I didn't really have much interest in becoming a lead or supervisor when I first started working as an order selector at Dot a little more than six years ago. But, after the birth of my daughter, I started looking at ways I could better myself for her.

I started concentrating on being a better employee and doing what was right, instead of just getting me out the door with a paycheck. After two years as an order selector, I became a warehouse lead and started working with the warehouse manager to develop a personal development plan to get me ready for the next steps in my career. My PDP helped me focus in on what I wanted to achieve, and I became a supervisor three years later.

There are a lot of warehouses in this area of Maryland, and I've pretty much worked at all of them. When I came to Dot I realized, if I was going to make a career in warehousing, this was the place I was going to do it. It's hard to explain, but you're treated more like a person than a number to get the job done.

Now, I've started taking college classes and am looking to continue my Dot career even further.

When I first found out about Dot, they didn't really have an opening for me. I had a long transportation background as a safety supervisor and transportation manager for another trucking company, but Dot only had openings for entry-level positions.

I was looking to get my foot in the door so I took a position as a transportation clerk. Coming in and learning the business as a clerk when they first opened their Idaho Distribution Center helped me pick up the business quickly. That helped me grow through positions as an assistant dispatcher, transportation supervisor, assistant transportation manager, and ultimately director of transportation.

I wouldn't trade that experience of coming through the ranks for anything. I was able to learn and experience things I wouldn't have if I'd started as a supervisor. The greatest part of all is that Dot is a company that recognizes talent and hard work. If you possess those things, the company will put you in the best position to succeed.

While this might sound crazy to some, I'm currently in my fourth job since joining Dot less than three years ago. But that's not a bad thing with Dot. The company finds your strongest skills and puts you in the position to succeed.

Even without a strong transportation background, Dot Transportation helped me get my start and learn the industry as a management trainee. Just over a year later I joined Dot Foods as an operations transfer manager, then warehouse training manager and now cooler warehouse manager.

With each of these different positions came a new set of challenges, and an opportunity to succeed. Dot appreciates and rewards hard work better than any company I've ever worked for. I work hard, but I've worked hard before with other companies, too. I feel like Dot truly recognizes it.

That's a huge difference that sets Dot apart from the others.

There were only eight people working in the Georgia warehouse when we launched it in 1998. I remember joking with my general manager, when he said they were hiring more people, by saying, 'Good, so I'll have seniority.' He looked at me like I was crazy back then, but it's amazing how we've grown.

I'm a pretty ambitious type of person and I accept challenges. With that, Dot has given me the opportunities to succeed. I really like the company because they reward hard work no matter what, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or anything else. I've been able to move from an entry-level, warehouse order selector position to become the warehouse manager at our new DC in Dyersburg, which is a great feeling.

Culture and family atmosphere are terms you hear thrown around a lot, but I think the Tracy family truly does that. They work hard toward those things, which come with the same dynamics you find in everyday families. You have your disagreements and compromises, but we always move forward.

Working for a company like that, and one that's continually growing, provides a great sense of comfort and pride.

My beginning at Dot was a unique one, simply because I joined the company involuntarily. I was part of a company acquired by Dot Foods in the early 2000's. Many times you'll consider something like that to be bad, but it was one of the best things that happened for my career.

Prior to the Dot acquisition, I worked in order entry, customer service and purchasing. While all of that different experience certainly prepared me for my current position, I wasn't able to reach my goal of working in human resources. I'd always had the degree and interest in HR, and Dot helped make my dream of working in that area a reality.

Along with my new career opportunity came a new culture at our distribution center. It was more laid back, people were empowered to make decisions, and everyone worked as a team. I really had to get used to thinking on my own and being confident in those decisions.

Dot has made our DC the place it is today with great people and great opportunities.

It's great to know that you work for a company that does a great job of evaluating and recognizing talents. Dot gives you the upward mobility to grow in your career the way you want.

I worked a number of different jobs before joining Dot as a Warehouse Order Selector in 2000. I'd never done any kind of warehouse work before, but I learned quickly as I was promoted to Warehouse Lead after just a year. Three years later I became a Shift Supervisor, where I worked for eight years prior to becoming the Assistant Warehouse Manager. Being able to use Dot's Personal Development Plans (PDP) to find out what my weaknesses are and things I need to work on was a key in being able to grow into more responsibility.

