The Tillamook Community
Strengthening connections among employees, neighbors and fans.
Still Tillamook,
Even in Decatur, IL
“The break room is like my dream break room.
It’s spacious; it makes everyone feel special
and valued.”
A warm welcome
In opening our new ice cream manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois, we wanted our first employees to experience TCCA's values and feel like lifelong members of the team. That’s why we knew getting the facility up and running wouldn’t be complete without a warm and inviting break room.
Before we came to town, the old facility's break room was cramped and windowless. Employees now have access to an entire floor, lots of natural light and a comfortable space to enjoy meals and each other’s company when they are off the clock.
The break room is just the start. As we ramp up production capacity over the next year, we’re building our culture right along with it.
Learning from the Best: Each Other
When it comes to our employees’ growth and development, we go way beyond the occasional lunch-and-learn. Here are some of the ways our employees help each other get more out of their careers.
Interns at Any Age
In 2024 TCCA introduced a new Internal Internship program for employees to spend four consecutive weeks immersing themselves in a different department. This experience isn’t just about exploring new career paths but also building stronger cross-departmental bonds.
“I found a spark of joy for project management. It was tough to learn something so completely different from my current role, but I really enjoyed seeing the bigger picture.”
— Kathryn M., R&D Senior Associate Scientist
Mad About Mentorship
As our employees grow in their roles, it’s important they find ways to learn from those who came before them. In 2024, we launched a mentorship program, pairing sixteen experienced employees with senior staff to grow their skills and build confidence. Due to high demand, we’re running two mentorship programs in 2025.
“The mentorship program has been invaluable to me. As a newer employee, I’ve greatly expanded my network at TCCA since starting the program.”
— Samantha F., Solutions Architect
A Degree in Deliciousness
The first graduates of the Tillamook Creamery Student Work-Study Program have turned their tassels and tossed their caps! This unique, two-year program for Tillamook Bay Community College students allows them to work full time at the Tillamook Creamery as they complete their studies, participating in projects aimed at improving the operations and customer experience there.
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Making The
Creamery More Inclusive
Since our grand opening seven years ago, the Tillamook Creamery visitors center in Tillamook has welcomed over 6.7 million guests from all over the world. In 2024 we got serious about introducing programs designed to accommodate visitors so everyone can experience the joys of our iconic Creamery.
Wheel the World is a travel website for those with mobility needs, focusing on giving travelers expert insight about a destination before they visit. Last year, Wheel the World owners Dan and Rachel visited the Creamery, made suggestions, and ultimately granted the Creamery a coveted “verified destination” status.
We worked with the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association to install hearing loops — an assistive listening system that transmits audio directly to hearing aids or cochlear implants, making it a much more inclusive environment for those with hearing impairments.
If you’ve visited the Creamery, you know it can be a place full of activity and energy. For some guests, the sights and sounds of a busy working creamery can be overwhelming. We created sensory kits for guests who need a little assistance in processing all these stimuli, making the entire experience much more comfortable.
Community highlights
A year of giving back.
Community highlights
A year of giving back.
- pitching in
The TCCA team volunteered a combined 3,329 hours across their communities. - empowering others
Awarded 103 grants to nonprofit organizations, with a median amount of $2,250. - Helping with Hunger
Donated 193,000 lbs of product to food security organizations. - Can We Have S’more?
Donated 12,000 s’more kits for the Decatur Park District’s Trees on the Tees event.
Investing in
Innovation
First announced in 2016, the restored and expanded Oregon State University Food and Beverage facility opened this past April. Recognizing the importance of training the next generation of dairy makers, TCCA committed $1.5 million to help OSU improve and update the facility’s labs with state-of-the-art technology for dairy processing. There’s a reason our partnership with OSU is the largest and one of the most valuable to TCCA; the work we do together will better equip students to innovate and push the dairy industry forward through strong values and a commitment to the highest quality.
OSU’s Tillamook Dairy Innovators Lab is now part of the largest dairy production research program in the western United States. Students will work alongside industry partners who can use the pilot plant for commercial development, research trials and new ideas. Many TCCA employees and our farmer-owners have attended OSU, and we are happy to support the future of dairy innovation with
this center.
