Food Safety Manager

William J. Derer

610-***-**** Reading, PA *****

*********@*******.*** LinkedIn URL

Director of QA

25+ years’ success driving regulatory food safety and quality issues from Beverage to RTE foods.

Seasoned and top-performing Food Safety and Quality Executive with a history of success directing the Quality Assurance functions to ensure consistent, high-quality product, costs control, food safety, and plant sanitation. Talent for launching Food Safety and Quality Management System (FSQMS) and for driving continuous improvement within Food Safety and Quality (FS&Q) in a fast-paced and demanding environment. Comprehensive knowledge of USDA, FDA, and US government regulations, statistics, statistical process control, quality standards, production methods, microbiology, and food processing.

Logistical officer with over 28 years of increased responsibility and mission accomplishments. Dynamic and proactive approach in successful organizational development initiatives that delivered consistent and sustainable operating, revenue, and quality improvements. Natural leader and mentor, with the capacity to train, develop, and motivate diverse individuals toward accomplishing common goals.

Highlights of Expertise

Food Safety and Quality Control

Sanitation Programs

Risk Management

P&L Management

Partner / Vendor Management

Root Cause Analysis and CAPA

Plant Operations, Strategic planning

Turnaround Management

Policies and Procedures Development

Production Operations, Project Management

Professional Experience

ASTRA FOODS, INC., Upper Darby and Aston, PA

Provided executive-level leadership with full accountability for spearheading the development and ongoing execution of quality assurance programs for 2 plants to ensure products are produced according to specifications.

Director of QA, SQF Practitioner (Contractor) (Jan to Apr 2019)

Delivered advise on day-to-day operations and managed all resources relating to quality to prevent and eliminate any product safety risks. Developed and enforced company standards and procedures. Conducted internal audits to ensure the plants are capable of delivering products that meet company’s high quality and food safety standards. Facilitated safety-training programs, documentation for food/allergy safety, recalls, audits, etc.

Spearheaded overall plant quality program direction and results for all assigned facilities; successfully passed customer requested audit in first month.

Managed continuous improvement of FS&Q programs to enable adherence to Internal Audit requirements.

ISABELLE’S KITCHEN, INC., Harleysville, PA

Ensured maximum efficiency of operations and assured quality products are produced in a safe and sanitary environment while meeting both USDA and FDA regulatory standards.

Director of QC, SQF Practitioner, PCQI (2017 to 2018)

Conducted continuous evaluation of products to ensure specification compliance. Identified opportunities and strategies to target the company’s specification to optimize cost. Participated with the research and development of new products and the improvement of existing products.

Successfully passed SQF ed 7.2, military audit, and PADA audit twice.

Recommended changes to HR during OSHA investigation and formulated SOPs to reduce an impending fine from $42000 to $11000 USD.

CROSSROADS BEVERAGE GROUP, LLC, Reading, PA

Administered and led all day-to-day quality safety program activities for the water bottling plant.

QA Manager, SQF Practitioner, CPO (2013 to 2016)

Established and implemented short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures. Ensured that products meet customer and regulatory standards of quality and food safety. Review statistical data from the production lines to identify quality problems. Regulatory (DEP, FDA, USDA) and customer contact with complaint resolution. PCQI for the bottling plant. Conducted investigations and provided recommendations as appropriate regarding issues of product quality, advice, and guidance to management.

Passed two Level 3 edition 7.2 SQF audits 95 and 92.

Monitored and evaluated program effectiveness; recommended changes to achieve continuous improvements in production processes, packaging or quality controls to eliminate the problem.

ASHER'S CHOCOLATE COMPANY, Souderton, PA

Ensured the safety and quality of all finished products through directing QA functions and sanitation.

QA and Sanitation Manager (2012 to 2013)

Facilitated training and monthly manager round table meetings to improve food safety and quality. Created SOP's for food safety, operations, and implemented generic customer specification sheets and vendor certification in first 4 months. Engaged the production team in a coordinated plan around food safety and quality. Effectively ensured that HACCP, GMPs, Standard Operating Procedures, and all Quality programs are followed.

