Head of Dole Diversified in PA 2018-2021. Berries, Grapes, Citrus, Others

National Fresh Cuts and Specialty produce company with a focus on Regional and Local flavor preferences.

$300M P&L | 15 GROWERS | 10 COUNTRIES | TEAM OF 15 | 35% YOY REVENUE GROWTH | 38% NET MARGIN GROWTHWhile donning several hats, I've built this vertically-integrated startup into a year-round fresh/cut fruit and juice producer regarded amongst retail leaders and growers alike for honesty, quality, consistency + reliability. I've led a team of 15 and championed the creation of a significant domestic retail, import, and export strategy. Today, we represent 15 growers and operate across North America, Australia, Latin America, and Asia.As a GM, I've managed all business segments from soil to shelf: farming and harvesting to packing and processing, cold storage and shipping to supplies sales and accounting. SALES LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:- Captured #2 in total market share with 60% export and 20% domestic share increase on a shoestring $20K advertising and marketing budget. - Negotiated agreements with Smuckers, Martinelli, and Ocean Spray, as GM for a $40M juice plant. - Sought after to translate owner vision into a sales and operational reality via strategy replication across different commodities (almonds, raisins, pistachios), representing an additional $270M P&L.- Facilitated waste-free products via newly-penetrated juice production, pomegranate oil, and quick-freeze arenas. - Negotiated contracts with Top 4 leading retailers; navigated complex, country-specific regulations across ten countries. OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:- Increased fresh production yields by 20% and product size by 35% via a strategy that gained farm manager buy-in for infrastructure investment and supported a 15% price increase.- Led bottle ware transition from outsourced to in-house; established private label program with Trader Joe's, and led $3M expansion of plant forecasted to grow aril revenues 10X in five years.- Reduced costs by 25% without compromising quality by streamlining the packing process.

$26M P&L | WALMART/COSTCO/SAM’S CLUB/HY-VEE AGREEMENTS | ARIL + ASSOCIATED GROWER NEW BUSINESSI helped this family-run producer of California cherries, grapes, pomegranates, persimmons, and stone fruit to penetrate the national marketplace. I led a team of five that executed my retail sales and marketing strategy, grew revenues by 80%, and introduced processes that improved quality across the supply chain. In this role, I negotiated agreements with Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and Hy-Vee in just two years—12 months earlier than the three-year industry norm. By revamping the 200-member packing group and positioning them to support new revenue opportunities, the company ultimately packaged all aril and associated grower business.

$60M P&L | 125% CATEGORY SALES GROWTH | TEAM OF 6 | WALMART SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Promoted from Account Manager to Sales + Marketing Director based on my success growing our Walmart account 10X (1/2 of the company’s total revenue), I attribute my success to account leadership, accurate store-to-farm forecasting and matrix analytics and expert promotion event planning and execution.I earned Supplier of the Year for modular layout overhaul that achieved 125% category sales growth and 5% shrink reduction for Soft Fruit, Apples, Grapes, Berries, Tropicals, Melons and Juices categories. Shortly thereafter, I established the company’s Bentonville office, ensuring increased facetime with our company’s largest account while working to grow regional sales as the company’s only sales leader not based in the State of California. To support our go-to-market strategy across all categories including Soft Fruit, Table Grapes and Cal Seasonal, I hired, trained and developed team of programming, category, replenishment, logistics and inventory specialists. In addition to partnering with independent farmers to ensure a consistent, top-quality supply, we achieved the following under my direction: ☑ Reduced labor costs 4X☑ Increased in-stock rate 80% to 99.5% (double digits over competition) ☑ Increased margins -2% to 10% via replenishment process automation ☑ Developed an IT solution that offered rapid, deep-dive, store-by-store analytic insight.

Instructed computer classes at Community College as a second job to pay back student loans. Courses taught: Beginning & Intermediate Microsoft Excel, Beginning & Intermediate Microsoft Word, Computer Fundamental. Retained 85% of students, 10% above college average.

Leveraging my knowledge of the grocery business with my IT degree, I increased inventory and forecasting analysis by revamping this fruit-packing operator’s replenishment analysis methodology. The result was 3X growth – leading to emulation across the company’s other categories and warehouses.