Jess Thomas Email & Phone Number

Austin, Tx, Us

Bakersfield, California Area

K2 Cattle is an interstate production cattle enterprise operating a "cow-calf" business. K2 ranks among the top 1% of national producers by herd size. As a director, I help guide annual and long-term strategy and oversee our management team.K2 has a uniquely sustainable operation with attention to animal welfare and responsible land management. Our cattle never receive hormones/antibiotics and are certified Level 4 by the Global Animal Partnership.

San Francisco Bay Area

Made by True is a brand of premium, healthy meat snacks. We are a pioneering brand in the US launch of Biltong, a South African style jerky known for its tender texture, higher protein content, and zero sugar. The Made by True brand was sold to its manufacturer in 2020.

Austin, Texas, United States

SOGOOD Sake is a brand of premium American Sake, brewed with heirloom California rice, on a mission to revolutionize where, when, and how people can enjoy Sake. The brand is on the leading edge of a global movement to embrace Sake as an everyday drink.I joined the brand as an operational co-founder, charged with bringing the brand concept from ideation through launch. I oversaw the brand development and design process, working with our design agency to bring to life the owners' vision in a differentiated and effective way. The SOGOOD brand won three separate design awards for its packaging even prior to launch. I also built the end-to-end supply chain, from rice growing through bottling.We launched during the 2020 height of the COVID pandemic, which proved immensely challenging. However despite related setbacks we managed to launch the brand in 5 states in 2021 alone, before expanding abroad to the UK and UAE in 2022.I directed all of our on-premise and retail sales, managed all distributors, oversaw FP&A and compliance, and reported regularly to ownership and our advisors.I hold several certifications in Sake, including a WSET Level III Sake Sommelier certification.

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundations' leadership program is the longest running of its kind in the US. It is highly selective and I was fortunate to be a member of its 48th cohort. The program is a leadership development program designed for promising leaders in the food and agriculture space. The intensive 18 month curriculum focuses on the development of soft skills critical to good leadership rooted in principals like self-awareness and empathy. It is a groundbreaking course that has been emulated across the country.

Sacramento, California Area

Planet Rice is a Sacramento, CA-based brand of premium, California rice products. It is a subsidiary of the Sun Valley Rice Company, one of the largest producers/wholesalers of medium-grain California "sushi" rice.I oversaw the brand's retail launch into 12 states, managing our brokers and distributors. I was also developing the brand's annual plan, which I presented to the the parent company's senior management and board of directors and was accountable for executing against.