When Phillip Hinkle started at the Riverview Facility on Jan. 15, 1975 as a Field Operator, the site had just celebrated its 50th Anniversary. “My first day, the HR Manager asked me if I’d ever thought of myself as #1,” said Phillip. “And he said, well you are now.” Philip’s badge number was one, passed down to him from someone who had recently retired. “That was the start of a good job in a good industry, and I’ve stuck with it.”
Phillip with his son, David, who is now building a career at Mosaic’s Riverview facility in the same role Phillip had when he started almost 50 years ago.
Phillip now works as a Dock Coordinator, overseeing the loading and unloading of ships, railcars and trucks. All three of his sons have worked at the Riverview facility over the years, and his youngest son, David, is now building a career with Mosaic in the same role Phillip had when he started almost 50 years ago.
Gathering Together to Celebrate
Riverview employees and family members gathered together on Nov. 16 to celebrate the facility’s 100-year anniversary.
More than 500 employees and family members celebrated the Riverview facility’s 100th anniversary by gathering together at Riverview on Nov. 16 for an afternoon of fun and festivities. Family members had the opportunity to tour the facility and there were food trucks, games and even a special appearance by the Tampa Bay Lightning’s mascot, Thunder Bug.
“We are so busy in our day-to-day lives with family activities, work and other responsibilities, this celebration was a nice opportunity for us to stop, take a look back at how far we’ve come and share our appreciation for those who contribute to our success – today and over the past 100 years,” said Greg Howard, General Manager – Riverview. “We also enjoyed being able to celebrate with our family members and each other. Our loved ones got to see where we work and learn more about the important role each of us plays in helping deliver on our commitment to safe, responsible operations and make the quality products farmers around the world depend on.”
Looking Back
When the Tennessee Corporation acquired the 110-acre facility in 1927, the plant had 118 employees and an annual payroll of $75,000.
U.S. Export Chemical Company was the owner of the facility, with operations beginning in 1924. At that time, the site furnished power to all of Gibsonton and Riverview. Three years later when the Tennessee Corporation acquired the 110-acre site, the plant had 118 employees and an annual payroll of $75,000. The new owners renamed the subsidiary the U.S. Phosphoric Products Corporation in 1927 and the Cities Services Company in 1970. The facility was purchased by Gardinier in 1973, then by Cargill in 1985. It remained a Cargill site until Mosaic was formed in 2004 through the integration of Cargill and IMC.
Since then, the facility has expanded to the production of MicroEssentials®, one of Mosaic’s four specialty products, which also include Pegasus®, Aspire® and K-Mag®. Production of MicroEssentials began in 2006 and was expanded earlier this year.
Now, with more than 2,000 acres and more than 340 employees, the Riverview facility is a critical location for Mosaic – not just for the 6,000 tonnes of fertilizer produced at the site every day – but also because it is well-positioned on Tampa Bay. The facility has docks which are used to load products to ship directly to customers around the world and to unload raw materials needed for production at Riverview and other Mosaic manufacturing facilities in Central Florida.
Giving Back
Riverview employees are proud of the site’s commitment to safe, responsible operations – as well as the strong ties they have in the local community. Over the years, they have built strong relationships with neighbors in Riverview and the Progress Village communities and with local schools, including Gibsonton and Lamb Elementary Schools.
Riverview employees recently raised funds which were matched by The Mosaic Company Foundation to provide holiday meals and school supplies for families in Progress Village and cover expenses for fourth graders at Gibsonton Elementary school to take a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa.
“Being a good neighbor is a cornerstone of our business, and it’s something we take seriously,” said Greg. “I’m really proud of our team and the partnerships we’ve created. We all work together and show up to support our communities because it matters to us as employees, as parents and as members of those communities we support.”
Mosaic employees from Riverview and other facilities recently participated in a neighborhood clean-up to help Progress Village residents recovering from Hurricane Milton.