Passed recent Silliker GMP/Food Safety audit with a 98.6; 1.6 points higher than previous audit.

Developed a case documenting proactive value-added, best practices, and SQF certification.

Detailed GFSI completion industry wide and projected impact with certification.

DFA READING, Reading, PA

Developed and executed programs and procedures to lead Quality Assurance, Sanitation, and SQF initiatives at DFA Reading.

SQF Practitioner, QA and Sanitation Manager (2010 to 2012)

Managed quality performance and food safety, regulatory contact, and oversight of QA assistant and lab personnel. Wrote SOP's to establish effective quality assurance program. Ensured effective food safety compliance and worked with site leadership team to implement and improve programs to mitigate risk. Enforced Company standards from raw material procurement through customer delivery.

Achieved level 3 certification in first year. Passed re-certification in second year.

Plant passed a 2-day intensive FDA inspection through swabs for Listeria and Salmonella, (110 swabs). Initiated test plans and metrics.

Successfully passed all third party and customer audits with minor corrective and preventive actions, CAPA. DFA reorganized quality departments.

ASK FOODS, INC., Palmyra, PA

Led the successful implementation and improvement of the quality and food safety systems to ensure that products and processes meet standards of quality and food safety of Ask Foods, Inc.

QA, SQF and Sanitation Manager (2006 to 2010)

Provided training and mentoring to assure all associates are fully capable of achieving Quality & Food Safety expectations. Identified and documented best practices, ideas, and information relevant to quality and food safety system. Oversaw Quality and Food Safety programs and evaluated for compliance through regular audits, inspections, and risk assessments. Initiated operational changes in food safety and HACCP programs for meat and seafood after a FDA recall. Led the organization-wide deployment of quality program for salads, entrees, and soups for multiple plant operations

Oversaw testing with process control authority at Rutgers’s University to obtain USDA approval for multiple food processes. Improved cost and reduced lost quality through daily panel taste testing.

Initiated Quality Strategic budget reducing yearly costs by $50,000.

SQF practitioner and achieved level 2 certification. Achieved organic status for plant.

Passed two FDA and a Silliker third party audits (scored 98) and USDA intensive document evaluation.

Additional Experience

Food Safety Consultant: WJD TRAINING, Reading, PA

Director of Quality and Sanitation Manager: ICELANDIC-USA, INC., Cambridge, MD

Director of Food Safety, OS, and QA: MOTHER’S KITCHEN, RICH PRODUCTS, Burlington, NJ

Food Safety Auditor, Trainer, and Consultant: WJ DERER, JR., Reading, PA

QA/Sanitarian and Industrial Waste Manager: CASA DI BERTACHHI, RICH PRODUCTS, Vineland, NJ

Plant Manager: VENICE MAID FOODS, CROWN, CORK AND SEAL, Vineland, NJ

Special Operations, Logistics Officer: US ARMY

Education & Credentials

Master of Business Administration, Business Operations, Strategic Planning

LA SALLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor of Science, Education

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA

Certifications

Process Control, Low Acid Canning − PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, Harrisburg, PA

Waste Water Management − RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Camden, NJ

Quality Control Sanitarian − PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, Harrisburg, PA

Plant Operator, Bottled Water – IBWA

HACCP: Trainer in Meat, Fish and Juices, Low Acid, RTE, Dairy and Aseptic – AIB, USDC, FDA/NOAA

Professional Development

OSHA 40 hr Course

Perdue course on Pest Control

WMS, ERP, RFID, APICS courses, Logistician – US Army, Ft Lee, VA

SAP Experience in Quality – DFA, Reading, PA

SQF Practitioner – Silliker, GFSI, AMI

PCQI, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual – FSPCA

Member of ASQ prior CQM

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