Career Summary: A well respected, multiple award-winning, passionate, proven leader whose visionary business operations and manufacturing leadership has driven organizational change utilizing continuous improvement strategies and Key Performance indicators to successfully record significant and consistent safety improvements, consumer complaint reductions, productivity efficiency gains, yield gains, lead time reductions, purchase price reductions which in total have developed cost-effective business operating models generating savings translating to multi-million dollar profits while educating and developing current and new staff members over a 20-year span.

CORE COMPTENCIES:

Manufacturing management Operations Management Capital Implementation Budgeting

New Product Development Profit and Loss Six Sigma Scheduling

Research and Development Quality Assurance SQF Level 3 Distribution

Continuous Improvement Supply Chain Warehouse Management Unions

Key Performance Indicators Inventory Control Co-Packaging operations Engineering

Food Processing Automated Packaging Maintenance Human Resources

Multi Facility Management Purchasing Procurement Process Improvement

Total Quality Management Sanitation Strategic Planning Staff Development

Strategic Thinking Customization Lean Manufacturing ERP/MRP

CAREER EXPERIENCE

2020 – Present Slice Of Life Foods Chief Executive Officer

I am leading a non-union manufacturing start-up operation operating in 38,000 square foot facility. The facility processes packages branded, private label & contracted finished goods. Direct reporting departments include Manufacturing, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Warehouse, Transportation, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Sanitation, Scheduling, and Purchasing. Employed under my direction is a staff of 175 hourly employees led by 14 salaried professionals. The facility operates with 1 production kitchen, 6 ovens, 3packaging lines across 2 shifts, up to 7 days a week. Responsibilities also include 1 offsite logistics warehouse.

•Moved the P&L to positive cash flow and record profits

•Developed safety, quality, and employee training programs

•Increased sales by 64% via new customers and contract manufacturing

•Increased capacity 28% via alternative work schedule and production efficiency gains

•Reduced operating cost by 25% via labor cost and reductions and product yield improvements

•Developed and commercialized 4 new brands (49 new products)

•Implemented a new upgraded warehouse management system (to run MRP & ERP)

•Developed Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

•Worked with the USDA, FDA, OSHA, NVOSHA

2019 – 2020 Ascent Industries VP of Operations

I led a non-union start-up manufacturing operation operating in 38,000 square foot facility. The facility packages branded, private label & contracted finished goods.

•Successfully regained the operating license

•Developed facilities/equipment layout for new brand/products

•Worked with the FDA, OSHA, NVOSHA & NV Department of Taxation

2018 – 2019 Solace Holdings/Aether Gardens Chief Operating Officer

I led a non-union manufacturing start-up operation operating in 80,000 square foot facility. The facility packages branded, private label & contracted finished goods. Direct reporting departments include Manufacturing, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Warehouse, Transportation, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Sanitation, Scheduling, and Purchasing. Employed under my direction is a staff of 62 hourly employees led by 11 salaried professionals. The facility operates with 1 greenhouse, 4 indoor grow rooms, 3 extraction rooms, 1 production kitchen, and 4 packaging lines across 3 shifts, up to 7 days a week. Responsibilities also include 1 offsite logistics warehouse.

•Submitted, implemented & delivered profit improvements to save $1,100,000 via capital, process improvements, and purchasing

•Developed and commercialized 4 new brands (22 new products)

•Implemented a new upgraded warehouse management system (to run MRP & ERP)

•Developed Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

•Worked with the F.D.A., OSHA, NVOSHA & NV Department of Taxation

2015 – 2018 Pearson’s Candy Vice President of Operations/Officer of the Company

I led a unionized manufacturing organization operating in a 130,000-square foot lean manufacturing facility. The facility develops, produces, and delivers branded, private label & contracted finished confectionery goods to retailers. Direct reporting departments include Manufacturing, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Warehouse, Transportation, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Sanitation, Scheduling, and Purchasing. Employed under my direction is a staff of 212 hourly employees led by 12 salaried professionals. The facility operates with 6 processing lines and 11 packaging lines across 3 shifts, up to 7 days a week. Responsibilities also included 2 co-packing facilities & a 3rd party logistics warehouse.

•Submitted, implemented & delivered profit improvements to save $3,100,000 via capital, process improvements, and purchasing

•Reduced OSHA TIR rate from 24.2 to 6.45

•Implemented computerized safety & food safety training programs (Alchemy)

•Developed and commercialized over 24 new items

•Elevated the facility to SQF Level 3

•Implemented a new upgraded warehouse management system (to run MRP & ERP)

•Developed Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

•Transition company to new 3PL warehouse and distributor

•Implemented online/real-time data collection & continuous improvement program (Red Zone)

•Worked with the F.D.A., OSHA & MNOSHA

2014 – 2015 Ultra Green Vice President of Operations

I led a non-union startup manufacturing organization operating in a 90,000-square foot facility. The facility produced chemically treated biodegradable packaging and recycled plastic packaging for food manufactures and/or restaurants. Direct reporting departments included: Manufacturing, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Warehouse, Transportation, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Sanitation, Scheduling, and Purchasing. Employed under my direction was a staff of 48 hourly employees led by 5 salaried professionals. The facility operated with 5 processing lines across 1 shift, 5 days a week.

