Reported to Vice President, Regulatory and Quality Assurance. Responsible for supplier approval, audits, scorecard, incoming material review, and supplier animal welfare. Focus was building program standards, procedures, documents, and processes. Successfully built strong internal and external relationships with key stakeholders. Supervised 2 quality managers.• Drafted supplier quality expectation manual• Developed audit forms and processes for ingredient and packaging suppliers, including auditing• Drafted approach for ensuring optimal animal welfare from dairy suppliers• In conjunction with Procurement, developed supplier scorecard and quarterly review process

Reported to Director, Product Quality Assurance. Contributed to Starbucks’ success by managing a Quality Assurance team in the development, implementation and monitoring of quality assurance and regulatory compliance strategy and programs to ensure the continuous succession of wholesome, premium quality products through the supply chain and store operations to customers. Programs involved selection and evaluation of suppliers, commercializing food, beverages, ingredients, and supplies, as well as implementation of new products and practices in stores. Supervised 3 quality managers.• Developed licensed store food product review process• Ensured adequate review and approval of new and existing bakery, beverage component, and packaged food suppliers

Reported to Executive Vice President, Manufacturing. Responsible for quality assurance programs that ensure the quality and safety of bottled water and beverage products produced in 8 US bottling plants. Efforts were focused on protecting customer brands, building and executing robust quality systems for internal operations and managing supplier quality. Supervised 14 quality assurance and laboratory employees.• Developed and launched supplier auditing program and scorecard, enabling efficient use of audit resources and better communication with Sourcing and Production• Achieved SQF 2000 Level 3 certification across company in 2011• Developed checklists and documents needed to ensure smooth startup of new plants and product lines

Reported to Senior Vice President, R&D. Directed Quality strategy and management across all geographies, including cultivating and nurturing constructive relationships with external food regulatory agencies and industry associations. Group responsibilities included: 1) Consumer Affairs, 2) Global Quality Standards, 3) North America Soup, Sauce & Beverage Quality, 4) Regulatory Affairs, and 5) Product Lifecycle Management Standards and Solutions. Served on Crisis Management Team and supervised 43 professional and 3 nonexempt staff. • Launched global Emerging Issues Group to proactively identify and address situations that could potentially impact the business• Drove global food safety audit standardization for international business units using the Global Food Safety Initiative platform to reduce audit frequency and costs• Restructured domestic quality and global quality standards groups to drive clarity on global quality framework• Partnered in leading cross-functional team to implement a validated gluten free product program to assist the celiac-affected population

Reported to COO. Responsible for: 1) private label quality assurance, 2) sanitation and food safety in retail outlets, 3) environmental stewardship efforts and regulatory compliance company-wide, and 4) laboratory microbiological and chemical analyses, as well as scientific special projects. Additional responsibilities included executing product recalls, handling product incidents, and regulatory affairs (including coordination of bioterrorism responses). Supervised 41 professional and 7 nonexempt staff in Texas and Mexico. • Ensured sanitation and pest control services contractor in over 300 stores, warehouses and distribution centers in Texas and Mexico met contract requirements by enhanced auditing and monitoring program• Launched food safety recognition and rewards program for to improve ongoing sanitation in stores• Aligned self-manufacturing and private label supplier standards for 11 internal plants and over 850 suppliers• Launched internal Environmental Working Group to improve company environmental efforts• Revamped recall processes to reduce response time from 24 hours to one hour

Reported to Vice-President. Provided scientific and regulatory affairs expertise and leadership for Corporate HQ and the North American business unit. Evaluated scientific data (e.g., toxicology, public health, food allergen, food safety, claims substantiation, label review, risk assessment, nutrition) and related information to provide effective solutions to business problems. Maintained global surveillance of formula and ingredient-related safety and regulatory compliance issues. Provided recommendations for courses of action to Incident Management Team and served on Production Advisory Council. Supervised 11 professional and 1 support staff.• Integrated Minute Maid Division Scientific and Regulatory Affairs group into North America business unit team• Developed environmental scorecard including recycled content and water usage metrics

Public health officer

Led the Food Safety and Animal Health Division, representing programs in Food Safety, Dairy Inspection, State Veterinarian's Office, Livestock Identification, Organic Certification, Weights and Measures, Commission Merchants, Emergency Management and Egg Inspection.