Nick Bavaro

ad495h@r.postjobfree.com ***** S. Campbell Ave. Escalon Ca. 95320 209-***-****

Education

Fresno State University

****-****

BS Degree in Ag Business/Plant Science

Experience

Rocket Farms Inc, Growers Transplanting Inc, Rocket Farms Herbs

President/COO/Board of Director Member 2018-2023

One of the nation’s largest controlled environment growers of indoor edible herbs, potted plants and flowers as a B-to-B business dealing with the largest retailers in the country. Hired in January of 2018 as COO to improve operations and oversite of annual P&L alongside current President and staff. Promoted to President/COO of RFI in July of 2018 and given complete oversite of business.

Oversite and responsibility of 145m annual P&L

Managed and directed Sales and Marketing team B2B.

Operational oversite of facilities (1.5mm sq ft-controlled environment greenhouses) and labor

1.Through corrective operational methods, saved 1.2mm in first 3 months.

2.Reduced SGNA from 8% to 5% in year one.

3.Reduced direct labor by 3mm in second year through automation CAPX investment (2yr ROI).

Introduced state of the art automation and technology to company

Implemented robotic strategies and equipment for indoor and outdoor facilities.

Directed and managed implemented new NAV 365 ERP system.

SKU rationalization

Engaged in face-to-face meetings with key customs across the country.

Introduced a franchise model for grower partners throughout the nation.

Built overseas relationships with key material suppliers.

We were able to move the company from negative gross margins to a 9% EBIDA.

20 direct reports

Rocket Farms Cut Herbs

President/COO/Board of Director Member 2018-2023

In 2019, I was also given the reins as President/COO to Rocket Farms Herbs. This is a cut herb business which delivers cut herbs in a clam shell. Quickly turned the company around by outsourcing key SKU’s and packaging.

Oversite and responsibility of 20mm P&L

Managed and directed Sales and Marketing team B2B.

Managed all existing and new customer sales B2B.

3 direct reports

EBIDA is 18% from 13%

Growers Transplanting Inc.

President/COO/Board of Director Member 2020-2023

In 2021 I was also given the reins to the President/COO position of Growers Transplanting Inc, a 40-year-old company. This is a nursery company that grows starter plants and transplants them for the traditional outside growers in California and Arizona. We grew 5 billion plants annually in 8 locations throughout California grossing 60mm annually.

Oversite and responsibility of 60mm P&L

Direct oversite of all 9mm sq ft facilities on 6 locations

Directed and managed implementation of new NAV 365 ERP system.

Managed in-direct and direct labor costs.

Reduced SGNA from 9% to 5.8%

EBIDA is 9% and stable.

Rain For Rent/Western Oil Fields

Ag Division Operations Director 2014-2017

I was hired under a 3-year contract to direct Operations and Sales of the 9 Ag site facilities in California, Arizona, and Idaho. Worked with site managers and staff to improve operations and efficiency of site staff. As well as working with Sales team to improve margins and topline revenue. Utilizing Full Kit processes and through putting sales technics we were able to improve topline revenue from 135m annually to 180m with a 7.5% increase in gross margin.

Worked with site Managers developing annual budgets and forecasts while overseeing and managing P&L, Met with Board of Directors quarterly to revenue P&L results,

Left in 2017 as contracted.

Sabbatical

2007-2014

The sale of SSDC gave me the opportunity to refocus my time to what I believed was an extremely important time in my children’s lives. At this time both of my children were going through high school, and I felt it was an extremely important time in their lives for me to be more involved in our family. My children are one year apart in school, and my wife and I believed this was the ideal opportunity to give 100% of my time to our family.

Stepping Stone Development Co.

Owner 2003-2007

Real Estate development company focused on personal property development for housing and light industrial purposes. I took a 6-month, unpaid position as an intern with Scott Meyers (De Valle Homes) to better understand the business process. Following my internship, I began processing paper lot subdivisions on our family-owned properties. My first property was a 80 acre light industrial site located in Modesto California. (North Modesto Industrial). This property was developed and sold to individual builders. I then developed a 30-acre residential site in Manteca Calif, which our family owned, then it was sold to Ramus Homes for construction.

Over a short period of time, local landowners were approaching me to develop their properties to better optimize the values of their asset values. During this time SSDC processed over 6,500 residential lots and 3 light industrial properties in California.

Sold Business and remaining contracted properties within my portfolio to Pinnacle Partners in mid-2007.

Stepping Stone Consulting & Professional Services

Owner 1999-2005

Viticultural consulting company working with wineries and operators to create viticultural programs to optimize vineyards and create consistency to meet wine makers expectations. Company consisted of 8 employees (PCA, CCO). Worked very closely with onsite operators and winemakers to align on best viticulture practices by soil types, irrigation, variety’s, clones, and rootstock to best ensure consistency in vineyard operations to meet winery’s demands. Also worked with Winery’s and operators developing and planting over 18,000 acres of premium wine varieties throughout California. Helped development annual operating budgets for customers given growing regions and contracted grape values by region.

Worked with local growers/customers in the Lake County area to create the Red Hills Appellation for premium wine varietals. Planted and developed the largest continuous hillside vineyard in California for the Meyers Family (Snows Lake Vineyards). Helped contract wine grape sales with multiple premium wineries in the Napa and Sonoma area.

Did annual wine and barrel tastings with winemakers to align on results of prior year harvest results.

Sold business to employees

Allied Domecq Wines & Spirits

Director of Vineyard Management and Grower Relations 1989-1999

Managed all inside site managers within the Allied Domecq umbrella. Which included Callaway Vineyard and Winery, William Hill Winery, Atlas Peak Winery and Clos du Bois Winery. Also managed all outside growers on behalf of the company. Travelled extensively to work with vineyard and winery operations to develop viticultural programs to support each given wine maker’s desired quality expectations. Spearheaded extensive composting operations at all sites to improve and balance soil profiles within vineyard operations. In 1998 I trapped and identified the first Glossy Winged Sharpshooter in North America. Worked closely with State University’s, county, State and National agencies to bring awareness to how the sharpshooter transmits Pierces Disease in plant material and the enormous threat to agriculture in California.

Bacchus Wines Inc. Escalon Ca. & British Columbia Canada

Owner 1988-1993

Business was based around importing pre-taxed bulk wine (10,000 gallon) into the west coast of Canada then wine was transferred into kegs for distribution to bars and pubs for resale.

Sold business pre-NAFTA to Canadian VC wine group.

Bavaro Custom Harvesting and Spraying Service, Escalon, Ca.

Owner 1981-1988

Custom Almond/Walnut Harvesting company which operated a diversified commercial mechanical harvesting business utilizing state of the art machinery throughout California. Specialized in large growers to efficiently harvest commodities through latest the technology available in the industry. Grew business to be one of the largest commercial operators in California. Also operated a customer orchard spraying business under this umbrella throughout the state of California to better retain seasonal operators.

Sold business in 1988 to employee group.

Special Skills

New Business Development

Strong leadership background managing Sales, Marketing and Operations

Ability to build strong relationships with team and Customers.

Extensive and deep experience managing and driving Sales Team

Strong communicator and negotiating skills.

Extensive P&L experience, ownership and understanding.

Annual budgeting and forecast experience.

Very adaptable and comfortable navigating ambiguity

Company and customer focused.

Solution oriented

Computer proficient

Tri-lingual, English, Spanish, Italian

Insatiably curious. Love new challenges.

Google search Nick Bavaro Rocket Farms to read numerous regional and national articles.

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