Exciting changes are coming to AlaTrade as Deborah Brown takes on the role of Plant Manager at the Phenix City facility. With a wealth of experience and an unwavering dedication, Brown transitions from her position as the Night Shift Manager in Albertville to lead the Phenix City plant into a new era of success.
Brown’s journey in the poultry industry began after earning a degree in HR and Communications from Birmingham-Southern College. Her career took off when she joined a poultry plant in Gadsden, where John Pittard, a key figure in her professional development, hired her for the plant’s Supervisor Trainee Program. Under Pittard’s mentorship, Brown learned the ins and outs of the industry, a foundation that has been instrumental throughout her career. Upon graduating from the Supervisor Trainee Program, Deborah became the Hand Portioning Supervisor.
Beyond this first plant, Deborah’s extensive experience spans various roles and locations, from her first Superintendent position in Hope, Arkansas, to managing a plant in Kansas City, Missouri, where she paved the way for a transition from BAADER auto-deboning to hand deboning through a cone line.
Brown’s career is marked by a series of significant opportunities, each contributing to her growth and expertise in the industry, and her path eventually led to AlaTrade in 2019. Brown’s interest was piqued by all of the connections between herself and the company. Deborah remarks that Davis Lee was “the guy that everybody knew in poultry” and she had spent time working with his son early on in her career. Initially skeptical of the position, she was convinced to interview when she discovered that her mentor from the first plant she’d worked at, John Pittard, was the AlaTrade President at the time. Although hesitant to leave a Shift Manager Position she had in Russellville, Alabama, she knew she had to explore this opportunity, even if it was only to see Pittard again and show him how far she had come since they’d worked together in Gadsden, Alabama.
On August 5th, 2019, Brown was hired to be Albertville AlaTrade’s Night Shift Manager. Brown’s time at AlaTrade has been characterized by resilience and a commitment to improvement. Her diverse experience and philosophy of turning challenges into opportunities has positioned her perfectly for the new role in Phenix City.
Since starting at AlaTrade, Brown has viewed the Phenix City plant as a place of potential. She spent two weeks there three years ago and saw beyond its challenges. Brown saw possibilities. Now, as the new Plant Manager, she is determined to bring positive change and drive the plant to new heights. Brown believes that a Plant Manager’s role is not just about obligation but about a genuine desire to make things better. She emphasizes the importance of people in poultry processing, saying, “It’s the people that truly count.”
As the new Phenix City Plant Manager, Deborah is excited about the future and the impact a thriving Phenix City plant will have on the entire company and each employee-owner as an individual. She challenges, “If Phenix City performs at the level I know it’s capable of, think of what that does for AlaTrade as a whole and for each of us employee-owners.”
Deborah Brown is not just a dedicated professional but also a loving mother and grandmother. She has two grown sons and adores her grandson and granddaughter. Her motivation is deeply personal, as she wants her grandchildren to see that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. “I do what I do because I want [my grandchildren] to know that you can do whatever you want to do. I want them to see that in me,” she shares.
As Brown steps into her new role, AlaTrade looks forward to a bright future for the Phenix City plant and the company as a whole. Her leadership, experience, and passion are sure to bring about positive changes and continued growth.
About AlaTrade:
Founded by Davis Lee, AlaTrade is a company built on a culture of putting people and customers first. This foundation has supported the company for over 20 years, leading to the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2020. AlaTrade processes over 400 million pounds of chicken annually and is the largest 100% employee-owned company in Alabama. The company is committed to quality and has various certifications, including BRC and AMS. AlaTrade’s mission is to work together with customers, employee-owners, and the community to achieve mutual success.