BAXTER, TN – For Portobello America, investing in the next generation of talent starts long before a resume. Reinforcing its core Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars, the company recently engaged with the community at the annual 8th Grade Career Fair, held September 15–17th at the Hyder Burks Agricultural Center, Cookeville, Tennessee.
During the three-day event, which featured over 50 interactive booth experiences, the fair welcomed 8th graders from 14 county school systems, along with private-school and homeschool students. Portobello America’s Human Resources team, represented by Jennifer Lester and Andrea Liston, engaged with approximately 4,100 of these middle schoolers from across the state. The interactive booth was intentionally designed to connect students with real manufacturing career paths, spanning from design and engineering to production.
Driven by innovation
“At Portobello America, we believe that true transformation in our industry is driven by innovation and, most importantly, by our people,” said Renato Ramos, Director of Marketing and Transformation at Portobello America. “As an employer brand, we are focused on building a culture that constantly looks to the future. Engaging with these bright young minds at the 8th Grade Career Fair isn’t just about showing them what we do today; it’s about inspiring them to be part of the innovations of tomorrow. They are the future of manufacturing, and we want them to see firsthand that a career with us is a pathway to meaningful, forward-thinking work.”
To make a lasting impression, the Portobello America team provided a hands-on experience that went beyond typical career fair conversations. Alongside browsing design and trend books, exploring finished tile samples, and watching a video tour of the manufacturing plant, students were given the unique opportunity to handle—and even break—“green tile” straight from the company’s glaze department. This small but highly interactive detail sparked engaging conversations about the realities of modern manufacturing and brought the company’s “Our People” pillar to life.
This marks Portobello America’s second consecutive year participating in the 8th Grade Career Fair. The company extends its gratitude to the event organizers, with a special mention to Adam Poe, Vice President of the Highlands Economic Partnership, for creating a collaborative space to make these essential career conversations happen.
Looking ahead, Portobello America plans to continue its participation in this event annually. As part of its broader strategy to nurture future talent, the company also actively engages in smaller-scale career fairs throughout the year at regional educational institutions, including Tennessee Tech, TCAT, and other local venues.
