Firestone and Liberia –
Faces of Firestone
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Winleta Aynn Henries-Reeves
Winleta Aynn Henries-Reeves' relationship with Firestone Liberia has come full circle during her life. The daughter of a former Firestone Liberia employee, Henries-Reeves today serves the company as Industrial Relations Manager. In this role, she says, she's in a position to positively impact the lives of the thousands of men and women — and their sons and daughters — who are part of the Firestone Liberia family today.
"Coming back to Firestone was an excellent opportunity," said Henries-Reeves, who has been with the company since July 2009. "I truly appreciate what the company has to offer Liberia and Liberians, and I wanted to be a part of this contribution."
Henries-Reeves came to Firestone Liberia from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), where she was a National Legal Advisor. Prior to working with UNMIL, she held legal positions with organizations such as ECOBANK Liberia Limited, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company and the Independent Elections Commission 1997.
Henries-Reeves holds bachelor's degrees in Theology, from the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, and Law, from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia.
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Börtfeldt M. Lloyd
Börtfeldt M. Lloyd came to Firestone Liberia to construct and operate a state-of-the-art radio station for the Firestone community. His hope is for the station — 89.5 FM – The Voice of Firestone Liberia — to be recognized nationally as a source for enjoyment and enrichment, and to give listeners a better understanding of the company's operations.
"Many people probably don't realize that the company provides care, security and support for all of its employees and their families," Lloyd said. "Our dream for the station is to transform the way people look at and think about Firestone."
As superintendent and broadcast engineer for The Voice of Firestone Liberia, Lloyd oversees the station's day-to-day operations. Prior to joining Firestone Liberia, he was a transmitter technician for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Before that, he held broadcast, engineering or supervisory positions in a variety of organizations, including Talking Drum Studio – Search for Common Ground, Norwegian Refugee Council Bomi, UNMIL Bomi County, North Valley Broadcasting Corporation, LCN TV Liberia Communication Network, and LCN Radio and TV.
During this time he has also been involved with the construction and installation of several radio stations, including Crystal FM 95.5 in Monrovia; Cape Mount Radio Station FM 102.4 in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County; Choice FM 98.2 in Kakata, Margibi County; in addition to The Voice of Firestone Liberia FM 89.5 in Harbel, Margibi County.
Lloyd holds a bachelor's degree in combined electrical and electronics engineering from the Government Technical College, Kenema, in Sierra Leone.
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Railey B. Jallah
As Manager of Group 3, Railey B. Jallah supervises eight divisions of tapping operations at Firestone Liberia. Jallah has held the position since July 2009, and says he was drawn to work at Firestone by his "admiration for the company's socio-economic activities."
"The company is making headways that cannot be compared easily with any other institution in the country," he said. "It is the single largest employer and provides, amongst other things, modern houses for its employees, free medicare for employees and their dependents, and free education for employees' children."
Born in Zwedru and raised in Harper and Monrovia, Jallah attended the University of Liberia earning a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1982. Afterwards, Jallah volunteered at the Liberian Produce Marketing Corporation and assisted with the construction of the Holy Martyrs Catholic Church.
Jallah hopes that his fellow employees appreciate the opportunities offered by Firestone, and sees the various programs contributing to a greater shift in postwar Liberia.
"Doubters should come to Firestone to see the unfolding realities for themselves," he said. "The number of new houses and schools being constructed, the nearly 17,000 students in Firestone schools, the refurbished Duside hospital are just a few of those undertaking that give true meaning to the transformation and new era of partnership and cooperation embarked upon by Firestone Liberia."
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Wadei Powell
After only two years of working for Firestone, Wadei Powell now calls the company her "family." Wadei is the Inventory Control Manager, whose main responsibility is to handle and process all incoming cargo.
Powell says she "did not know much about Firestone as a company except that, as a youngster growing up in Liberia, it was an exciting place to be. I went to school with some kids who lived in Firestone and they were always saying how much fun it was to grow up in Firestone and that Monrovia kids had nothing on them."
She graduated in 1989 from the St. Teresa's Convent School in Monrovia. From there she moved to the United States, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maryland in College Park and a master's degree in information technology systems management, with an emphasis in organization development, from Capitol College in Laurel, Md. She worked for Mellon Financial (now Affiliated Computer Services) before moving back to Liberia.
Even though Powell initially took the job with Firestone because the employment market in Monrovia was limited, she now proudly admits that she has experienced a professional growth that would have taken years to acquire elsewhere. "I have learned so much about the relationships between the private sector and government and this has been made possible by the enabling atmosphere at Firestone," Powell said. "The management style here is unique — you're given wings and it is up to you to expand and fly. You're allowed to delve into and learn as much about the business as you wish — and this is not something you find in a lot of companies."
Powell is the proud mother of two daughters, Tyler McCritty and Maryann Robertson. She believes working at Firestone enables her to make a difference. She encourages and challenges young Liberians residing all around the world to come back home and help in the re-developing of the country.
Joseph Geliah Garwor
Joseph Geliah Garwor likes his job as Superintendent of the Firestone Liberia garage because it keeps him busy, gives him practical experience with many different types of vehicles, and because it allows him to meet people from all walks of life.
As Superintendent, Garwor, 30, coordinates the repair, maintenance and overhaul of all Firestone Liberia vehicles, and oversees garage personnel.
He says he sought a job at Firestone about a year ago because of the company's hospitality and good treatment of its employees. His job allows him to accomplish his dream of being a professional engineer, as well as work at being a good administrator.
