Anthony’s Story – Abbott Benefits

Practicing What He Preached

In Anthony Ashford’s home, education has always been a priority.

His wife has her master’s degree. His daughter is a straight-A student. Two of his children are in college.

“I preach education in my household,” he says. “I want to practice what I preach, so I couldn’t be the one talking about education and then not continue mine.”

Anthony started his career at Abbott Nutrition nearly two decades ago as a production specialist in the Raw Material Acceptance department. He became an operator in charge, then a frontline leader, then a supervisor.

When he learned about Abbott’s FreeU program, which provides employees with access to tuition-free education through participating schools, making it possible for employees to pursue degrees while continuing to work, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I know when people see that term free, it doesn’t seem real, but it is. The tools Abbott provided me for my development, it was endless, to be honest with you.” – Anthony Ashford

Starting with finance before shifting to business administration, Anthony used the program to earn the credits needed for his associate’s degree and to continue pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Balancing school wasn’t easy. During the three-and-a-half years he was in the program, Anthony took on a new supervisory role at Abbott.

“There was a lot on my plate,” he says. “In between that time, I had twins as well. Double the fun, double the activities.”

What made it work was flexibility — coursework that could bend around a manufacturing schedule, two kids already in college and two newborns at home. “FreeU and the flexibility of it allowed me to pretty much work it within my schedule,” he says.

Anthony’s appreciation for Abbott’s support became even more personal when his twins were born prematurely and spent time in the NICU.

In the hospital, the doctors walked Anthony through the feeding plan and mentioned human milk fortifier, or HMF — a nutritional supplement added to breast milk for premature infants.

At the time, Anthony was the supervisor of the HMF line.

“I thought about all the parents that were in the NICU having that same conversation, that were relying on what we do,” he says.

Keeping the lines running, keeping them efficient, keeping the product right stopped being numbers on a shift report. They were what a doctor was explaining to a parent in a NICU somewhere, the same way one had just been explained to him.

“It makes me proud of the work that I do, and everyone that I work with, and how important it is to not only me, but many families like mine.”

Today, Anthony’s story is one of growth in more ways than one. Through mentorship, educational opportunities, and career development programs, he continued advancing his own future while setting an example for his family. At the same time, his personal experiences helped him gain an even deeper appreciation for the work he does every day.