Vice President of Operations

KERN M STORO

BURNSVILLE, MN ***** C: 952-***-**** *********@*****.***

Vice President of Operations

Business Unit Manager QA Director

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Dynamic and competitive hands on executive leader with 25+ years of progressive manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and laboratory management experience. Equipped with a proven track record of leadership, significant successful contributions within executive management, project management, process improvement, business analysis/evaluation, product-development life cycle methodologies, and quality management systems, processes, standards, and systems in a wide range of organizations.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Manufacturing Operations

Continuous Improvement

Pharmaceutical

Reporting

Site Operations

Lean Manufacturing

Analyzing Data

Training & Development

Strategic Planning

Strategic Direction

Performance Management

Change Management

Budgeting

Implementations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

VICE PRESIDENT 01/2017 TO CURRENT

EUROFINS MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORIES DES MOINES, IOWA

Championed the oversight of a complex organization comprised of 7 Business Unit Managers, 15 supervisors, 8 Quality Managers, 2 microbiologists, 24 salesmen, and over 100 technicians.

Navigated the EML division to the year over year sales increase of 20%.

Dramatically reduced the overall turnover rate from 28% to 19%, the key was implementing an EML division career ladder for technicians and an employee excellence program.

Slashed consumable costs by $100k dollars per year, by implementing tighter controls and better management.

Collaborated with our suppliers to cut costs through volume discounting.

Enriched the sales force through the utilization of Axiom One, and better incentive structures.

Skillfully executed a strategy to penetrate the meat market, that involved new and creative solutions specifically for producers.

Orchestrated the opening of three new labs, including design, purchasing while securing the accreditation of the labs.

BUSINESS UNIT MANAGER 09/2015 TO 01/2017

EUROFINS MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORIES DES MOINES, IOWA

Directed an organization of 30 technicians, 3 supervisors, a quality manager, microbiologist and 2 salesmen.

Deployed the organizational vision and established a plan to personally visit key customers on a recurring basis.

Led the lab to achieve a year over year net sales increase of 65%.

Inspired an increased EBITA from 10% to 30%.

Diminished turnover from 25% to 9%, the key to which was a career ladder for technicians and an employee excellence program in the Des Moines lab.

Cut consumable costs by streamlining the ordering and tracking process.

Implemented a microbiology lab inventory tracking system in the Des Moines lab.

Collaborated with suppliers to cut costs through volume discounting.

Defined a logistics structure for Eurofins micro.

Improved sales territory definitions providing more clarity between regions.

MANAGER 08/2013 TO 09/2015

REMBRANDT FOODS INC REMBRANDT, IOWA

Fostered a culture of discipline in the lab while simultaneously maintaining PEPRL certification by bringing in a USDA auditor to evaluate lab and instituted recommended changes.

Instituted and maintained GLP system.

Persuaded the executive management team of the need for offsite labs and building of 2 micro labs and 1 analytical.

Assembled the weekly and monthly planning process to increase output.

Lowered expenses by implementing a weekly inventory count and, needed testing and lab streamlining by 40%.

Initiated one on one monthly meeting with lab staff to ensure the continued improvement of the lab and lab personnel.

Secured and maintained SQF III certification.

MICROBIOLOGIST - CORPORATE FOOD SAFETY AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

PROCESS CHEMIST TRUVIA DEVELOPMENT

04/2006 TO 08/2013

CARGILL, INCORPORATED WAYZATA, MN

Project and others Co-holder of three patents.

Worked as the lead process chemist

Developed challenge studies for Cargill products and processes

Was responsible for the organization and completion of studies

EDUCATION

B.S: BIOLOGY /MICROBIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY

Minnesota State University

Professional Affiliations

Iowa Biotechnology Association - Board Member IFT IAFP

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