Quality Control Supply Chain

KEVIN M. CLEMENS

Woburn, MA *************@*****.*** 401-***-**** https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmclemens/ OVERVIEW

Versatile food industry professional with 15+ years of experience encompassing management, quality control, supply chain and logistics, ingredients and formulations, and plant operations across startups to Fortune 500 employers. Collaborative leader with extensive experience in commercialization process, internal and external manufacturing systems, and cold, frozen, and controlled storage. Known for strong analytical, technical, and problem- solving skills and disciplined approach.

EXPERIENCE

RITIKA’S GLOBAL GRAINS, Lexington, MA 2024 – 2025

U.S. base, woman-owned company, founded in 2013. Producing USDA certified organic and all-natural products, including 90 second rice, grains, pasta, and curries in retort stand-up pouches, sold in over 5,000 retail stores in the U.S. Laid off due to acquisition and organizational restructuring. Procurement Manager

Managed the tolling process at multiple Indian and Thailand plants through sourcing, procurement, production, and logistics of RTE retort pouches.

Pursued vendor proposals with RFPs for raw materials and packaging needs. Managing 200 raw material sku’s across conventional and organic products.

Searched and brought on alternative suppliers for redundancy and cost reduction, saving over $700k annually.

Led international cross-functional teams on sourcing, procuring, and implementing policies to protect finished goods during international cargo transit.

Managed Foreign Supplier Verification Program by evaluating the food risk, based on each plant’s food safety history and performing a hazard analysis for any hazards.

Analyzed the forecast demand to streamline procurement to improve operational efficiency and on time delivery of raw materials.

Built supplier relationships through consistent communication and negotiating deals that align with business goals. MORI, Charlestown, MA 2023

Startup bioprocessing and technology company creating a shelf-life extender from silk cocoons. Using bioreaction to separate the protein for commercial manufacturing. Laid off due to company downsizing. Director of Manufacturing

Managed pilot plant operations, technology transfer, and concentrated on building the commercial manufacturing process.

Oversaw pilot plant production to track cost and initiated cost saving practices.

Worked with the engineering department with continual improvements and bi-annual plant shutdowns.

Ensured a safe working environment in both human and food safety programs. Enforced cGMP policies.

Established Lock out tag out (LOTO) program. Trained pilot plant team on authorized and affected employees.

Created a new training program concentrating on hands-on training and safety, with measurable training matrixes.

Hired and built second shift pilot plant team through rigorous hiring and training program. BRADY ENTERPRISES, East Weymouth, MA 2020 – 2023

Global leader in co-manufacturing dry and powdered food products for Fortune 500 companies and small specialized brands. Brady underwent a significant reduction in workforce in 2023. Project Manager of Commercialization

Managed multiple projects from discovery to commercialization at three plant locations.

Developed, documented, and validated commercialization plans for new products and customers.

Vetted feasibility of new projects and line extensions.

Acted as first line of quality control for raw materials, packaging, and finished goods specifications.

Leveraged sophisticated understanding of the key components for costings/pricing in a toll/turnkey environment.

Ran the trial process, including quality, supply chain, operations, debriefing, and transitioning to production.

Communicated and audited quality, operations, logistics, engineering, and maintenance documentation relating to new or changing products.

MOTIF FOODWORKS, Boston, MA 2022

Startup food technology company working to make plant-based foods better tasting and more nutritious and reinventing the way science is applied to make plant-based foods. Motif experienced a significant reduction in 2022 and eventually dissolved.

Senior Manager, Quality Control

Recruited by Motif HR leader based upon prior relationship at Dunkin Brands, Inc.

Led quality control for manufacturing with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and pilot-scale plant.

Facilitated GMP audits and evaluation for potential suppliers.

Executed Customer Quality audits across FSMA, GRAS, GMP, and HACCP requirements.

