2023 Grow Good Employee of the Year: Twyla Roberts

When you think of Riceland, your mind probably goes to the “Rice and Duck capital of the world.” You probably wouldn’t think about the “behind the scenes” positions that keep our cooperative running smoothly for our members and employees.

A fixture of Riceland’s I.T. Department for 43 years is our Grow Good Employee of the Year, Twyla Roberts.

Twyla started in the billing department and ended up in the I.T. department, which she calls our “employee service department.” Today, she serves as Data Communications Specialist. She and her team are responsible for ensuring employees have access to what they need and the proper equipment.

“It’s customer service. We’re just here to try and help employees figure things out,” she says, “I just come in and try to do the best I can.”

Each year, employees can nominate others for Riceland’s Grow Good Award. Of Riceland’s 1,500 employees, only two are honored with this prestigious award – one manager and one team member.

The Grow Good Award is the standard of excellence we hold for our team members. They have an outstanding work ethic, always take time to help others, maintain a positive attitude, represent Riceland well inside and outside the workplace, and add good to everything they do.

Twyla was announced as Riceland’s 2023 Grow Good Award Employee of the Year at the Annual Meeting in November. Nominated by one of her peers, she represented Stuttgart Headquarters as its finalist for the award.

One of her peers said of Twyla, “She is one of the nicest people in our organization. She is always willing to help, no matter the time or situation. Earlier this year, while battling some health problems, Twyla did not let on that she was out of the office. It didn’t matter what was going on; she still wanted to help however she could.”

Of the nomination, Twyla said, “I worked from the hospital and while in rehab. I didn’t think anything about it; I just wanted to help out. I guess that’s why I was humbled by this award: I don’t do any more than the rest of my coworkers. I do thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

We are so excited to announce our 2023 Grow Good Employee of the Year, Twyla Roberts, and are so happy to have her on the Riceland team.

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