Theresa Spandl loves variety. In fact, she is quick to say that the best part of her job is that every day is different from the last. That was certainly true recently when she was tapped for the inaugural Pride of the Jersey award at the Long Prairie, Minn., location of Dan’s Prize.
“I started to get nervous when I realized I was the one,” she says. “I started to cry.”
Upon announcing the honor, President Jeff Tobak cited Theresa’s many contributions to the company in her previous jobs and current role in quality control. When new employees come to the Dan’s Prize Long Prairie location, Theresa is one of the first people they see. She reviews manufacturing processes with all new hires.
“I think a lot of it [receiving the jersey] is that most people remember me because I’m one of the first ones they see when they start,” she says.
For Jeff, it’s much more than that. “She’s a go-to person at our location. Theresa really does a great job of keeping the labels and preprinted bags organized at each of the company’s two facilities. She also prints labels that are done in house. If Browerville needs a new label, she will create it and send it over,” he says.
Theresa has been part of the Dan’s Prize team since 1989. That was the year she began working second shift on the brisket production line. Her son, Jake, was a toddler then. When Theresa came in from work, he would smell the brisket on her, she remembers.
That job soon led to others, one of the many reasons Theresa feels fortunate.
“I’ve been very lucky. I’ve done lots of things here,” she says.