•Developed a safety training program (AWAIR/Right-to-Know)

•Implemented a warehouse management system, cycle counting program & lot control

•Implemented a quality assurance program

•Implemented Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

•Developed operator training programs

2007 – 2014 Holiday Companies Director of Operations

I led 3 non-union manufacturing locations (MN at 50,000 square feet, AK at 18,000 square feet & MT at 8,00 Square feet). The facilities developed, produced, and delivered custom finished RTE goods (fresh, frozen, and baked food items) to the Holiday Station Stores. Direct reporting departments included: Manufacturing, Human Resources, Quality Assurance., Research & Development, Warehouse, Transportation, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Sanitation, Scheduling, Purchasing, Accounting, and Customer Service. Employed under my direction was a staff of 186 hourly employees led by 9 salaried professionals. The facilities had a total of 7 processing lines and 5 packaging lines that operated across 3 shifts, 7 days a week to support a delivery fleet of 21 refrigerated box trucks for 440+ stores.

•Submitted, implemented & delivered profit improvements to save $6,200,000 via capital, process improvements, and purchasing

•Reduced the OSHA safety Total Incident Rate from 30.54 to 3.6

•Reduced consumer complaints from 92.87 per 1 million cases to 4.45 per million

•Developed and commercialized over 100 new items

•Developed complete quality program for all sites

•Implemented “on-site” environmental testing programs

•Led project to launch a full bakery delivery program

•Developed Key Performance Indicators with online data collection warehouse & reporting

•Worked with the F.D.A., U.S.D.A., OSHA & MNOSHA

2005 – 2007 Arden Kitchens Plant Manager

I led a non-union manufacturing production team operating in a 125,000-square foot facility. The facility manufactured & packaging private label/food service frozen food. Direct reporting departments include Manufacturing, Human Resources, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Scheduling, Warehouse, and Purchasing. Under my direction were 165 hourly employees led by a salaried staff of 14 salaried professionals. The facility operated with 4 processing lines and 5 packaging lines operating across 3 shifts, up to 7 days a week. Responsibilities also included directly managed 2 co-packing operations.

•Submitted, implemented & delivered profit improvements to save $4,200,000 via capital, process improvements, and purchasing

•Reduced safety Incident rate from 15.4 to 8.1

•Reduced consumer complaints from 6.81 per 1 million cases to 1.42 per million

•Led project to build a world-class test kitchen & research facility

•Implemented a preventative maintenance program

•Developed online data collection & reporting

•Worked with the F.D.A., U.S.D.A., OSHA & MNOSHA

•Achieved a “Superior” rating from AIB

2003 – 2005 Con Agra Operations Business Manager

I led the coordination and implementation of new product development between Marketing, R&D, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Engineering for all Store Brand products, which spanned across 18 manufacturing plants (the U.S., Canada, Mexico & Spain) with 1,200+ SKU’s. Responsibilities included directly managing 4 co-packing facilities.

•Submitted, implemented & delivered profit improvements to save $800,000

•Implemented the accelerated process improvement processes in 4 ConAgra plants

•Completed 42 new product launches

•Developed vendor & co-packer approval process

•Assisted with Store Brands implementation of SAP (Nucleus Team)

•Led/involved with the strategic purchase of 7 companies

PREVIOUS POSITIONS:

2001 – 2003 Con Agra Assistant Plant Manager

2000 – 2001 Con Agra Master Scheduler

1995 – 2000 Con Agra Business Unit Manager

1993 – 1995 Con Agra Lead Supervisor

1991 – 1993 Con Agra Supervisor

1990 – 1991 Con Agra Lead Operator

1989 – 1990 Con Agra Operator

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Master’s Degree in Business Management -Cardinal Stritch University – 2004 (G.P.A. 3.9)

Bachelor of Science in Business Management -Cardinal Stritch University - 2000 (G.P.A. 3.6)

A.A.S. Degree in Business Management - Inver Hills Community College - 1998 (G.P.A. 3.8)

Diploma of education in Supervision I & II Employers Association -1992

A.P.I.C.S M.R.P./E.R.P. & Inventory Control 1996

PLANT SANITATION American Institute Baking 1991

AWARDS/RECOGNITION: _

Civilian award honor (Metro Transit Police - 2018)

Presidents Circle Award (Con Agra/International Home Foods - 1999)

Employee of the Year (Con Agra/Grist Mill Co. 1990)

Business Achievements (Lexington Who’s Who, 2000)

5 awards for record outputs/efficiency (Con Agra/Grist Mill Co. 1989 - 1991)

Featured in Con Agra/Grist Mill annual report for implementation of T.Q.M.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

MICROSOFT: Windows, Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Project, PowerPoint, Tableau

Warehouse Management Systems: SAP, Oracle, Bakers Dozen, AS/400 & B.P.C.'s., Microsoft NAV

Computer Aided Drafting: AutoCAD, Turbo CAD

REFERENCES:

* Available upon Request

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