Martin’s Journey

A Local Connection That Sparked a Career

Growing up in nearby Dumas, Texas, Martin was already familiar with the agricultural roots that help drive the region’s economy. While helping his uncle search for job opportunities, Martin came across an internship opportunity at Hilmar’s Dalhart facility, an experience that would ultimately shape his career.

After earning an associate degree in engineering from Amarillo College and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Texas A&M University, Martin joined the facility as a Cheese Operations and Engineering Intern during the site’s inaugural intern program.

What began as a summer experience turned into a long-term career journey and a chance to build a future alongside a company committed to growth, opportunity and helping employees develop their skills and careers.

Learning the Business from the Ground Up

After his internship, Martin returned as a part-time maintenance mechanic and E&I technician while finishing school. He later advanced into a supervisor trainee role, supervising cheese and milk receiving operations before joining the engineering team as a project engineer in 2012.

Each role added a new perspective. Through those experiences, Martin gained firsthand knowledge of manufacturing operations, maintenance, production and engineering, while learning how every function contributes to the site’s success

Today, that broad perspective helps him connect technical decisions to operational outcomes and better support teams across the entire facility.

Engineering Solutions That Enable Growth

As Martin’s career has progressed, he has played a key role in the evolution of Hilmar’s Dalhart facility. Today, he leads the site’s project engineers and engineering resources, overseeing capital projects, asset management and strategic investments that support future growth.

Whether supporting cheese production or ingredient manufacturing, Martin and his team help transform ideas into capabilities that create value for both the business and our customers. Their work also supports Hilmar’s vision to be the best in the world at efficiently producing functional cheese and whey ingredients at scale.

One project that stands out in Martin’s career is his involvement in expanding Hilmar’s whey protein capabilities. He served as the Dalhart engineer supporting the initial pilot trials, capital project execution and ongoing expansion efforts for whey protein isolate production, including projects that helped establish clear WPI manufacturing capabilities at the facility. From early-stage trials through commercialization and expansion, Martin helped bring innovative protein solutions from concept to reality, supporting Hilmar’s continued growth in high-value dairy ingredients.

Leadership Through Service

Throughout his career, Martin has been influenced by mentors who taught him that leadership is ultimately about helping others succeed. One lesson has stayed with him:

“Leadership is about serving others, developing your team and continuously improving.”

That philosophy shapes how Martin approaches team development, project execution and the challenges that come with supporting a growing manufacturing site. It reflects the way Hilmar succeeds – by working as one team, building trusted relationships, honoring commitments and striving for excellence.

For Martin, leadership means creating an environment where people can ask questions, learn from mistakes, contribute their ideas and take ownership of their development. It means approaching commitments with integrity, following through on what is promised and making decisions that put safety, people and long-term success at the center.

Outside of Hilmar, Martin coaches youth baseball and wrestling for his sons. While coaching and engineering may seem different, he sees strong parallels between the two.

Coaching has taught him how to motivate individuals, adapt his communication style and build teams that work toward a common goal. Those same skills help him lead engineers, manage complex projects and support employees across the Dalhart facility every day.

Advice for Future Leaders

Martin encourages young professionals to embrace challenges and learn from the people around them.

“Your technical skills will get you started, but your willingness to learn, collaborate and lead will determine how far you go.”

He believes strong relationships, curiosity, humility and a commitment to continuous improvement are among the most valuable tools anyone can develop throughout their career.

What Makes Him Proud to Work at Hilmar 

For Martin, the most energizing part of his role is helping shape the future of the Dalhart facility while working alongside talented people who are committed to doing great work.

From supporting major expansion projects to developing future leaders, he is driven by the impact engineering can have on both people and performance. Seeing an idea progress from concept to implementation, and ultimately strengthen operations, create new capabilities, and support long-term growth makes his work especially rewarding.

Martin’s story reflects what is possible when people bring their skills, commitment and ideas together. Embracing Hilmar’s values of relationship, integrity and a commitment to excellence, Martin and the Dalhart engineering team are helping build a stronger future for Hilmar – one project, one opportunity and one team at a time.