Conducted root cause analysis with CAPA and document deviations to solve problems with production. Kevin Clemens, page 2

LEGAL SEA FOODS, Boston, MA 2019 – 2020

American restaurant chain of casual-dining seafood restaurants. The group operates 33 restaurants in five states, plus the District of Columbia, and serves over 7M customers annually. The company had significant layoffs due to COVID in 2020. Director of Plant Operations

Executed process improvements and managed budget. Managed 13 departments including fish, shellfish, hot prep, transportation and packing center, warehouse, lab, sanitation, shipping/receiving and mail order fulfillment.

Supported and maintained facility’s AA Rating with the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Managed and oversaw all plant processing, transportation logistics, shipping and receiving, and sanitation teams.

Developed hands-on understanding of all equipment Standard Operating Procedures and required maintenance.

Addressed quality and process improvement throughout multiple departments in the Quality Control Center (QCC)

Oversaw processing and transportation logistics for up to 7M units of fish, soups, and sauces annually.

Led daily team huddles and weekly one on ones with direct reports. AU BON PAIN CORPORATION, Boston, MA 2017 – 2019

For over 30 years, Au Bon Pain has been producing its fine breads from the Seaport area in Boston, MA. This is the only bakery for all Au Bon Pain breads company wide, with sales of $344M. Panera Bread acquired Au Bon Pain in 2019. Director of Manufacturing

Led plant operations with budget oversight from production to distribution and managed teams at two locations.

Supported higher than industry standards for employee safety, food safety, HACCP, GMP, and FDA guidelines.

Ran mock recalls for FDA traceability.

Led continuous improvement projects, with increasing greatest output over 750%.

Educated and trained in both food safety and employee safety.

Managed and oversaw all plant production, shipping and receiving, maintenance, and sanitation teams.

Reviewed daily production records and revised policies. Annual review of OSHA Compliance.

Focused on multiple departments’ budgets for two locations with $4.7M in profit.

Oversaw manufacturing facility with zero accidents in 2018.

Orchestrated plant shutdown from the initial plan through complete closure. INCREDIBLE FOODS, INC., Hyde Park, MA 2015 – 2017

Leading research and development incubator and production company. An allergy free company focusing on producing frozen treats and refrigerated snacks.

Plant Production Manager

Led and executed all plant production from pilot plant through process scale up. Collaborated on formulations, process performance, regulatory labeling, quality assurance, supply chain, logistics, and staffing.

Commissioned new process equipment and created Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).

Created formulas for new products including processing procedures, ingredients and finished product specifications.

Reviewed new packaging nutritional’s, ingredient declaration, and claims.

Implemented and documented process performance and designed Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

Coordinated staff schedule for production needs. Worked with a search agency to source/hire production workforce. DUNKIN’ BRANDS, INC., Canton, MA 2012 – 2015

Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, is one of the largest QSR (quick service restaurant) companies in the world with over 18K points of distribution in nearly 60 countries worldwide. Senior Technologist, Global Commercialization & Quality Assurance Managed online global document storage system for all vendors. Reviewed ingredient specifications for global markets. Generated finished product specifications for Baskin Robbins Ice Cream.

Created globally compliant product specification declarations, including processing procedures, ingredients, and finished product specifications. Created labels and translations.

Provided 3rd party co-packers with quality processing direction during product commercialization.

Managed QA program for designing finished products and reviewing regulatory compliance.

Implemented QMS (Quality Management System) and managed global document storage system.

Worked cross-functionally to grade and approve ingredients and finished products for sale.

Organized and executed quarterly product evaluations for sensory and organoleptic reviews.

Supported closing of Canadian plant and the transition of manufacturing to other vendors. EDUCATION

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, State College, PA Ice Cream Short Course, 2013 JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY, Providence, RI BS, Culinary Nutrition, 2006; BS, Culinary Arts, 2005 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Certifications: Foreign Supplier Verification Programs {FSVP} (2024) Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance; Internal Auditing (2023) Alchemy Academy; Preventative Controls Qualified Individual {PCQI} (2022) AIB International, Inc; Seafood HACCP Certified (2019) The Association of Food and Drug Officials.

Affiliation: Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout Rank.

Contact this candidate