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General Management, Product / Process Development and Commercializatio

Location:
Omaha, NE
Posted:
September 05, 2015

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Resume:

Joel D. Berry ….

DELIVERING ENTERPRISE VALUE THROUGH INNOVATION, TEAM BUILDING, DEVELOPING TALENT, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

**** *. ***** ****** ****** Omaha, NE 68130 509-***-**** acrj0r@r.postjobfree.com

CPG EXECUTIVE - RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT / OPERATIONS

Proven CPG Executive with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in Product / Process Development, Operations, and Engineering. Recognized for building effective teams, developing talent, and achieving seamless alignment with company goals to drive results. Commercialization expert with broad cross functional experience and the capability to address any innovation challenge; from bench top and pilot plant to manufacturing scale-ups and start of production. Highly adaptable with a passion for learning and continuous improvement.

DELIVERING RESULTS FOR FORTUNE 50 TO SMALL COMPANIES

Building High Performance Teams that Surpass Expectations – At ConAgra Foods created and staffed a Project Management Team that delivered growth initiatives with >$200MM new sales and $58.5MM in cost savings.

Delivering Enterprise Value through Organizational and Customer Alignment – At Trout Lake Farm reengineered the management team with a non-negotiable customer focus delivering an operating income turnaround from (-$2.9MM) to +$1.1MM and overall sales increase from $8MM to $10MM.

Driving Transformational Innovation that Delivers Fire Walled Competitive Advantage – At PepsiCo/Frito-Lay transformed the potato supply through variety development, new technologies, and best practices that delivered an estimated $50MM raw material advantage versus the competition.

Skills and Capabilities

Innovation / Stage Gate Processes

Product / Process Development

Project Management

Budget Management & Control

Six Sigma Black Belt

Capital Planning / Management

Productivity / Cost Saving

Leadership

General Management / P&L Accountability

Team Building

Community Relations

Regulatory Affairs

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AMWAY, TROUT LAKE FARM LLC, Trout Lake, WA 2012 - 2014

Standalone $10 million LLC owned by the $12 billion Amway Corporation focused on production of 100% certified organic medicinal & nutritional botanical products. Customers included the Amway-Nutrilite Brand plus 120 small-medium herbal products businesses.

General Manager (2012-2014)

Overall management responsibility for the P&L / cash position, sales, finance, milling operations, farming, distribution, quality assurance, agricultural R&D, HR, labor relations, government and community relations. Operations included 3 separate sites, ~1000 certified organic acres, milling and drying processes. Managed a total staff of 200 associates with 8-10 direct reports.

Transformed underperforming operations plagued by unexpected cost overruns and leadership team turnover. Engaged the team and provided direction to stabilize the organization. Through promotion from within and outside recruiting, filled 5 key management positions (finance, operations, QA, west farm, and sales). Reversed $2.9 million operating income loss 2012 to positive $1.1 million operating income 2013. Increased sales from $8 million in 2012 to $10+ million in 2014.

Introduced, trained staff, and began implementation of a Lean Manufacturing program based on “Daily Management Systems” (DMS) approach. The beginning focus was on the Milling Operations. Initial improvements included “Production Uptime” increase from 48% to 68% and “Right First Time Quality” increase from 72% to 95%.

Resolved significant labor shortfall situation through implementation of H2A Visa program in conjunction with Amway sister farm in El Petacal, Jalisco, Mexico. This program provided life changing income opportunities for the El Petacal workers, an incentive program for the El Petacal farm, and trained, committed labor at Trout lake Farm. Implementation required close coordination with the Department of Labor and USCIS.

Introduced a new era of agricultural research at the east farm site. Defined and developed dedicated acreage for concept, semi-works, and commercialization plots. Implemented standardized agricultural research and testing protocols. Established collaborative relationships with the University of Washington and University of Ottawa for pathogen control and plant breeding research, respectively. Resulted in first commercialization of a Nutrilite botanical and future botanical pipeline.

Defined and recruited expert agronomy /equipment resources for an Amway Research Farm development in Wuxi, China which substantially improved project pace and capability to achieve critical path milestones.

QUANTUM FOODS, LLC, Bolingbrook, IL 2011 - 2012

Quantum Foods was a privately held, custom manufacturer of value-added protein products; beef, pork, poultry, and lamb; estimated revenue $500 million; left position as financial difficulties initiated bankruptcy proceedings late 2012.

Vice President, R&D (2011-2012)

Responsible for all innovation and renovation initiatives. Directed a team of 7 meat science and culinary professionals plus 5 research technicians. Directly aligned with the National Sales team for rapid response to customer needs and requests. Accountable for formulation, prototype creation, specifications, process definition, and commercialization.

Successful replication of gold standard design and approval for Pizza Hut bone-in wings. Proof of principal for novel process delivering clear product improvement to Campbell’s mini-sirloin burger. Implemented high pressure pasteurization process to guarantee shelf stability and food safety of Costco fully cooked beef strips.

Prioritized projects and organized the R&D team to drive Quantum’s preferred tactic to secure new business and grow sales; rapid response to customer requests. R&D developed, produced, and delivered an average of over 5000 samples or prototypes per year.

JBS - PILGRIMS PRIDE, Greeley, CO 2010 - 2011

JBS operates 140 production facilities worldwide and is the world’s largest protein supplier with substantial positions in beef, pork and poultry. Pilgrim’s is a Fortune 500 Company and operates 37 poultry plants, employ’s forty thousand associates, and had net sales of 6.9 billion in 2010; left position for Vice President opportunity at Quantum Foods.

Manager R&D, Foodservice & National Accounts (2010-2011)

Accountable for product development and customer support for key national accounts including YUM!, Pierce Foodservice, Sysco, USFS, Pinnacle, Sara Lee, Campbell's and Golden Krust.

