Hormel Foods and Tom Burke have a long history together. He worked at Burke Corporation — a pizza topping and precooked meats manufacturing company his parents formed in 1974 — for 43 years before retiring recently. Hormel Foods bought Burke Corporation in 2007, and a true partnership was born. Tom kept his position as vice president purchasing and says the business only grew with help from the Hormel Foods team.
“We worked together on continually improving the products’ quality, and shared the same cultural beliefs where we empowered and recognized team members for their hard work,” Tom says. Of course, his coworkers are not the only team on Tom’s mind. His family is his top priority — his twin daughters Vanessa and Marissa in particular. Not long ago, Vanessa and Marissa learned one way Hormel Foods supports the families of team members: the Inspired Pathways program.
Guided Success
When Tom and his wife Teri first heard about Inspired Pathways, which would provide two years of community college tuition for their daughters, they were all in. “We immediately went online to check it out,” he says. “All our questions were fully answered, and we were happy to learn our daughters were eligible to apply.” His daughters echoed the sentiment; they found the guidelines easy to understand and the application process simple to complete. Plus, Nate Lockett, director of Inspired Pathways, was always there to lend a helping hand. Tom says he actually made the application process enjoyable.
Vanessa feels lucky for the lasting benefits of receiving the Inspired Pathways tuition grant. “Inspired Pathways allowed me to focus on my grades and not have to think about the financial stress of student loans.” Marissa agrees: “I didn’t have to worry about overwhelming debt, because my tuition was fully paid for by Inspired Pathways.”
Tom can’t recommend Inspired Pathways enough.
This program has allowed countless of our team’s youth to attain an education beyond high school free of charge. I want to thank Hormel Foods for such a wonderful program.
Tom Burke, vice president of purchasing at Burke Corp.
Beyond Academics
Vanessa and Marissa aren’t just biological twins; their college and career paths match too. In fact, they even aligned on how they first fell in love with radiology. “I’ve had a few injuries throughout my life that required x-rays,” Vanessa says, “and I want to help people the way I was helped.”
As for Marissa, when she was about 7 years old, she attempted her first ever backflip on a balance beam in gymnastics practice and had a bad fall. “I landed right on my rib and needed some X-rays,” she recalls. This early experience gave way to curiosity; what did radiology really entail, and could she one day find her place in that field? “I have a love for medicine,” she says, “and this experience inspired me to learn more about how to make people feel at ease in these situations.”
In December 2024, they both graduated from the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Ankeny, Iowa, campus with associate’s degrees in liberal arts, and while college is always challenging, they say they enjoyed it.
“My educational experience has been nothing but the best for me,” Vanessa says. “I got the help I needed and learned what will help me with my career.” Echoing that sentiment, Marissa notes, “Inspired Pathways gave me the funds and direction I needed to go to college, eventually opening the door to a rewarding career path that I love.”
Now, they’re both moving one step closer to that career by attending UnityPoint’s radiology technology program. They were able to complete all prerequisites with the help of Inspired Pathways.
A Family Legacy
The Burke Corporation has been in the toppings business for over 50 years, and in the pizza business for eight years before that. Both before and after Hormel Foods acquired them, they have been praised not just for their consistency, but also for their commitment to giving back.
For more than 50 years, the Burke Corporation has fought food insecurity and supported humanitarian projects in and around Ames and Nevada, Iowa. The company’s efforts include financial contributions to local food pantries and shelters, including Nevada Community Cupboard and Youth and Shelter Services, helping to provide essential resources to those in need.
The company also donated $250,000 in 2022 to help build the Nevada Fieldhouse — a state-of-the-art indoor recreational facility — and helped fund an expansion of the Story County Medical facility and a new firetruck for the Nevada fire department. It’s contributions like these that won the Burke Corporation the Nevada Foundation’s 2024 Spirit of Nevada Organization Philanthropist Award, which honors organizations that demonstrate overall dedication and commitment to community. According to the Nevada Foundation, the Burke Corporation has donated over $550,000 to local projects ($164,000 in 2024 alone).
Vanessa and Marissa embody that Burke family promise, too. Via their nursing school path, they have a passionate commitment to serving their community and meeting high standards. Marissa says that in addition to her desire to help patients, keeping her eyes on the prize is what keeps her going. “I try to stay goal-oriented and see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than impossible obstacles,” she says. In another “twin moment,” Vanessa says balance is key. “I keep my head above water by always being organized.”
Today, Marissa and Vanessa show no signs of stopping. “I’ve learned so much,” Marissa says, “and I’m planning to further my education.” Tom affirms that Inspired Pathways allowed this Burke legacy of commitment to excellence to grow. “I highly recommend that anyone who has the opportunity to apply for this tuition grant do so.”
Tom and Teri want to thank Hormel Foods for supporting our youth’s further education.
