For over five decades, Everlast has been an integral part of the tight-knit community of Moberly. Serving as the sole domestic manufacturing site for Everlast branded items, the facility has been a cornerstone of the community since 1966. While the brand originated in 1910 and is now headquartered in the UK, its name is synonymous with quality, strength, and competitiveness.

Proving that it can punch above its weight, the Moberly plant has played a pivotal role in shaping the sporting landscape, boasting relationships with iconic figures like pro heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali and the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. Chances are if you’ve watched professional sports in the ring, or professional actors on the silver screen, you’ve seen Everlast items that were made in Moberly. 

To keep its 75 employees fit for the future, the company is collaborating with the Workforce Development Center at Moberly Area Community College (MACC). Assisted by training funds from Missouri One Start, Everlast and MACC implemented a comprehensive training program encompassing Certified Production Technician training, Excel proficiency courses, leadership development, and self-paced soft skills modules.

Ruchelle Jacobi, Everlast’s HR Director and a long-time advocate of customized training, attests to its transformative impact. “Partnering with MACC’s Workforce Development Center has been such a positive experience for our employees and management staff. The Customized Training Program funded through Missouri One Start has allowed us to provide development opportunities that would have been impossible before.”

Employees clearly appreciate the investment. “The training was a great refresher to give us the opportunity to get additional tools and information to help us with our day to day tasks. It was a good way to obtain the additional knowledge for the individual parts we did not know.”

In the future, the company plans to expand training to areas such as Industrial Electricity, Mechatronics, Lean principles, and Power BI analytics.

Through its commitment to its employees, Everlast is poised to remain a champion in the sports apparel industry.

About Missouri One Start:

Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive.