ISE alumna advances family manufacturing legacy

For Caroline Sellnow Pearce, continuing a family tradition means combining engineering, business and meat science into a unique career path that began at Auburn University.

Pearce, a 2023 graduate of Auburn’s Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) program, now works as an industrial engineer at Dixie Grinders Inc., her family’s business in Guntersville. Founded by her grandfather in 1984, Dixie Grinders designs and manufactures industrial meat grinders and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and facility expansion in fall 2024.

“We are one of very few companies that do this in America,” Pearce said. “Being a family business with 50 employees often means you do much more than your given job title.”

Pearce is part of the company’s third generation, joining alongside her brother. While she focuses on optimizing machines and processes through engineering, she’s also learning the business side, from accounting and HR to sales and marketing. Community involvement is another key part of her role, as she speaks to local students on career days and serves on the Industrial Development Board for the City of Guntersville.

“I used to think that engineers, like my grandfather, were simply born with the ability to invent or fix anything,” she said. “But I’ve come to understand that skills like math, organization, planning, big-picture thinking and interpersonal relationships are also qualities of a great engineer.”

At Auburn, Pearce paired her ISE degree with minors in business and animal science, a combination she says helped uniquely prepare her for the meat equipment industry.

“My animal science focus in meat science gave me an understanding of meat chemistry, food safety and livestock management,” she said. “That knowledge is essential to customizing machines for different customers. Meanwhile, my business minor gave me a solid foundation in basic practices that are important in any company.”

Industrial and systems engineering courses such as Manufacturing I and II, Engineering Economics and Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering were particularly useful in her current work, Pearce said. She was also active in campus organizations, including the Society of Women Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.

Her Auburn experience was rounded out with plenty of memories, especially football.

“One of my favorite Auburn memories was the 2019 Iron Bowl,” Pearce said. “I had a great seat with my Sigma sisters, Auburn beat Alabama and I didn’t have far to go to jump onto the field to celebrate. I believe in Auburn, and I love it! War Eagle!”