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August 20, 2007
 

Jessica Wilson: Iraq Veteran, Mother of Two,

Human Resources Manager for Fortune 200 Company

By

Ralf Walters

TAR HEEL, N.C. – Belying her demure appearance, soft-spoken Jessica Wilson was a self-described “tomboy” in her youth, working with her hands and climbing trees. Today, she continues to climb to great heights, but now it’s a corporate ladder.

As the Human Resources Manager at Smithfield Packing Co., the largest pork processing plant in the world and one of the largest employers in the state, Jessica has maximized every opportunity afforded her while working at the mammoth-size company. It’s not surprising then, that when Smithfield created a no-strings attached $6,000 college tuition reimbursement benefit for it employees, she didn’t hesitate to pursue two masters degrees— a Masters in Human Relations from Liberty University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

But then, Jessica says she has always had a love for learning and new challenges. She earned her degree in Organizational Management from St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Va., a historically black college founded in 1888. When she became a sophomore, she re-joined the ROTC for adventure, a commitment she began in high school. Upon graduation, she joined the Virginia National Guard working full-time in the area of human resources as a Military Occupation Specialist. After fulfilling her obligations, she returned to civilian life to raise her two daughters.

In 1995, she left Virginia to move back to Elizabethtown to live closer to her parents. She had grown up there and graduated from East Bladen High School. Looking for work, she was told that a “big company” which offered lots of room for personal growth had been built in nearby Tar Heel. She went for an interview after an old college roommate who worked in the HR department said they were looking for a temporary benefits clerk to help with the automation of the employee benefits system. The work was expected to last through the holidays, after which she could apply for a full-time position.  In the meantime, after a 13-year “break” from the military, she decided to join the North Carolina National Guard as a “weekend warrior”. When the first of the year arrived, Smithfield offered her a full-time benefits clerk position.

Still, at age 46, Wilson’s success didn’t happen overnight in a meat processing industry traditionally dominated by men. After proving herself as a benefits clerk, she was offered the position of Benefits Manager. Moving up the ladder, she was then promoted to Human Resources Representative. Not content to stay in one place too long, she moved up to Employment Manager, and then Employment Relations Manager.

Her big break came in 2000 when she was offered the position of Human Resources Manager at a new processing plant that Smithfield purchased from a competitor in Benson, N.C. She helped with the transition of benefits for 250 employees for two years while still maintaining her duties at the Tar Heel plant. In 2003, she was given full-time responsibilities for the plant and became its permanent Employment Manager.

But her title as HR Manager was cut short when she was called in September to active duty by the Army National Guard. Carrying the rank of “Sgt. 1^st Class,” her unit was mobilized for 18 months, 11 of which were served “in theater” in the dangerous war zone of Baquoba, Iraq, located about an hour northeast of Baghdad. Her education and civilian training as a human resources manager, coupled with her prior military training as a personnel specialist, made her well-qualified for the job of Assistant Inspector General. Before going to Iraq, she attended a three-week intensive Inspector General School to learn about rules and regulations.

When she arrived in Iraq, her job was to make sure that troops could focus on fighting the war instead of worrying about their personal issues, frequently involving their family’s well-being back home.

“If you have an unhappy soldier, that’s not a good thing. Especially in theater,” she said.

She should know. With two teen-age daughters at home in the states, she had plenty to worry about herself. But she said her mind rested easier knowing that people at Smithfield were looking out for her family.

“Because of my transfer to my new job in Benson, I’d been away from the Tar Heel plant for three years. Yet, people still thought about me and even called my teen-age daughters to see if they needed anything, and if they were OK. They even dropped off a basket of Smithfield food for the holidays,” she said.

“It really and truly hurts me when people criticize Smithfield. I was technically a Benson employee and a military employee stationed in Iraq. They didn’t have to do that for my family. Larry and Ken (Tar Heel plant officials) are good people. They’re compassionate and care about their employees,” she said.

Stationed in Baquoba, there was plenty to worry about. She wasn’t directly involved in combat because her duties required her to be on base, but the surrounding area was dangerous. When coming back to the base from a four-day pass her convoy was fired upon.

“Our brigade had 4,500 soldiers. When it was time to come home, we had lost six. That’s not a large number, but when you look out for everyone, it hits pretty close to home,” she said.

When she came back home on Dec. 28, 2004 she remained on active duty until May, but was allowed to return to work at Smithfield in April.

Smithfield is accustomed to accommodating those who serve in the military. Jessica says there are quite a few reservists and guard working there and that the company policy complements their military obligations.

“Smithfield is very flexible. If you’re gone two weeks or more, the company will pay the difference in salary between what the military pays and what you earn,” Jessica said. “They don’t have to under the law. But they do. The law only says they’re entitled to getting their job back when they return.”

Even though Jessica’s back on the job, she still serves one weekend per month in the reserves. She says she could be called to Iraq again if their unit is needed.

When she’s not working or serving her country, she says she enjoys working with her hands making crafts.

“My sister and I get together and make jewelry and restore furniture. We’re thinking about building patio furniture too,” she says.

She also enjoys reading mysteries, suspense and romance novels.

But her favorite book for the moment is the non-fiction: “Condi: The Story of Condaleezza Rice.” She says she admires Rice and that she is a role model for her.   

Above her desk hangs a picture of her shaking hands with President Clinton when she represented Smithfield at a state NAACP conference in South Carolina. When asked how she juggles so many responsibilities, she lets out a gentle laugh.

“Getting shot at in Iraq, that’s tough. Everything else is easy.”

Copyright © Patterson Partners, Inc. 2007. All rights reserved.