Connect with Food Production & Food Processing Candidates

With 23 years of experience, I have a broad background in new product development, market research, advertising, strategic planning, staff management, promotion, special events, packaging, trade shows, forecast/modeling, account management. With my versatile communication skills, I have presented to Board of Directors, CEOs, major customers, community leaders, and at annual sales meetings. Participated in media and trade interviews.

Senior Brand Consultant

Natural and Organic Food Manufacturer
6 Years – Current Employer

• Researched categories and created PowerPoint sales presentations for all branded product lines –
• Completed company’s first category analysis and strategy reports using SPINS.
• Wrote marketing documents for six new product development projects.
• Completed opportunity gap project across all SKUs, current and potential accounts.
• Created three in-aisle, printed corrugated product displays.

Senior Brand Manager

Household Chemical Manufacturer
2Years

• Executed 17 new product introductions, which led to a 13% total sales growth.
• Launched new product, which became line’s best seller. 8% total growth
• Completed television and print campaigns, achieving 30% sales growth in those markets.
• Converted all SKUs to compliant claims packaging per EPA mandate while improving aesthetics.
• Reduced items by 28%, expenses by 24% previous year, yet increasing sales by 6%.
• Completed LRP and executed consumer research toward major product launch.

Director of Marketing

Chicken processor and Further Processor
1 Year

• Supported all business units, including commodity, retail and foodservice, as well as bringing corporate PR and crisis communications in-house.

Product Marketing Manager

Automobile Accessories Branded Manufacturer
1 Year

Brand Manager

Food manufacturer, distributor.
3 Years

• Managed $7.5 million promotional budget.
• Held category share leadership for bake/serve and pies (50% share, declining category).
• Launched new product - most new sales in category in 3 years ($2.85MM in first 32 weeks).
• Grew product line by 13% in despite declining category.
• Launched new product – grew portion control by 15% in 2006.
• Achieved record 5% coupon redemption on Easter Sunday Family FSI.
• Converted 52 SKUs to new package design while reformulating with no TFA’s.

Account Executive

Food Wholesaler
1 Year

Director of Marketing

Italian Food Manufacturer.
5 Years

• Established company’s first marketing department.
• Wrote first strategic plan and developed first new product development process.
• Developed and managed $7.5MM trade and $2.1MM marketing budgets.
• Grew sales 15% per year over 5 year period before acquisition.
• Executed $3 MM packaging line change and major package structural and graphic re-design resulting in national distribution and category share leadership.
• Created custom exhibit and supervised national trade shows and special events.

Marketing Manager

Ice Cream Manufacturer and Distributor.
5 Years

Promoted to Marketing Manager.

• Introduced Highly Successful new sherbet.
• Created new flavor – became 2nd highest volume flavor in flagship line.

Promoted to Assistant Marketing Manager.

• Introduced highly successful foodservice soft-serve custard line.
• Developed new package designs for all frozen novelties (13) and introduced sugar-free

Promoted to Senior Marketing Analyst.

• Chaired forecast committee balancing service level and inventory control.
• Developed computerized system to measure customer service level.

Forecast Analyst

• Reduced inventory average by $1 million through forecast adjustments.
• Purchased $5 million in product for resale

Education

M.B.A. – Marketing
B.S. Commerce – Marketing Concentration

Highly energetic, team-spirited leader offering 16+ years of diversified experience in the food service/production industries who has strong management and teamwork skills which consistently contribute to exceeding organizational goals and profit objectives by reducing operational cost and mechanical downtime. A quick learner recognized for proactive, visionary foresight and problem-solving abilities that is committed to modeling and promoting good work ethics and establishing high standards of excellence in service and performance.

Production Manager

Private Label Foods and Food Service Goods
4 Years – Current Employer

• Exchange production levels and staffing on product lines to control inventory.
• Ensure products are created on time while meeting production goals. • Writing reports on business operations for the executive staff members.
• Implement and oversee training programs for quality and production employees.
• Attend regular progress meetings with senior managers and directors.
• Create a positive culture where work can get done with efficiency and speed.
• Manage communication lines with managers, supplies and procurement department.
• When appropriate, provide operational cover for absent senior managers.