Born in Grand Gedeh County, Garwor attended Vladimir State University in Russia where he received a bachelor's degree in engineering. He also earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering in 2006.
Joseph S. Phillips II
Joseph Phillips, a Production Manager for Firestone's Hevea wood operation, is not just an employee of the company; he says that Firestone is a part of him. Phillips was born at Duside Hospital — one of Firestone's original health care facilities. He grew up in Division 13 of the Firestone farm and attended the Firestone Staff School, an elementary school. Phillips went to Ricks Institute in Virginia, Liberia, for high school and earned a bachelor's degree in business management at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J. After college, he returned to his hometown of Harbel and started working at Firestone, where Phillips said it has been his goal to "work and raise my family in this environment as my father and grandfather had."
Lyndon G. Mabande, M.D.
Dr. Lyndon G. Mabande hopes to see Firestone Liberia's medical facilities return to their original site at Duside Hospital. The 300-bedroom facility outside of Harbel, Liberia, was badly hit by the 14-year civil war that destroyed much of the infrastructure in the country.
"It is my desire to have a highly effective and efficient evidence-based health system at Firestone," said Dr. Mabande, who is the Chief Medical Officer at Firestone Liberia.
During some turbulent periods early in the civil conflict, Dr. Mabande volunteered his medical expertise by forming a team that provided free medical services at the Liberia Government Hospital in Trumansburg. He also provided voluntary services at Bong Mines Hospital and the Liberia Agricultural Company Hospital. On several occasions he traveled to the Republic of Sierra Leone to arrange with relief agencies to service thousands of citizens misplaced by the war.
Now that the conflict is over, Dr. Mabande is rededicating himself to primary health care and preventative services. As the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mabande coordinates all activities of Firestone Liberia's medical services, including: initiating professional and clinical policies and procedures and advising the company on policies affecting the health and welfare of employees, their dependents and the general public.
Dr. Mabande was educated at A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine where he completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology. He currently serves as the National President of the Family Planning Association of Liberia. He received a certificate of appreciation from the President of Liberia for participating in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Transitional Team for Health and Social Welfare.
Ligori Musioh Sekajipo
Ligori Musioh Sekajipo hopes to be remembered for helping to rebuild his native country of Liberia after the 14-year civil war devastated this West African nation's infrastructure.
"I hope to leave a legacy of being the Construction Manager in whose time modern housing and schools were built," said Sekajipo.
His job as Engineering Construction Manager at Firestone Liberia has given him just that opportunity.
"I feel proud that Firestone Liberia is now responding to both the social and economic needs of employees," Sekajipo said. "Firestone Liberia has taken the lead in expansion, rebuilding, rehabilitation and replanting programs. Firestone Liberia can boast of being the single largest employer of Liberians other than the government."
Sekajipo started working at Firestone after graduating from college because of the job security the company offered. He also believes it is the only place where he can practice his profession. In his current position, Sekajipo supervises, trains and manages Superintendents in project management, design, cost estimates, the bidding process and construction.
Since 1984, Sekajipo has held several positions within the company, including Supervisor of Production Services, Quality Control Supervisor, Project Engineer, Building Maintenance Superintendent and Engineering Construction Manager. Sekajipo holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Liberia.
Stephen Cicero Snoh
Stephen Cicero Snoh chose to work at Firestone Liberia because he wanted to contribute to the revival of the rubber industry in his native country of Liberia.
"With the prevailing state of decline in the rubber industry, Firestone Liberia can be considered as the trailblazer," said Snoh. "My presence at Firestone Liberia is an indication of my desire to contribute to the revitalization of the rubber industry, which is critical to the resuscitation of the Liberian economy as a whole."
A 14-year civil war ravaged this West African country, destroying most of Liberia's infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, housing and the largest industry sector: rubber. Since the end of the war, Firestone teammates like Snoh have been committed to rebuilding the country.
What does Snoh like most about Firestone? "The passion and commitment of the present management team in advancing the social and economic well being of the employees and their dependents," he said.
In his current position as Estates Production Manager, Snoh oversees field production and tapping operations, and supervises Estates Group Managers and Production Superintendents. Snoh began working as an Estates Production Superintendent for Firestone Liberia in 1984, advancing to Estates Group Manager in 2002 and finally to Estates Production Manager in 2004.
Snoh earned a bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of Liberia in 1975 and a master's degree in wood science from the State University of New York in Syracuse in 1979. Prior to joining Firestone, Snoh worked as an instructor in wood science at the University of Liberia.
Washington T. Waka
Washington T. Waka takes pride in ensuring that all rubber products shipped from Firestone Liberia meet customers' expectations. As Factory Manager at Firestone Liberia, Washington is responsible for the overall operation of the company's natural latex and rubber production process.
Washington, who started working for Firestone in 1986, sought a job with the company after graduation because he saw an opportunity for growth. He has since been promoted from a Quality Control Supervisor, to a Quality Control Superintendent in 1998, and then to the position of Quality Control Manager later that same year. He became Factory Manager in March 2010
Washington earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Liberia, where he was a Teaching Assistant — teaching classes and demonstrating analytical chemistry labs for sophomore students.
He has received numerous Firestone awards, including the Managing Director's Award in 2000, the President's Award in 2002 and 2005, and the CEO Award in 2008. In his spare time, Washington raises funds to support recreational and educational activities for the youth of his community.
