In her nearly 10 years with the company, Kelsey Burnham has navigated a career path that reflects a blend of her South Florida roots, professional ambition and dedication to continuous growth.
Today, Kelsey serves as a Senior Process Engineer on the Product Research and Development (R&D) team. Her role involves managing Stage Gate projects, which includes overseeing line trials and supporting plant-level operations for new or updated products. She also contributes to the laboratory by evaluating samples and addressing customer requests for potential products.
Kelsey’s connection to agriculture is as deep as her Florida roots, as her family owned a dairy farm in Okeechobee for decades. For about 10 years, Kelsey showed dairy cattle at various fairs and shows in Okeechobee 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs.
After earning a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida in 2015, Kelsey began her job search with an open mind—but her agricultural background and career aspirations soon aligned when she came across the company. In 2016, Kelsey began her career in the Sugar Rotational Development Program (SRDP) – an entry-level program designed to give hands-on professional experience to recent hires.
The program took her to various company facilities, offering invaluable experience at different production points. After two years in the SRDP, Kelsey earned a promotion to Assistant Chief Chemist at Osceola, a role that deepened her expertise in laboratory operations and prepared her for future challenges.
Kelsey’s upward trajectory continued in 2021 when she transitioned to the Product R&D team as a Process Engineer.
Recently, Kelsey was honored as a Monthly Recognition Winner for her work helping to develop a new product for the company’s portfolio.
“The sugar project was very rewarding,” she said. “It challenged me to expand my expertise and gave me the opportunity to work with many of our teams.”
Looking back, Kelsey credits much of her career success to the supportive network she has built over the years. “I’ve met amazing colleagues who are always willing to help,” she said. “There’s open communication, and that makes a huge difference when you’re learning and growing.”
Key mentors have been pivotal in Kelsey’s development. She highlights individuals like Miguel Pallango, a Continuous Improvement Manager, who has been instrumental in expanding her understanding of sugar processes; Petal Jetoo in Corporate QA, who offered expertise on laboratory operations; and her current manager, Kristina Sheahan, who encourages her career growth.
For those looking to build careers as robust as her own, Kelsey offers simple yet impactful advice. “Establish a network of mentors and connections you can trust,” she said. “Build relationships with colleagues across different departments, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Also, work closely with your manager to identify opportunities to grow. It’s important to think ahead about your next steps and how to prepare for them.”
Nine years into her career, Kelsey remains enthusiastic about what lies ahead. Her technical knowledge, leadership and collaborative spirit continue to make her an asset to our team.