Genesee: Made for the Trade, Volume 12

Campaign highlights variety and quality of jobs available at the state's oldest brewery

Note: This newsletter is a sponsored partnership between the Genesee Brewery and the Cleveland Prost.

Roderick Toliver was responsible for standing watch on various United States Navy ships when they were docked in ports across the world.

And now he finds himself in a similar position at the Genesee Brewery — just in a much different setting. As a security officer at Genny, Toliver, a Rochester native, keeps an eye on the brewery campus.

Toliver spent most of his Navy career on a supply ship.

Roderick Toliver, who has worked as a security officer at the brewery for nine years, is the latest Genny employee to be featured in the brewery’s Made for the Trade campaign. Toliver is the second person to be highlighted during a special month of profiles to recognize the contributions of military veterans at the brewery.

The campaign shows the wide range of rewarding careers at the brewery. Genny employs more than 600 people and the brewing department, which numbers about 50 people, isn’t even the largest department at the expansive 28-acre St. Paul Street campus.

The digital campaign showcases careers in packaging, operations, maintenance, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, security, and so much more. It aims to show the range of careers available without a college degree, those that can be obtained through union and trade training.

More details about jobs can be found here: https://www.fifcousa.com/careers/.

Here’s a bit more about Roderick:

Q: How long did you serve in the Navy and what were your jobs during your service?

A: I was in the Navy for eight years. I worked in mechanical engineering and aviation. I was starting pumps and boilers and watch standings, things of that nature.

Q: What is watch standing?

A: When we would dock at a different port, someone had to watch the boat. We used to watch the engine and everything.

Q: How did your work in the Navy prepare you for a job at Genesee? What skills did you learn in the Navy?

A: Watch standing and these types of things. In the Navy, it includes taking readings and making sure people are doing it right. When people were outside the boat, we were standing guard on the boat. We were making sure the boat was protected.

Q: How did you find out about the job at Genesee?

A: I found out about the job by going online. I think it was through Indeed or something like that.

Q: In the Navy, where were you stationed? Also, what other countries did you visit?

A: I was stationed at Rota, Spain, and then Norfolk, Virginia. I visited Greece, Dubai, Italy, England, all over. It was nice. And the free cost, you can’t beat it.

Q: What drew you to the Genesee Brewery? Why did you want to work there?

A: I always used to pass by here and figured it had a heritage. I had some family members who drank the beer. I thought it would be cool to be part of that. I did two years in criminal justice (studies), so I thought I should be qualified. And then I did a couple security contracts before I got this job. I was pretty prepared with it, especially with the military experience as well.

Q: What’s your favorite part about working at the brewery?

A: Giving good customer service to the people, pointing them in the right direction and making sure everything goes well.

Q: What advice would you give someone hoping to work at the brewery?

A: As long as you do your job and you come on time and enjoy the atmosphere, you shouldn’t have a problem.

Q: What makes you most proud about working for Genesee?

A: The crew I am working with. We have a strong crew. And seeing the employees respect you and they look up to you. Not to brag, but when they keep telling you that they look up to you, it makes you feel good and you fit in with the rest of the people.

Q: Are there any lessons or skills you learned from the Navy that have helped you in your current job?

A: Mostly, it’s just structure. Everything I learned in the Navy was about structure and transition. It’s about following out your orders and carrying out your orders. Most of the time when we’re out on watch, you go by your procedures and make sure everything starts right. And just like now in security, we have our procedures we’ve got to do to make sure it’s done well.

More about this partnership

Genny wants to hire you! By highlighting the wide variety of positions available at the brewery, the hope is that folks will see a college degree isn’t a necessity for a great career. Many of these union and trade positions come equipped with opportunity for learning and advancement.

Over the next three months, we’ll highlight some of the people behind the iconic beers in this space.

“We want to continue to attract people to union and skilled trades. There is a shortage of skilled workers, and the industry needs to attract more women and minorities. There are viable career opportunities for virtually anyone who wants to work in beer,” said Mary Beth Popp, vice president of communications, FIFCO USA. 

To learn more about working at the Genesee Brewery, go to: https://www.fifcousa.com/careers/