Building a Dream Through Silver Bay Jaime's life took a complete turn when he decided to set off on an adventure in Alaska working for Silver Bay Seafoods. Only looking for a few months of hard earned cash, what he found was a new career... and a wife.
Prior to working at Silver Bay, Jaime worked at a supermarket in his native Puerto Rico for eight consecutive years. After hearing of the opportunity to work at Silver Bay through a friend, he decided to quit his job, take a leap of faith, and head to Alaska in hopes o...
Welcoming New Experiences and a New Life Unemployed and looking for adventure, Marangely from Puerto Rico headed out to one of the largest seafood companies in Alaska.
Marangely began working at Silver Bay Seafoods in June of 2017 as a Processor. After forming new friendships and experiencing a new way of living, she decided to return in April of the following year as a Lead. Her hours at the Metlakatla facility typically varied between 10-14 hours, allowing her to earn ample overtime pay
William, Employee, Valdez Saying Goodbye to Despair, and Hello to the Opportunity of a LifetimeAt the age of 40, William found himself unemployed and with a newborn at home. After hearing about the opportunity at Silver Bay Seafoods, he decided to take a chance and pack his bags for Alaska to support his family.
He describes that first season at the Naknek facility at Bristol Bay as the time of his life; so much, that he decided to return the following year. Following his second season, William’s co-workers convinced him to return yet again, this time to work in Valdez.
Nathaniel, Engineer, Valdez Finding a More Adventurous LifeNathaniel wanted to escape from his monotonous 9 to 5 grind that didn’t seem to be leading anywhere.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Applied Science, Nathaniel left his construction job behind and joined Silver Bay Seafoods. In 2017, he worked hard in the freezer and by the end of that first season, he was rewarded with a promotion to Lead. Prior to the second season, he returned early to work as a Supervisor and was soon promoted again to Freezer Department Head.
Brynn, Plant Manager, Naknek From Processor to Plant ManagerWhen college student Brynn decided to travel to Alaska to work as a fish processor for summer break, she had no idea that just 9 years later, she’d be a plant manager for one of the largest seafood companies in Alaska, Silver Bay Seafoods.
Brynn, a native of Minnesota, had been looking to do something different. She learned about opportunities in Alaska from her college friend, whose parents had lived and worked in the Alaskan tourism industry. A short time later, Brynn applied and...
Elijah, Supervisor, Naknek Processing Plant: Seeking Adventure at Sea; Finding Opportunity on LandWhen Elijah first joined Silver Bay Seafoods, he hoped to eventually work his way onto a fishing boat. But now, there is no place else he’d rather be than the Naknek processing plant.
“To be a part of the team of supervisors and leads at the Naknek plant is nothing short of an honor and breaking world records is something I’ll remember for a lifetime,” Elijah says.
At 22, Elijah walked away from a well-paying trade job seeking new adventure in Alaska. It was a decision that...
Elvira, Recruiter A Recruiter Today, a Business Owner TomorrowA few, unfortunate, life events led Elvira to drop everything at home, and move towards a more prosperous future; one that would give her the chance to open up her own business.
Elvira is originally from San Diego, CA and was working in massage therapy and physical therapy aid before leaving her golden state. She originally became familiar with Silver Bay Seafoods through her brother’s co-worker, who was a previous employee of the company. After hearing about her brother’s experi...
Joy, Recruiter A Fruitful Future for Her and Her Family Working as a Medical Assistant, Joy had major aspirations for the future of her and her family -- and Silver Bay was where she found her calling.
Originally from the Philippines, Joy moved to the U.S at just 11 years old and grew up in Salinas, California. In 2011, she graduated as a Medical Assistant. Having no car or financial stability, she went to Alaska in 2012 to work for a seafood company -- where she worked for two consecutive years. After working in Alaska for two years, Joy moved back to California and began working as a Medical Assistant at a family practice. Although she was an established professional, Joy was still not earning enough money to reach her goals. She had dreams of helping support her family from the Philippines, and giving them a better future by bringing them to the U.S.
In 2015, Joy turned to Silver Bay Seafoods for solutions. She began working as a Processor and has been with the company since. “I stayed with this company because this is an amazing company. The president is so family oriented and really cares for and takes care of his staff, and that’s one of the reasons why this company is so successful. Not only do they care about their employees, they also care about their experiences with the company. If you’re good at what you’re doing and are a dedicated hard worker, your skills will always be valued. There’s always room to grow within the company. I don’t see myself leaving,” says Joy.
