Portobello America is celebrating the graduation of its management team from Lead Up, a custom-built six-month leadership development program. The milestone reflects the company’s continued investment in its people, creating opportunities for professional growth while developing the leaders who will help shape its future.
As part of Portobello America’s “Our People” ESG pillar, the initiative reflects a long-term approach to professional development, encouraging continuous learning, collaboration, and opportunities for growth within the organization. By investing in this comprehensive program—with more leadership initiatives anticipated in the future—the company is proving that people development is fundamentally woven into its DNA. The initiative underscores Portobello America’s employer brand promise: providing a workplace where team members have clear, supported opportunities to build long-term careers.
“At Portobello America, we believe that building a strong company starts with investing in the people behind it,” said Renato Ramos, Director of Transformation and Marketing for Portobello America. “When we create opportunities for our teams to learn, grow, and take on new challenges, we also build the foundation for our future. Lead Up is an important part of that commitment, and we’re grateful to Adam T. Poe for sharing his experience and helping us develop our leaders.”
Adam T. Poe, who facilitated the program, is Vice President of the Highlands Economic Partnership. Poe’s involvement highlights Portobello America’s strong community connection and collaborative approach to regional economic development and retaining local talent within the Upper Cumberland region.
“This was more than an opportunity to learn new skills. It was an investment in becoming stronger leaders, better decision-makers, and effective role models for the teams we are building to lead this company into the future,” said James Sparkman, Baxter Warehouse Manager.
Anthony Martinez, Florida Warehouse Manager, echoed the value of this shared experience. “For me, the Lead Up program provided a safe environment where the management team could open up about our individual challenges. It helped us realize that despite managing different departments, we share many of the same perspectives. Although I was only able to attend three sessions, I clearly saw the value of the leadership program and how much closer we have grown as a team.”
This internal dedication to professional growth seamlessly connects to Portobello America’s external workforce initiatives. The company recently partnered with TCAT Upper Cumberland to launch a comprehensive 600-hour Tile Manufacturing Operator program, designed to train the next generation of frontline manufacturing workers. Together, the TCAT partnership and the Lead Up program demonstrate a holistic commitment to talent development that extends across every level of the organization.
About Portobello America
Portobello America is a design-driven surface brand and subsidiary of the Brazil-based Portobello Group. Informed by global research and developed through a North American lens, the brand translates trend insights into comprehensive porcelain systems shaped for contemporary architecture and real project needs. Manufactured in the USA at a Green Squared-certified facility in Baxter, Tenn., Portobello America’s portfolio pairs design leadership with operational confidence: ready-to-ship inventory, reliable supply, accelerated delivery, and production aligned with U.S. construction standards. Supported by a distribution hub in Pompano, Fla., and a living design lab in the Miami Design District that keeps the brand closely connected to the specification community, Portobello America provides complete solutions for indoor, outdoor, wet, and dry applications to expand architectural freedom.
