Client Service Manager - Food Testing Laboratory

Karah J. Fortin

**** ** **** ****** - ***********, AR 72712 - 479-***-**** - *****.******@*****.***

Summary

Client Service Manager with two years of laboratory research experience and over four years of employment within a food testing lab, including four years of experience in quality control.

§ Laboratory Experience – Attained four promotions within customer-based food testing laboratory in the course of four years. Excelled in laboratory classroom settings, with nine earned laboratory credit hours, spanning the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics.

§ Quality Control – QC lead in food microbiology department for over one year. Involved in audits and corrective actions of specifications and sample data for over two years. Created error and complaint logs within current department. Follow company procedures to log complaints, perform investigations, determine root cause and/or audit corrective actions.

§ Research – Strong abilities in scientific research, including information gathering, communication of ideas and experimentation. Studied federal rules, regulations and guidances for food label evaluations. Performed novel research within the field of immunology, earning seven honors research credit hours. Currently research specifications and application of database tests for the development of food specific work instructions with a concentration on physical testing.

§ Team Worker – Proven ability to work well with peers in laboratory, administrative and retail settings, as evidenced in employee evaluations. Willing to go above and beyond individual expectations in order to maintain a smooth-running team atmosphere.

§ Computer Skills – Proficient in Word, Excel and Outlook. Familiar with basic functions of PowerPoint. Comfortable with standard office equipment (scanner, fax machine, copier, etc.). Able to type 70 or more words per minute.

Education

University of Arkansas, B.S. in Microbiology, 2001-2005.

§ 3.95 GPA, with 53 hours of honors credit. Graduated with Highest Honors (Summa Cum Laude)

§ Classes taken include: Cell Biology, Mechanisms of Pathogenesis, Microbial Genetics, Food Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry and Statistics.

§ Honors Thesis (2003-2005): Augmenting of the Immune T cell Memory Responses of the Aged.

Arkansas School for Mathematics & Sciences, 1999-2001

§ Classes taken include: Microbiology/Immunology, Chemistry, Fundamentals in Research Methods and Biomedical Physics.

§ Research Project (2000-2001): The Effectiveness of Citronella Oil as an Insecticide

Competed and Placed:

Junior Academy Awards, Second Place

Arkansas West Central Region Science Fair Competition, Honorable Mention

Professional Experience

Silliker, Inc., Dept. of Client Services, Bentonville (Laboratory Acquisition)

Client Services Manager, March 2009 – Present

Manage Client Service Representatives to ensure all department responsibilities are met; cross-train associates as proactive measure for potential future needs. Supervise: the release and reporting of results, client feedback to generated result COAs, manual accounting functions, gathering and presentation of special report summaries / projects, review of specification data, and entry of product static data into LIMS database. Determine applicable physical test lists and methods by food type, support company and department standards and SOPs, manage analysis migration from one LIMS system to another and implement development and engagement strategies for direct reports.

Consumer Testing Laboratories, Food Lab, Dept. of Food Technology, Bentonville

Static Data Coordinator, January 2007 – Februrary 2009

Label Review Specialist, August 2007 – February 2009

Senior Food Technologist (Production Supervisor), May 2008 – February 2009

As Production Supervisor, exercised knowledge of the evaluation of food testing results, including rating criteria, analytical variability, result trends, data verification, etc. Involved in final reviews and drafting of reports submitted to suppliers. Worked closely with staff to ensure company goals were met, and the customer received reliable and accurate results. Reviewed associate performances, provided training and feedback, and addressed personnel issues. As Static Data Coordinator, maintained and updated limits, controls and product data in LIMS for incoming samples. Set limits based on supplier specification, 9 and 21 CFR nutritional tolerances and NIST net contents tolerances. Organized, reviewed and/or audited records and reports. Additionally, received training in ISO accreditation procedures and internal auditing. Drafted area SOPs and Work Instructions. Worked closely with IS to improve report and analysis functions in LIMS. Extensively researched federal rules, regulations and compliance policy guides to perform detailed label compliance evaluations on FDA and USDA regulated foods. Communicated findings to management and through final reports. Attended the following seminars:

Food Labeling Seminar offered by GMA, September 6th, 2007, Washington, D.C.

Labeling of FDA Regulated Foods offered by AIB, April 21st-22nd, 2008, San Diego, CA

Consumer Testing Laboratories, Food Lab, Dept. of Microbiology, Bentonville

Microbiology Lab Tech II, June 2005 – November 2007

Microbiology Associate, November 2007 – January 2007

Performed quality microbial testing on food products, including aseptic preparation of samples, plating, plate counts and LIMS data entry. General duties included performance and understanding of specialized food tests, media preparation, operation of laboratory instruments (i.e. autoclaves, media pump, stomachers, balances, plate reader, etc.), and maintenance of accurate records in logbooks and within LIMS. As area owner of quality control and toxin testing, responsible for keeping daily records of temperatures and balance calibrations; logging data for media, temperature, calibration, and autoclave records within LIMS; supervising aflatoxin testing; performing weekly tests of autoclaves; and performing negative controls for all media used within the laboratory. As a senior member of the laboratory, assisted in the training and direction of new employees.

University of Arkansas, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Fayetteville

Immunology Lab, Honors Research, October 2003 – May 2005

Aided fellow workers in experimentation while working on own honors research project. Developed methods for experimentation under supervision of lab director. Performed various experimental procedures, including media preparation, aseptic technique, harvesting of murine organs, cell suspensions, washing and isolation of cells, cell counts and staining, etc. Experience with flow cytometry and data analysis, utilizing the programs FlowJo and Excel. Project culminated in written thesis and defense.

J C Penney, Fayetteville

Customer Service Associate, August 2003 – October 2005

Provided quality customer service, including sales, returns, catalog orders, phone requests, product suggestions, and credit card applications. Maintained fitness of department and worked with security to reduce shrinkage.

Honors and Awards

§ Governor’s Distinguished/Chancellor’s Scholar, University of Arkansas, 2001-2005

§ Honors College Undergraduate Research Grant Recipient, University of Arkansas, 2005

§ Fulbright College Senior Scholar, University of Arkansas, 2005

§ Associate of the Quarter - 2006 (Microbiology Technician), Consumer Testing Laboratories

§ Associate of the Year - 2007 (Static Data Coordinator/Label Review Specialist), Consumer Testing Laboratories

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