Written by BBE student Eilee Keske
While studying at the University of Minnesota, Marc Baldemor was drawn to the food engineering track within the Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering department. He saw the food industry as both dynamic and resilient, offering a wide range of career opportunities across different products and sectors.
“I’ve always wanted to work in the food industry,” said Baldemor. “It stood out to me for its variety and long-term stability.”
That decision proved especially timely, as he graduated just before the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the most influential courses for Baldemor was Transport Phenomena. “It was the hardest class I took, and later the most applicable in industry.”
Beyond the classroom, Baldemor emphasizes the importance of career fairs. “I spoke with several companies at the career fair, including some I wasn’t familiar with at the time, like Cargill. That single conversation set the foundation for my entire career.”
Baldemor’s first step was a 15-month co-op with Cargill in North Carolina, a decision that required pushing back graduation by a year, but it ultimately paid off. That experience led to a summer internship, then a full-time role managing 22 technicians in Kansas. From there, Baldemor’s Cargill journey spanned multiple divisions and states, working in salt, cocoa and chocolate, and starches and sweeteners, before returning to Minnesota as a regional capital project manager.
Today, Baldemor manages project engineers across multiple North American sites. He guides them through the Cargill Capital Process and supports the successful execution of multi-million dollar projects. One project that stands out to him was his first, a control room remodel during his co-op.
“It taught me so much: engineering, stakeholder management, code compliance, operator input, all wrapped into one.”
What Baldemor appreciates most about Cargill is its versatility.
“I’ve done project engineering, supervision, reliability, maintenance, and food safety and quality, all with one BBE degree. I’ve lived in North Carolina, North Dakota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota, and all those moves were voluntary. It gave me the freedom to explore.”
His advice for current students is to always be open. “No one made me move or switch roles. I just said yes to opportunities. Especially early in your career, don’t be afraid to try new things.”
Looking back, Baldemor says he would not change much, but emphasizes the importance of building relationships.
“Grades matter, sure, but the connections are what really last. If I could go back, I’d take even more time to connect with faculty the way I’ve learned to build relationships throughout my career.”