The Heartland Skills Competition is rooted in the History of Coca-Cola. In years past, the Rodeos, as they were commonly called, were opportunities for drivers and forklift operators to show off their skills. The best of the best competed in cities across the country. When asked how our Heartland Skills Competition came about, Chris Knee, Heartland’s EHS Manager, said, “As we made plans to develop the Heartland Skills Competition, we ensured we included more front-line positions. This included Order Builders, Service Techs, Merchandisers, Reset, and Fleet. The idea is still to demonstrate our associates’ skills in a fun way. This also allows their friends and family to see what they do daily at work.”
Our first ever Heartland Skills Competition kicked off this past July for all our hometowns. In addition to the competition, each event was created as family-friendly with activities that everyone could enjoy. Over the next few months, each hometown will host a semifinal skills competition for its employees. The winners from each semifinal event will move on to compete in the Heartland Skill Competition Finale on September 24th at our Lenexa Distribution Center.
