Aidan Kates Email & Phone Number

Lafayette, Colorado, United States

As Distillation Lead, my primary responsibilities revolved around ensuring safe, high quality production and timely supply of material to other departments and vendors. This required creating and maintaining various spreadsheets, standardized documents and logs to ensure maintenance, quality control and inventory levels could be monitored consistently. To enhance reporting, inventory management, and forecasting, I created and administered Excel spreadsheets utilizing pivot tables and regression analysis. Furthermore, I implemented and maintained continuous data logging and control software, which helped identify optimal operating procedures and shorten the manufacturing timeline.As a leader within the team, I supervised other operators and developed procedures and protocols for safe and proper equipment usage, as well as efficient refinement techniques using these devices. Adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs), I ensured homogenization, collection of potency, residual solvent, heavy metal, and microbial samples for in-house laboratory testing.In order to improve equipment performance, increase longevity, and reduce operational deficiencies, I redefined maintenance protocols. This involved becoming familiar with large-scale isolation reactions, chromatography, pressurized hydrocarbon and supercritical fluid extraction. Additionally, I researched and implemented a new lipid hydrolyzation process to comply with kosher/halal standards for food-grade oil.Beyond my technical responsibilities, I also underwent Cintas workplace safety training, including first aid, CPR, and AED training. I followed protocols for the use and disposal of solvents and hazardous waste in accordance with the Authorized Use List (AUL), uploaded Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and established safe use programs. Additionally, I gained experience in DEA inspections.

Boulder, Colorado, United States

As Winterization Assistant, my responsibilities included assisting in industrial scale mixing, winterization, filtering, solvent recovery, decarboxylation, storage, and inventory management of crude hemp oil. Operating multiple machine simultaneously, I followed SOPs, conducted through data logging, and produced food-grade oil that exceeded HACCP principles. I also oversaw the critical control point (CCP) to ensure the oil was free of food safety hazards, such as bacterial growth or chemical contamination. This role allowed me to gain expertise in both the minor cannabinoid industry and scientific industrial manufacturing in general. I learned how to maintain, operate and train on industrial manufacturing equipment and lastly experience creating and forecasting a production schedule.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

As a Junior Financial Analyst at NYLife, I performed risk assessments and evaluated investment opportunities to support strategic planning and decision-making processes. I assessed the financial impact of potential investments, mergers, acquisitions, or other financial transactions, providing comprehensive analysis and recommendations to senior management. I collaborated with various departments and stakeholders to gather relevant information and ensure accurate financial reporting. I monitored key performance indicators (KPIs) and tracked financial metrics to measure the organization's performance against established goals. I prepared regular financial reports, presentations, and dashboards to communicate financial insights and highlight areas for improvement. I stayed updated on industry trends, market conditions, and regulatory changes that may have impacted the organization's financial position. I conducted research and analysis to identify potential risks and opportunities, providing recommendations to mitigate risks and optimize financial outcomes.In addition, I supported senior staff in client outreach, weekly reporting, research, and data analysis for the Greater Philadelphia Area. I answered general financial questions, demonstrated product knowledge, and delivered report presentations to ensure exceptional client service. I handled client data entry, managed and organized databases/spreadsheets for accurate information handling. I conducted correlation, skew, and distributional analysis, and wrote reports with effective data visualization using various tools. I also contributed to automated reporting processes and helped optimize year-over-year returns.

Greater Philadelphia Area

While interning at Blue Square Concepts I gained valuable experience working closely with management to gain insight into multiple functions of a successful and growing business. Interns took part in daily seminars and received one on one training focusing on an array of management techniques and duties. Responsibilities included client attainment, demographic data dissection and research, ROI breakdown, and data entry and analysis for multiple performance metrics. As part of this program I was also selected to participate in a leadership conference focusing on company development, leadership growth and pace setting in a corporate environment.

Ridgewood, New Jersey

Along with installing custom security and audiovisual systems, I was also in charge of scheduling, organizing, and managing projects for over 1000 corporate and residential accounts.

International Business, Finance Concentration, Graduate

Activities and Societies: Alphi Phi Omega, Multiple Intramural SportsI Graduated JMU’s Showker College of Business where I earned my.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) - Officer, Varsity Cross Country Team, Varsity Tennis Team.