Operations Manager

Soy Sauce Band
1 Year

• Overall responsibility for shot/medium term planning and organization of all resources.
• Develop and manage interdisciplinary teams for multi-party projects.
• Writing reports on business operations for the executive staff members.
• Participate in the sales process by identifying business development potential.
• Attend regular progress meetings with senior managers and directors.
• Identify and manage risks, issues and dependencies

Production Manager

Leading Food Product Manufacturer
6 Years

• Develop and execute production schedules based on business demands.
• Maximize effectiveness of production team, equipment and materials to produce multi-line products within planned schedules while reducing costs.
• Manage high volume manufacturing of more than 70 SKU products per month.
• Lead, develop and evaluate production staff of 190 members.
• Manage activities related to strategic purchasing to minimize operating expenses.
• Ensure safe work environment through implementation of safety awareness programs and compliance with OHSA.
• Responsible for reduction in missed shipments.
• Cost, plan and control the operating budget.

Maintenance Supervisor / Production Supervisor

Leading Food Product Manufacturer
1 Year

• Accomplishes maintenance human resources objectives by selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions while adhering to policies and procedures.
• Meets maintenance operational standards by contributing information to strategic plans and reviews.
• Meets maintenance financial standards by providing annual budget information, monitoring expenditures while identifying problems and requirements.
• Maintains function and reliability of facility systems and equipment by implementing a preventive maintenance program such as operating and testing systems and equipment, restoring, repairing, rebuilding and replacing faulty or inoperative components and parts.
• Improves function and reliability of facility systems and equipment by studying performance results, identifying recommending and implementing changes to improve throughput.
• Maintains safe and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures while complying with legal codes and regulations.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities such as boiler training and ladder logic classes.
• Accomplishes maintenance and organization mission by completing operational results as needed.

Production Supervisor

Leading Food Product Manufacturer
5 Years

• Effectively lead, coach, develop and evaluate a production staff of 75 union members to accomplish operational objectives.
• Identify, diagnose and resolve operational, manufacturing and maintenance problems within deadlines.
• Plan workflow, manage multiple priorities and meet daily production targets while consistently reducing downtime.
• Competently utilize Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and related process improvement techniques to ensure the most cost-effective manufacturing process.
• Interpret and develop reports including standard operating procedures, safety audits and cost savings reports.
• Efficiently set and control operational budgets.
• Implement production recipes and make adjustments as necessary to produce products within customer specifications.
• Maintains GMP at a high level through the involvement of all team members.
• Develop and recommend improvements of facilities, equipment and procedures to increase safety, quality and efficiency.
• Manage high volume manufacturing of more than 80 products per month.
• Production Supervisor

Food Manufacturer
3 Years

• Trains new and existing team members on all plant equipment operations.
• Coordinates and learns activities for conformance, such as lean manufacturing, OSHA compliance and HAZMAT to establish safety, sanitary and environmental policies for improving procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates production process and recommends methods to optimize yields, equipment operations and process controls while reducing contaminations by training employees with up to date manufacturing industry policies and procedures..
• Key Member of the Safety Committee addressing company-wide safety concerns.

Production Employee

Food Manufacturer
3 Years

• Cross trained in spray drying, fluid mixing and process laboratory technician.
• Document production process by completing production batch sheets, calculating production yields and tracking the flow of materials through the process.
• Prepares production equipment for operation by making setup adjustments and assisting with equipment changeovers.

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree – Business Administration
Associates Degree – Business Administration/Human Resources

Training:

HACCP / GMP / Lock-out, Tag-out / OSHA Compliance / SQF / USDA / FDA / WDA
MSDS / Fire Safety / Confined Space / HTST / 5S Organization, AIB Baking Certified

Passionate Quality and Food Safety Manager with the technical expertise to develop programs and take them to the next level combined with sound leadership skills to impact a culture of quality that is sustainable. A thoughtful manager who values recognizing individual successes, connects with employees to understand their motivations and use that information to drive initiatives and whom is a huge proponent of training. Advanced GFSI background, SQF Practitioner with experience writing SQF and BRC programs from scratch. Medina Knowledgeable in regulatory and audit systems of various CPG sectors, including: Warehousing and Distribution/ Supply Chain Operations, Fluid Milk, cultured and flavored Salad Dressings and Sauces, acidified Carbonated Soft Drinks, Bottled still and carbonated waters, and Formulated Acidified Foods.

Food Safety and Quality Manager

Beef Producer
2 Years – Current Employer

• Oversaw a QA staff of 30+ in their daily operations.
• Developed and implemented HACCP plans for slaughter and further processing of beef, daily liaison between plant and FSIS personnel.
• Oversaw BRC audit.
• Wrote and implemented a successful export program for fresh beef to multiple export countries, including Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
• Provided weekly food safety training to new hires, as well as twice yearly to all staff food safety refresher training.

