Served on research and development (R&D) team of Mars, Inc. food division, focusing on Uncle Ben’s brand for MARS Food North America (N.A.). Blended product development and culinary activities centered on R&D and sales objectives. Steered and led partnerships with external vendors during product development process of select projects, serving as primary liaison and maintaining adherence to parameters. Planned, organized and executed meal presentations, lunches and cuttings for senior leaders and other stakeholders, demonstrating product development prototypes and concepts through culinary execution. Contributed to company special events.• Created gold standards and formulated ideas for line extensions and new product development, including nutrition labeling, analysis and ingredient statement writing, raw material management and specifications, and sampling necessary for product sales and marketing support.• Produced finished-process specification template for foodservice products.• Led product development process and supervised line trials and first-production of new foodservice School Product Portfolio that increased sales and brand awareness in schools, and supported MARS, Inc. healthy product initiatives and objectives.• Increased brand awareness by providing sales support at industry trade shows (School Nutrition Association, Catersource, American Culinary Federation, colleges and universities, and healthcare conferences), demonstrating culinary and technical rice knowledge.• Leveraged brand’s technical expertise, sales performance and broker engagement as subject-matter resource, providing training and technical / culinary support specific to MARS Food N.A. products.• Drove sales for new product launches and educated consumers on integration of products into daily meals by creating recipes and photographing images for product packages, website, advertising promotions and campaigns.

Worked in a full service kitchen preparing food for all orders including catering events, hot ordered lunches and dinners, food production for deli salads and packaged salads and prepared food in display cases, and any other necessary work for the kitchen. Food covered a variety of cuisines including but not limited too Mexican, Asian, California Fusion and Specialty Catering.

Communicated with sales department and customers, entering, processing and confirming orders. Assisted director of food safety in filing and organizing food safety audits and test results, sending specified and authorized information to customers.