Delivered proprietary salt replacement technology for KFC bone-in chicken products; sodium levels reduced an average of 33% with no cost increase.

Drove qualification of Pilgrim’s as an approved supplier of chicken breast strips for Taco Bell.

Oversaw the product development process to ensure successful product launches for Pilgrims national account customers and Pierce Foodservice including development of gold standard formulas and specifications, plant scale-ups, and on-going production.

ADVANCE BRANDS, LLC, Orange City, IA 2009 - 2010

Advance Brands was a $200MM JV between Cargill & Advance Foods focused on retail products; left position when Advance Brands purchase by Pierre Foods was apparent.

Director, R&D / Technical Services (2009-2010)

Functional department head responsible for innovation, product development, specifications, and regulatory affairs.

Delivered multiple new products and cost savings initiatives for key retail accounts; Wal-Mart, Sam's, Kroger, HEB, Campbell's, Aldi's, Meijer, Publix and Albertson's.

Drove innovation and productivity for AB brands Fast Fixin's TM and Fast Classics TM.

CONAGRA FOODS, INC., Omaha, NE 2006 – 2008

ConAgra Foods, Inc. is a Fortune 500 Company and one of North America’s leading food companies; $17B Sales, 26M Employees, 80 Manufacturing Plants, with consumer brands in 97% of America’s households sold in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise, and club stores; left position during Great Recession organization streamlining activities which consolidated Operations Business Leadership from Divisional to Enterprise level.

Sr. Director, Operations Business (2006-2008)

Leader of project management team created to support all business building initiatives for the Frozen Foods Division. This role was the primary liaison between Marketing and Supply Chain.

Created and staffed the Operations Business function for ConAgra’s Frozen Foods Platform. Selected and hired 5 project managers. Implemented enhanced project management discipline and training.

Engaged Operations Business Team to deliver 25+ business growth projects (Innovation/Renovation) with cumulative net sales >$200MM.

Engaged Operations Business Team to manage the Frozen Division’s cost savings portfolio (100+ projects); >$58.5MM estimated cost savings.

ConAgra leader for a co-manufacturer based new plant construction for fully cooked sausage (Brown-N-Serve); 45MM lbs./yr. capacity, $35MM capital expenditure.

PEPSICO INC.

PepsiCo is Fortune 50 Company and one of the world's leading food and beverage companies with over $66 billion in net revenue in 2014 and a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes 22 brands that in 2014 each generated more than $1 billion in estimated annual retail sales.

PEPSICO INC. – FRITO-LAY

Director, R&D / Agricultural Operations 1996 – 2006

General management of Frito-Lay’s Wisconsin farming complex; site management of farming operations, facilities, assets, staff, agronomy best practice development, potato variety development & commercialization, and support for the Frito-Lay Grower system. In addition served as the WW Agriculture Lead; coordinated resource support and technology transfer to Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

Transformed Frito-Lay’s potato supply delivering an estimated $50MM raw material advantage versus competition. This was accomplished by driving productivity through broad scale implementation of Grower Best Practices (fertilization, spacing, irrigation, pest control, etc.) and commercialization of proprietary Frito-Lay potato varieties (23% to 80%).

Started up and operated an innovative enclosed manufacturing facility i.e. “Technituber” for production of ~70% of Frito-Lay’s nuclear seed requirements. Sold “100% disease free” seed into the Frito-Lay Seed Grower base.

Drove Safety performance to “Zero” injuries in 2004, 2005 and OSHA Audit score of 97 (2005); initiated certification of Rhinelander Farms as an OSHA VPP Star site.

Developed and commercialized storage varieties and best practices to extend potato storage life 30%; resulted in combined saving of $27MM / year through supply optimization and spring storage-to-fresh risk mitigation.

Engaged a major USA Grower to complete development and manage a Model Farm in Baotou, China to fast track supply and consequently business development in country.

PEPSICO INC. – KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN 1990 – 1996

Director, Engineering & Technology Development

Leader of R&D team (10 associates) accountable for KFC’s in-store equipment package; equipment development, approval process, and supplier base.

Commercialized new process control technology for the complete portfolio of KFC pressure fryers. Rolled out redesigned front end Service Pack System. Supported development of new concepts stores such as KFC “TenderRoast”, a non-fried concept modelled after Boston market. Managed technical development of the “Small-Is-Beautiful” (SIB) concept.

Managed R&D group responsible for strategic projects targeted against the Vision 2000 restaurant simplification program; leveraged external supplier manufactured fully finished store delivered products, centralized production concepts and miniaturized store designs for non-traditional channel penetration. Substantial portion of product development completed in Grantham, England. Set-up and implemented test markets in Tokyo, Japan and London, England.

PEPSICO INC. – ADDITIONAL ROLES

Engineering Project Manager, Concentrate Operations

Project Manager for concentrate plant design and construction, including capital cost estimate/control, contractor/ subcontractor management, and purchase and start up of equipment. Managed major projects, including juice concentrate plant in Crimean Region of Russia and beverage concentrate plant in Punjab Region of India.

Senior Process Engineer, R&D

Process engineering lead for commercialization of new & reformulated beverage products. This included critical process, ingredient, and equipments systems for flavor concentrates & extracts that would be later combined with salts/acidulants at the beverage bottling plants. Developed concentrate process and successfully commercialized Diet Mountain Dew, Orange, Lemon-Lime, regular and diet Cherry Cola Slice, and Jake’s Diet Cola.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY of MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, MN

Dual Major: Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering & Chemistry

Wharton Business School – Finance & Accounting for Non-Finance Majors

Harvard Business School – Industrial Research Institute Course

Management & Strategy institute – Six Sigma Black Belt Certification



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