Don Gibson Email & Phone Number

Orchard Park, NY, US

Orchard Park, NY, US

Buffalo, New York, US

• Led a cross functional team ensuring Independent Health is operationally prepared to participate in the NY State Health Insurance Exchange (NYS HIX). Managed 45 project initiatives required to be certified a Qualified.
• Established 5 sub-teams to implement the project initiatives.
• Developed the product placement strategy for Independent Health in the NYS HIX.
• Led a cross functional team Independent Health and Kaiser Permanente, a large California based insurance provider to address administration of the Affordable Care Act Cost Sharing Provision.
• Developed list of assumptions, as guidance for the law is not final, to ensure Independent Health is in a position of readiness regardless of decisions coming in late in the process.

Buffalo, New York, US

• Led a team of 40 associates across 4 lines of business; Commercial, Self-Funded, Medicare, and Medicaid. Built leadership and operations teams and established annual and longer-term strategic plans for each line of.
• Effectively led the corporate wellness strategy leading to broader community health engagement.
• Brought in Hyperquake to lead market research for the Retail Marketing Initiative, which has delivered a proprietary state of the art consumer segmentation model to grow business to consumer mode.
• Negotiated a contract with Limeade, a Seattle based wellness company, for exclusive rights to their well-being assessment tool; over 100,000 members will be using this system by 2014.

Buffalo, NY, US

• Developed strategy for selecting smaller new businesses with significant growth potential to invest in to further diversify product and business solution offering. Ranked prospective new venture opportunities..
• Established first ever New Venture Department at Rich Products.
• Developed a weighted metrics evaluation system to grade out all perspective new venture opportunities based upon strategic fit, sales and profit potential, and long term growth.
• Acquired French Meadow Bakery (organic bakery) further balancing health and wellness product offering.
• Purchased GLP Manufacturing, launching Rich’s into the growing Gluten Free bakery business.
• Established $15 million in new business, while evaluating and scoring 200 new business opportunities.

Buffalo, NY, US

• Led cross functional team building and growing newly formed Beverage Strategic Business Unit. Deployed resources for new product development, product improvement, and customization for large strategic customers. Held.
• Successfully led Operations, Engineering, and R&D team in aseptic manufacturing line development from capital request through eventual line start up with overall project oversight.
• Entered the frozen drink/smoothie segments with newly developed Bahama Blast and Tiki Bay brands.
• Established Rich’s first global strategic business unit with dedicated sales and R&D resources.
• Product line awarded 2004 American Culinary Institute “Best in Class Award” for Food Service Frozen Drinks. Award was previously given to the nationally leading competitor.
• Co-Developed Rich’s Management in Training (MIT) program in order to build Rich’s marketing bench talent via fast track cross functional training and mentoring program.

Buffalo, NY, US

• Directed strategy development and execution of Rich’s most profitable business unit with over $300 million in annual sales. Managed portfolio of products balanced in sales across food service and in-store bakery.
• Successfully managed business to achieve a record historical profit.
• Led the integration team for the acquisition of the Morningstar/Suiza (now Dean) Topping, Icings and Desserts business, while setting business strategy with the executive leadership team.
• Transitioned Jon Donaire Dessert Manufacturing plant into a separate wholly owned dessert company.
• Developed conversion (from dairy) and increased consumption (better taste/convenience) strategies.

Buffalo, NY, US

• Directed the business strategy for the Farm Rich UHT refrigerated and Coffee Rich frozen coffee creamer business with over $35 million in annual sales through retail grocery channel.
• Increased profitability for “Farm Rich” two consecutive years after 5 years of decline despite fierce competitive pressure from Nestle’s “Carnation Coffee Mate” and Morningstar’s “International Delite”.
• Developed first ever twist cap package for low acid product in the refrigerated dairy case. Increased sales and profitability by reducing trade spending to discount price.

El Segundo, California, US

Managed lines of Fisher Price Toys including the largest line, Preschool Toys. Led new toy development, ensured that toys accepted met cost and profit forecasts, and delivered the forecast and product redesigns.

Held several marketing management positions under Pillsbury Brand in the Retail

US

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Economics

Mba, Marketing, Operations & Logistics

Education record