Food Safety Chemical Engineering
Resume:
Ron Fogel
Greater Chicago Area
*********@*****.***
www.linkedin.com/in/ron-fogel
Summary
Operations, Manufacturing and Engineering Executive with 20+ years progressive experience in the food & beverage industries. Primary focus areas include strategic growth, leading people, driving continuous improvement, capital project execution, and problem solving. Technically strong but business savvy, with a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. Experience with both small and large companies with multi-site experience for more than one company. Hands-on leader that thrives in environments requiring multi-tasking and shifting priorities. Eager to drive results for an organization focused on profitable growth. Industry experience includes flavors, flavor ingredients, juice, baking ingredients, dairy ingredients, coffee and CPG snack foods.
Proven Skills
Effective Multi-Plant Management & Leadership
Strategy Development and Execution
Operations P&L, Budget Ownership
Capital, Project & Construction Management
Personnel Development, Mentoring, Coaching
Effective Change Management
Continuous Improvement, Lean Six Sigma (Certified)
Logistics, Warehouse & Inventory Mgmt Execution
Supply Chain, S&OP, Procurement
Safety & Environmental (EH&S) Management
Quality, Food Safety Mgmt (GMP/HACCP/SQF/AIB)
Regulatory Compliance: FDA, USDA, OSHA
Spray Drying, Dry Blending, Liquid Processing, Emulsions, Fermentation, Wet/Dry
Packaging
Professional Experience
Operations Consultant – Self Employed 2019 - present
Operations/Supply Chain strategy; Continuous Improvement planning; Capital planning; Project management
FONA International – Geneva, IL
EVP Operations & Supply Chain 2017 – 2019
Executive Leadership team member with direct responsibility for Operations and Supply Chain, including manufacturing, procurement, logistics, customer service, engineering, EH&S, quality, and food safety functions for a growth-oriented $100M+ flavor company.
Executed a major, multi-million dollar spray dry manufacturing expansion in 9 months, start to finish. Significant accolades were received for the scope managed, quality of project delivered, and flawless execution on a timeline that was initially thought to be unachievable
Influential in team leadership to achieve superior food safety audits from SQF and AIB, while also maintaining an accident-free workplace from Dec 2017 through April 2019
Sponsored a BatchMetrics manufacturing execution system (MES) platform that provides electronic connectivity of all shop floor data and activities, from receipt of goods through shipment of finished product
Led continuous improvement projects for Activity Based Costing; EH&S prioritizations; shop floor work schedule, cross-training and communications
Rhythm Superfoods, LLC – Austin, TX
VP Operations and R&D 2015 – 2017
Direct responsibility for Manufacturing (co-packers), Logistics, Engineering, QA/Food Safety and R&D functions for a progressive CPG “start-up” in the snack food industry with sales across the US and Canada. Manufacturing locations in the US and Mexico.
Facilitated the vetting, selection, manufacturing design and “brown field” start-up of a two co-packers in Mexico
Effectively transitioned manufacturing from Colorado to Mexico on time, under budget and with only a 4-week interruption in production and zero interruption in customer supply chain
Facilitated the vetting, selection and start-up of a 3PL warehouse for finished goods distribution
Successfully led product development and scale-up activities for multiple new product lines
Facilitated the vetting, selection and start-up of a new produce supply operation, along with a value-added process operation post-harvest
Allied Blending & Ingredients - IA/CA
VP Operations 2013 – 2014
Direct responsibility for Manufacturing, Logistics, EH&S and Engineering functions for an ingredients manufacturer serving the dairy and baking (tortilla) industries. Scope included dry and liquid blending/packaging activities for both proprietary and toll products.
Led efforts at CA plant in achieving superior SQF certification score of 98, improving from 86 previous year
Achieved USDA certification for the entire plant to secure ongoing business of a key customer
AB Mauri Food, Inc. (Fleischmann’s) - St. Louis, MO
VP Operations North America 2010 – 2013
Direct responsibility for North American Operations: Manufacturing (four sites), Quality, Logistics, Engineering, and EH&S. Diversity of manufacturing included baker’s yeast, leavening agents, dough improvers, and mold inhibitors. Responsibility for 200+ employees (8 direct); $6M/yr capital budget; $100M/yr operating budget and $210M/yr production volume.
Led a cross-functional team in the evaluation of a $85M green-field manufacturing facility, which included preliminary design and business case development
Instrumental in the decision to keep a yeast plant open in Canada amidst pressure to close. Worked closely with the Plant Managers and Union Stewards at both Canadian plants to effectively address rumors of plant closures
Guided a $2.3M expansion strategy for a key bakery ingredient, amidst considerable challenges
Cargill Flavor Systems/Degussa Flavors – Cincinnati, OH 1994 - 2003, 2005 - 2010
Regional Operations Director – Americas 2007 – 2010
Direct responsibility for Operations in North America, indirect in South America: Seven manufacturing facilities, Quality/Food Safety, Engineering, Logistics, and EH&S. Diversity of manufacturing included: liquid and dry flavor; aroma chemicals; dairy ingredients; juice concentrates; and flavor extracts. Responsible for 200+ employees (10 direct)
Rationalized New Jersey facility in 2008 and moved $20M production volume to Cincinnati facility
Leveraged global benchmarking and subject matter advocates to push forward a $1.6MM investment to automate Cincinnati shop floor, while overcoming corporate Cargill resistance (Project awarded an ML100 Manufacturing Leadership Award for Operational Excellence in 2012)
Collaborated with an existing Cargill site to build a small flavor plant in Mexico in 10 months
Successfully implemented the Dupont Behavior Based Safety program; Led the global effort to reduce employee exposure to diacetyl via engineered measures, process change and recipe reformulation
Plant Manager 2006 – 2007
Regional Engineering Manager (Cargill acquired Degussa Flavors in 2006) 2005 – 2006
Givaudan Flavors - Cincinnati, OH
Engineering Manager 2003 – 2005
Degussa Flavors/Alex Fries & Bros. - Cincinnati, OH
Plant Engineer 1994 - 2003
Education
Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering Master of Business Administration
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
Affiliations, Training, Special Interests
Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification (2019)
Franklin Covey 4DX - 4 Disciplines of Execution (2019)
University of Chicago – Business Strategy (2018)
Oliver Wight Integrated Business Planning (2010)
Cargill’s “Transitioning Into Leadership” (2008)
SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, MS Project, ACAD
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