Kayla Ann Thiry

Kayla Thiry is a dedicated people-first leader in the food manufacturing industry, currently serving as a Training Supervisor at Smithfield Foods in Sioux City, Iowa. In this role, she is responsible for on-the-job training across production shifts, helping frontline teams effectively run lines and operate machinery while maintaining strong standards for safety, quality, and efficiency. Kayla is known for her positive leadership style, emphasizing trust, connection, and collaboration to support both employees and operations. Kayla began her career in the pork industry in 2011 as a quality assurance technician and steadily expanded her expertise by learning multiple roles across the plant. She advanced into production supervision in Sioux Falls and Sioux City, managing teams and daily operations before transitioning into her current training-focused role during the COVID era to meet evolving operational needs. Her background spans quality assurance, production supervision, cross-functional training, and close collaboration with safety and ergonomics teams, giving her a well-rounded perspective on how production, quality, and people work best together. Kayla holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Performance, Health, and Physical Fitness from Northern State University, with a minor in strength and conditioning. Outside of her core responsibilities, she is actively involved in workplace and community initiatives, including Smithfield’s Ergo team, Women’s Connect, Cub Scouts leadership, and local cancer-support organizations. Passionate about developing others, Kayla is committed to building confident, capable teams that deliver safe food while fostering a culture of respect and continuous growth.