Since her start with Silver Bay Seafoods, Joy has been promoted to Foreman and in 2017, she was promoted to her current position as a Recruiter. With this full-time position, Joy relocated to work at Silver Bay’s office in Seattle, Washington. She shares that working for the company has helped her prosper, and has allowed her to save a great deal of her earnings. In addition, she takes advantage of the great health insurance and bonuses that are provided.
A Fulfilling Career Joy voices the fulfillment she finds in being a recruiter, which comes from her passion in getting to know all the people of different backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures from Silver Bay. She adds, “I'm a people-person. I love to take care of them. I believe that when you take care of people, they will work hard for you. If you know how to motivate and encourage people, and are there for them, they will be there for you and help you no matter what. I’ve seen people go to Alaska because they need a second chance and want to change their life; and I’ve seen a lot of people change their lives by working in this industry, and it makes me happy.”
Joy plans to continue to advance in her career with Silver Bay Seafoods, specifically in the Human Resources department.
Some Helpful Advice for Future Silver Bay Employees For those seeking a career with Silver Bay Seafoods, Joy advises, “Working at Silver Bay can be tough at times, but if you have strong goals and a strong reason for going, Silver Bay would be a good company to start with because not only are our pay rates better, there is so much room to grow. Our company is growing and expanding, and we’re always looking for people who are motivated and want to grow and learn; and I believe that Silver Bay can provide that for them. It’s what you make of it. If you’re a go-getter, you will get to where you want to be.”
Luke, Bunkhouse Manager “If You Can Make it Here, You Can Make it Anywhere”After his life took a difficult turn, Luke made the decision to leave Texas in search of new opportunities in Alaska.
Luke was living with his daughter and grandchildren and working in construction. He heard on the radio about the opportunity to work at Silver Bay Seafoods, and although he knew being away from his family would be challenging, he took a chance and embarked on his new journey.
Brandon, Canner, Sitka Silver Bay Seafoods, For The Thrill Of ItWhen Brandon first heard the Silver Bay radio ad for an all expenses paid trip to Alaska in return for 3 months of work, he was hooked. As an avid 22-year old outdoorsman, he was even first in line when recruiters arrived in Bakersfield, CA to interview applicants. Shortly after that, he was on the plane, ready for an adventure of a lifetime.
Working and Living in Sitka Brandon was first assigned as a processor, then an operator, working in the cannery ...
slide 7 of 10 Elvira Vasquez, Recruiter A Recruiter Today, a Business Owner Tomorrow A few, unfortunate, life events led Elvira Vasquez to drop everything at home, and move towards a more prosperous future; one that would give her the chance to open up her own business. Elvira is originally from San Diego, CA and was working in massage therapy and physical therapy aid before leaving her golden state. She originally became familiar with Silver Bay Seafoods through her brother’s co-worker, who was a previous employee of the company. After hearing about her brother’s experience, she decided to try it out for herself. She began working for the company as a Processor in 2017. While working 16-hour days, Elvira says there was never a point where she thought of leaving. She already knew she she would be working long hours, and says the shifts were actually better than she had anticipated. During her spare time, she would visit the town and go out for dinner. Halfway through the season, Silver Bay needed some help with translations up in the office, as there were no other spanish-speaking employees. Being bilingual, she always offered help; which resulted in her being referred by several people for the Recruiter position. The following season, Elvira was asked to return to Silver Bay as a Recruiter -- a position she eagerly accepted. Elvira relocated to Silver Bay’s office in Seattle for her new position, and often travels during the year to recruit new employees. Although she’s far from home, she often gets to see her family while she’s out on work-related trips. She comments, “I’m grateful of how lenient and mindful Silver Bay is. When there’s events in San Diego, they typically send me out so that I can spend time with my family.” In 2018, she was able to go to San Diego and spend time with her family on three occasions; two of which were during work trips. Elvira has spent time in three of Silver Bay Seafoods’ facilities in Alaska: Naknek, Craig, and Valdez. She says her favorite aspect of working for Silver Bay has been learning about the new cultures and providing candidates with careers. If You’re Determined, Silver Bay Seafoods is the Place for You Elvira advises, “It’s very important that you’re mentally prepared for heading up to Silver Bay Seafoods in Alaska. The first thing I say to people is ‘ are you 100% ready to commit?’. I make sure they don’t have a doubt in their mind before heading up there.” She shares that working at Silver Bay has taught her that she’s much stronger than she thought she was. It showed her that after doing this, she can do anything else she sets her mind to. By working at the company, Elvira was able to give her mom the car of her dreams. She proudly states, “She gave so much for me, and I was so happy to be able to return the favor.” Through her saved earnings from Silver Bay Seafoods, Elvira plans to open up her own coffee shop in San Diego, and eventually expand into Seattle. Read More