My schedule isn't a typical Monday-Friday, 8-5 job. If something comes up I've been able to come in early or stay late to make sure everything is taken care of. One of the best parts of my job is the flexibility I have. If my kid has a ballgame, or if I need to drop kids off at school, Dot has been very helpful.

Dot was my second job out of college after working two years at a database marketing company in the automotive industry. I've been with Dot since April of 2005 and the culture here is something completely different than my previous experience. The automotive industry was a very cutthroat place and you have to deal with a lot of egos. You don't seem to have that at Dot. We work as a team, so it's much more of a team atmosphere.

I am very fortunate of the opportunity that Dot afforded me. Despite not having any experience in foodservice, they saw something in me that told them I could succeed in the industry. I held positions as a retail and foodservice District Sales Manager before being promoted to a Business Development Manager and then to my current position as a National Accounts Manager. It's very motivating knowing that, if you're successful in your current position, it won't go unrecognized. That gives you drive.

Along with everything else, it's comforting to know you're in a stable environment with a stable company, especially with the economic times of today.

I started working at Dot back in 1995, and shortly thereafter my brother passed away. At the time, my brother and I farmed over 800 acres of land, and suddenly it was my entire responsibility to take care of the farm. I can remember going to my supervisor, Frank Moore, and him telling me "Go, and when it rains come back to work." That meant a lot to me. Not many companies will do something like that for you.

Dot's willingness to help me in that situation just shows one of the most important things they offer in a company, job security. As long as you work hard, you never have to worry about losing your job. I've been with Dot now for over 17 years and the company has done nothing but grow. I've seen the dry warehouse grow from two buildings to five and the frozen warehouse from 7 doors to around 80 doors. That's big growth that has been important to not only Mt. Sterling, but to all of the small surrounding communities. Dot helps to keep these communities going.

I started my career at Dot Foods in 2007, following a long run in the big-box retail business. After spending 13 years in a work situation where I felt more like a number than a person, I decided it was time for a change. After a bit of research, I knew that Dot was the place that I wanted to work. From videos and testimonials on the Dot website, I was able to see that Dot is a generous company that treated their employees like family. From experience I can tell you that's exactly what you get at Dot.

I had always heard great things about the company, but that was just scratching the surface. Being able to observe their management, work environment and work in the community first hand has assured me that I made the right decision.

In the small community I live in, Dot has played an integral part in so many community programs for charity, sports and youth development. The company does the same for each of the distribution centers around the country. It's great to know that your company not only cares about you, but the community you live in as well.

I was born and raised in Adams County, and went to school to be a Registered Nurse before coming to Dot. I'm very aware of headcount in my position. When I started 16 years ago, there were 830 employees and two distribution centers. Today, there are more than 3,400 employees and eight distribution centers.

Even with that kind of growth Dot has worked very hard to keep a small-company feel. Senior management leads by example, and has high expectations for both themselves and us. I tell people it's the hardest job you'll ever work, but the most rewarding job you'll ever have.

When I decided to go back and get my Master's in Business Administration, they made it very easy to get started. I was able to take out a loan for tuition, and Dot reimbursed a portion of it based on my grades.

The Tracy family means so much to this area. They have a business plan for the community just like their own business, and their efforts are equally sincere. I continue to be amazed by their leadership.

My career at Dot Foods started in 2007 when they opened up a distribution center in my hometown. I was hired on as an order selector in the warehouse,handling incoming freight and getting pallets ready to go out. Eight months later, I was promoted to warehouse trainer, helping new employees get familiar with the warehouse and equipment. To come in with no experience and work my way up this quickly is a proud accomplishment.

If you ask around you'll find that my story isn't the exception, it's the rule. Dot works hard to make everybody feel wanted. They want you to succeed. At most companies, there's a disconnect between the top guys and those of us on the floor. At Dot, it's not uncommon to see our CEO John Tracy on the floor, calling to guys by name, asking them about their families. It makes you so proud to work for somebody who cares that much.

More than a better employee, Dot works to make you a better person. I have two kids, and I'm constantly applying things I learn at work to my everyday life.