington Park, City Of Vernon Fire Department, City Of Vernon HAZMAT, City Of Vernon Health Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County HAZMAT.
Q: How do you successfully juggle wearing so many hats at Rogers?
A: I just try to Prioritize the issues by: What can stop Production, Will the issue stop day to day operations outside of production, Can someone get hurt at Rogers, Can Products produced at Rogers hurt the public, What can cause issues down the road for the Business, Long Term Project against short term Projects. Usually after running through these steps a natural order happens.
Q: How would you define your role at rogers and what do you feel is the most important part of your job?
A: My Day to Day Goal is to keep Rogers running…. Whatever it takes to fill orders with Wholesome products.
Q: Can you give some specific examples of how you meet your goal of keeping Rogers running and making sure orders are filled with wholesome products.
A: I’m constantly prioritizing my day to day responsibilities as mentioned above and walking through the questions mentioned above… What can stop Production, Will the issue stop day to day operations outside of production, Can someone get hurt at Rogers, Can Products produced at Rogers hurt the public, What can cause issues down the road for the Business, Long Term Project against short term Projects.
Q: How does your job impact our customers (directly or indirectly) and what do you do to make sure you’re always making a positive impact?
A: That every piece of chicken that was processed by Rogers is wholesome and safe. Also, to educate the Rogers staff on Food Safety so that they have a better understanding of why Rogers must take the steps we do to insure a safe product to all our customers.
Q: Describe one of your favorite memories or experiences while working at Rogers.
A: On 5-9-2011 @ 5:05am When Windsor Foods (Next door to Plant1) burned down. While that might seem odd as a “Favorite” memory… But that was when the Upper Staff at Rogers really shined. They got employees safely out of the building, we continued to call customers and get orders, trucks left on time for deliveries and after 5-1/2hrs of being out of the building. I walked back into the facility with the USDA Inspector to check / throw away product that had set out too long and we checked & checked product and found all to still be Wholesome and good and we were back in business processing product and filling orders… truly was unbelievable… we almost lost the business to fire but yet we filled all the orders by days end!
Q: What do you enjoy spending time doing when not at work?
A: Wood Working.
Q: What kinds of things have you made with your wood working hobby?
A: Mostly making small items for my wife Maria’s crafts that she makes, sometime a larger projects like the Bench in the photo.
Q: Something no one might know or be surprised to know about you?
A: I was named after a camera Store. “Koen’s Camera” My mom saw it the day before I was born.
Q: Best thing in life that’s happened to you?
A: Marrying my wife Maria.
Q: How long have you been married and kids/ages?
A: Married in 2003. Kids – Jeremih 26, Charissa 22, Emma 14.
Q: Describe a little bit about your background.
A: Born in Lafayette Louisiana. Moved to California when I was 5 years old.
Q: Why did your family move from Louisiana to California?
A: My Dad’s Job moved here on my 5th birthday.