Bacon Banter

United States
A series highlighting the people behind CFG’s success.

From Bakery Floors to Boning Lines

Rolando Martinez's Journey of Growth at CFG

A sense of mutual respect and mindfulness permeates our culture-in fact, it’s the key to our success.
When Rolando Martinez first saw a message from Clemens Food Group on LinkedIn, he never imagined it would lead him from managing a bakery in Boston to building a future in meat operations in Coldwater, Michigan. At the time, Rolando was a plant manager—but at a much smaller scale. The size and scope of CFG were intimidating, yet exciting. What stood out most wasn’t just the operation itself, but the company’s growth mindset and core values, which aligned closely with his own desire to keep learning, developing, and contributing to something bigger.

Taking a leap of faith, Rolando made the decision to step back from a plant manager role to become a supervisor—choosing long-term growth over title. New to meat processing and even newer to seeing hogs cut, he embraced the steep learning curve with humility and determination. Nearly a year later, Rolando reflects with gratitude on the opportunity, the people who have supported him, and the progress he’s helped drive—from improving efficiencies on the belly line to recently stepping into his new role as Superintendent of Operations in Fresh Boning. Just three months in, he’s focused on building a strong team, making smart improvements, and continuing the journey he set out to begin.

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What Stood Out About CFG's Culture?

Before joining CFG, Rolando took time to learn about the company. Its core values and focus on people stood out, helping him feel an early connection and confidence that this was a place where he could grow.
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What Did Clemens Represent to You at That Moment in Your Life?

At a pivotal point in his career, Rolando was looking for more than a job title. Clemens represented growth, stability and the opportunity to learn within a company that was expanding - both in size and in the people it invested in.
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What Does Growth Mean to You, Both Personally and Professionally?

For Rolando, growth isn't just about moving up. It's about learning, adapting and getting better every day. Both personally and professionally, it means challenging himself, developing his skills, and contributing to meaningful progress.
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Why Was Visa Stability an Important Part of Your Journey?

For Rolando, the opportunity at Clemens went beyond career growth. Visa stability represented security, peace of mind, and the ability to build a future, knowing he could focus on learning, leading, and growing without uncertainty.
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What Advice Would you Give Someone at a Career Crossroads?

Having faced his own pivotal decision, Rolando understands the uncertainty that comes with change. His journey offers perspective for anyone weighing risk, growth and the courage it takes to take the next step.
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Rolando Martinez’s story is one of courage, humility, and steady progress. From stepping into an unfamiliar industry to leading teams and driving improvement, his journey reflects what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. Nearly a year into his time at Clemens Food Group, Rolando remains grateful—not just for the career growth, but for the people, support, and stability that allow him to keep building toward the future.

His path is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Growth, for Rolando, is not a destination—it’s a mindset.

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A sense of mutual respect and mindfulness permeates our culture-in fact, it’s the key to our success.