Food Safety and Quality Manager

Transportation Catering Company
1 Year

• Maintained food safety and quality for a large flight kitchen with 12 customers, domestic and international.
• Improved performance of kitchen in food safety, regulatory, and customer audits over previous year.
• Improved trust in partnership between LSG and our airline partners.
• Food safety and quality training of over 500 employees, process improvement.

Technical Food Safety Rep

Food Processing Company
1 Year

• Managed clients in NW territory, including beef processing, apple packing, apple slicing, and packaged processed foods.
• Trained in lean sanitation procedures.
• Made food safety assessments and recommendations for plants in their food safety and sanitation programs.
• Assisted with audits, gave food safety training for crews.
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Quality Assurance Supervisor

Pepsi Northwest Beverages
1 Year

• Led my plant, the largest on the West Coast, through an AIB audit, achieving our highest ever score of 955.
• Design, implement and oversee all GFSI (ISO, PAS, and TS-2200) and AIB audit programs and paperwork.
• Help manage a staff of 47 full time lab employees, including reviews and corrective actions.
• Training of all plant employees (upwards of 200 in peak season) in food safety and GMPs. KPIs for yield, labor, downtime. Lean processes.

Food Safety and Quality Specialist

Coffee Brand
1 Year

• Managed all SQF 2000 programs and duties, including monitoring of Prerequisite programs.
• Planned and conducted all training of all production workers through the plant, including safety, quality, and training in HACCP and audit systems
• Documentation of programs, such as Puget Sound Clean Air, clean water program, chemical program, Food Security program, and other associated HACCP PRPs

Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant

State University
2 Year

• Taught livestock classes, Animal Sciences: Livestock Practicum Designed and implemented research to detect oyster pathogens using ELISA, cultural, biosensor based, and cultural techniques
• Participated in food safety, food science and meat science courses

Education, Training & Certifications

M.S. in Agricultural Sciences, Major: Animal Sciences, Food Science/Food Safety specialization
B.S in Microbiology
FDA Better Process Control School Certification for Low Acid and Acidified Canned Foods
HACCP Certified
SQF Practitioner

Sales Director with 15+ years of sales & account management experience. Differentiates regional product lines to maximize market shares, implementing sales strategies and tactics to sustain sales & margin growth. With a keen ability to supervise & manage sales staff, is known for navigating teams to profitability, overseeing supply chain management, and improving distributor & key client relationships. Offers extensive experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and leveraging the strengths of people and key partners to improve performance and create new business.

Sales Director

Bakery Company
4 Years – Current Employer

• Generates $4M in sales by preparing & executing sales plans and cultivating relationships with 300+ customer accounts on 10 distributor routes, including Walmart, Target, Dollar General, and Burger King.
• Conducts field marketing through pricing & product surveys of the market landscape, staying current on customer insights, competitor products, and industry trends, adjusting sales strategies to maximize profits.
• Leads local supply chain management, ensuring effective delivery of 1K+ products to 250+ stores.
• Manages customer account relationships and product fulfillment, adjusting to demanding day-to-day operations.
• Generates & analyzes product projections and financial & transportation reports to influence pricing strategy.
• Analyzes and controls sales shrinkage by generating customized and targeted analyses all sales teams.
• Improves client relationships by managing distributor relationships and by providing inventory level oversight.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams across 8 departments to streamline effective communications.
• Management of all purchases and supplies.
• Interpret and adhere to federal and state safety and work regulations.

Sales Director

1 Years – Current Employer

• Exceeded sales objectives, revenue goals, and quotas, promoting new products on a weekly & monthly basis.
• Executed 3 lead generation campaigns per month, converting 20+ monthly leads for new product lines.
• Managed customer relationships to drive customer retention and maintain the sales base.
• Collaborated with 6 cross-functional departments to streamline operations create positive work environment.

Route Sales Manager

Bakery Company
14 years

• Supervised and managed 22 route salespeople, providing coaching, training, direction, and oversight.
• Sold products & displays in stores in several industries and in varying sizes, including Target & Walmart.
• Exceeded revenue goals, increased YoY sales, ensured QA, controlled shrink, and increased customer base.
• Managed customer relationships and product distribution, ensuring 95% on-time product delivery.
• Led monthly safety meetings for sales team, focusing on OSHA compliance and best practices.

Sales Director

Doctorate of Business
Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science