Over fall break, Tamyus Malone woke up early on a day he could have otherwise slept late. The Howard School senior joined 15 other classmates for a rare, behind-the-scenes tour of a Chattanooga company known around the world.
“This is their day,” said Marseata Lockhart, Planet Care Lead for Opella. “We are here to serve them.”
“It was cool,” Tamyus said later that day. “Eye-opening. It does nothing but encourage me in my life.”
Opella, formerly Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, manufactures products found in homes across the world: IcyHot, Allegra, Act Mouthwash. (Every time someone uses Act, they’re swishing with mouthwash that contains purified water from the Tennessee River.)
The corporation is intentionally preparing for the next generation of workforce leaders by inviting Tamyus and his classmates onto Opella’s campus and factory. Opella, which earned a coveted B Corp status earlier this year, is working to strengthen the future of North American manufacturing, which it believes runs through Hamilton County schools.
So, how did Opella invite Tamyus and his classmates?
The Lookout Mountain Conservancy.
Since 1991, the Conservancy has merged two remarkable visions into one profound mission: community-centered conservation with environmental education and preservation.
The Conservancy works to protect and preserve Lookout Mountain’s “natural beauty, wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, and places of historical significance.”
The Conservancy also works to uplift, encourage, mentor and train students from The Howard School. For more than three decades, the Conservancy has offered environmental-based jobs that allow students to earn consistent income while developing profitable future-forward skills, soft leadership talents, professional connections and big-hearted community.
“I grew so much,” Tamyus said of his first years working with the Conservancy. “I just loved it. Being outside. I never thought I’d like pushing boulders and learning how to garden, but I love it. I’m learning something new every day.”
In the past, Opella leaders have volunteered with Conservancy students, working on trails just outside the Opella headquarters in St. Elmo.
Over fall break, they returned the favor.
“We wanted to open the doors to our home,” said Kevin Hazel, Opella’s Head of North America Manufacturing and Supply. “This is about relationships.”
Throughout the day, Conservancy students were given access to behind-closed-doors operations. Opella leaders toured the corporation’s factory, offering an updated look at 21st-century manufacturing.
“My mind is blown,” said Robyn Carlton, the Conservancy’s Chief Executive Officer. “I know theirs are, too.”
They met with engineers, manufacturing experts, supply chain procurers, site supervisors, chemists, accountants, IT and marketing experts, managers, and lab and plant leaders.
During lunch, Opella employees offered professional advice, lessons and stories from their own careers.
At a time when the Tennessee Manufacturer’s Association estimates that 98% of the state’s 5,000 manufacturing firms employ fewer than 500 people, Opella’s partnership with the Conservancy and The Howard School is beneficial for all involved.
“At The Howard School, we are deeply committed to ensuring that our students are prepared not only for graduation but for lifelong success,” said principal Dr. LeAndrea Ware. “The partnership between Opella and Lookout Mountain Conservancy creates invaluable opportunities for our students to explore career paths and learn from real-world experiences. We’re opening doors for our students, many of whom may have never considered careers in the manufacturing industry, and preparing them for careers that offer real growth, stability, and the chance to make an impact.”
At the end of their day, students met with leaders from Opella’s Human Resources to discuss potential career opportunities.
“We’d love to have these students part of Opella and our future,” said Marseata.
Nearby, Robyn agreed.
“Kids come back with wide eyes. You can see more possibilities for them in this world,” she said. “This is more than I ever expected to have happen.”
For more information on Lookout Mountain Conservancy, visit www.lookoutmountainconservancy.org
For more information on Opella, visit opella.com
