12 year ago, Jason Bonino started as a seasonal employee helping scout fields, and today, he is the manager of the Engineering Division at Grow West. His journey from point A to B is a testament to the power of mentorship and providing opportunities for employees to grow within the company and be successful.

“After my first summer ended with the company, I asked about opportunities to stay on over the winter. I was placed in the shop and shortly after I had been there, the head mechanic went out for surgery, so I took advantage of the opportunity to jump in and help on all the larger items,” shared Bonino. “I made it a point to get as much exposure as possible when people needed help fixing things because I knew that I wanted to grow with this company and show I could find solutions to problems and be an asset to the organization.”

Three years after Bonino started with the company, he started his first “big project” endeavor working side by side with Ranco Fertiservice, Inc. to build Inland Terminal’s dry warehouse. This project was the first of many large engineering-minded initiatives including partnerships and projects with Mar Vista Resources, LLC, and the Yuba City aqua convertor. In August 2013,  Bonino was approached with the opportunity to formally create the engineering department at Grow West and the rest is history.

Today, Grow West Engineering works on both new build projects as well as repair maintenance of Grow West equipment and locations. Most recently, the team completed updates to the Walnut Grove and Sonoma tank farms. When it comes to the smaller projects and repair maintenance, they handle anything from office remodels, signage parts and custom workspaces to full refurbishment of tank trailers and large semi-style trailers. The team of five full-time individuals all bring a different set of skills and specialties to the table, which is a testament to the strength of this department. Located in Woodland, the team services the entire Grow West company and is kept busy with a diverse set of projects.

“Johnny (Johnny Council, Past CEO and now Vice Chairman of the Board) trusted me and helped me realize that there was a reason it was easy for me to find solutions and solve problems. If it wasn’t for him creating opportunity for me to showcase my skills, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today” commented Bonino. At Grow West, it is our priority to foster an entrepreneurial culture and help our employees reach their goals and achieve their peak potential.