Develop and execute strategic launch and brand building solutions for international and emerging confection, food and beverage brands in the U.S. market.

Responsible for leading growth and directing all aspects of the Milhans U.S. business for the Americas which includes both Otto® Snacks and sister company Cizmeci’ Waforia® and Wafer Master® brands.

Design, oversee, execute North American sales strategy for our small batch, artisan crafted nut brittles, toffees and trail mixes.

Lead and set domestic strategy for branded & ingredient/Private Label confection – including Food, Drug, Mass, Club, Military, E-Commerce, Convenience, Passenger Service and Gift packer channels. Additional responsibilities include: * Develop and manage sales and trade budgets for entire team * Assist in new product development * Help develop and construct cost/pricing models * P&L management * Monitor and set forecasts for team * Work across multiple departments from CEO and Finance to Operations, Logistics and Marketing * Update Board & Shareholders on progress against initiatives

Responsible for developing the entire go to market strategy and tools necessary for expansion into the North American mainstream retail markets. Tools include pricing, trade budgets, broker networks, sales tracking, marketing information, packaging, syndicated data sales formatting, etc. for brands that include Laxmi, Nestle/Maggi, Maaza, Cofresh to name a few.

Oversee, manage and execute strategies with my team of Regional Sales Managers and broker network nationally for popular European brands such as Ritter Sport chocolate, Anthon Berg chocolate, Terry's chocolate orange, Panda licorice, Manner wafers, Bahlsen cookies, Chupa Chups, Clipper Teas, Hero fruit spreads and other imported brands in our portfolio. Responsible also for P&L management, development of trade budgets, forecasting, pricing and establishing E-Commerce platforms.

Build and oversee a strategic model that combined DSD and direct to warehouse solutions that met the needs of current customers and paved the way for adding new customers in the Convenience class of trade, Costco, HEB, Winco, C&S & 7-Eleven. This solution grew revenue from $350K to $1.5 mil in one year.

Minor equity partner of the original management team that integrated and built a logistical, manufacturing, promotional, financial, sales & marketing company for brands recently acquired from Unilever and Colgate-Palmolive. Brands included Sunlight dish detergent, Ajax, Dynamo and Fab laundry detergents, Niagara spray starch and Final Touch.

Managed and grew largest customers such as Walmart*, Target, KeHE from $30 - $36 mil within the Grocery division by combining a DSD and specialty food distributor strategy.

* Directly managed a team of 20 Hormel Territory Sales Managers, Acosta sales merchandising team and 1 Admin. Asst. for Hormel’s largest grocery wholesale customer, which represented $30 mil in sales.* Developed business plans at the national level, projecting sales, managing AR related issues, while giving direction to each team member managing a Fleming division with the objective of reversing a 6 year sales decline.

* Directly managed 1 Key Account Sales Manager, Acosta-Walmart* key account manager and merchandising team, 1 Admin. Asst & indirectly managed Category Management team for Hormel’s largest grocery customer which aggregately consisted of Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets & Division 1 stores totaling $110 mil in sales. * Developed and implemented the first Walmart Olive Oil set while working with cooking oils set captain Proctor & Gamble. First year revenue exceeded expectations and added over $2 mil in new sales.* Increased customer comp sales and growing entire category volume through the frequent use of Retail Link, AC Nielsen, Funding/Spending models, Spectra, new package designs, increased COMAC participation and evaluating post event effectiveness/lift.

* Directly managed a 7 person broker sales team & 1 Admin. Asst. with the objective of growing and developing sales for Hormel’s new Ethnic/Specialty Gourmet food business with Southeast retailers such as Publix, Harris Teeter, BiLo, Brunos, Ukrops, Winn Dixie, Food Lion, etc.* Developed key merchandising/sales plans, managing and allocation of trade budgets for broker sales team, setting objectives & executing through specialty & natural food distributors such as Tree Of Life, Gourmet Award Foods, Haddon House, Organica, Millbrook & various authentic Mexican distributors.

* Built sales and share for Hormel grocery products in the southern New England area. Specific customers included Shaws, CVS, James Ferrara Wholesale, Almacs, Ann&Hope, Hill’s Dept. Stores, Bozzutos, C-store wholesalers aggregately totaling $11.5 mil in sales.* Planned and implemented customer specific business plans, budgets, marketing and merchandising. Also provide accurate quarterly and yearly sales and spending forecasts for all accounts. Maintain a current customer specific AR statement. * Trained and managed new sales representatives and PIA broker merchandisers.

* Built sales and share for Hormel grocery products in the Mississippi, Louisiana, Memphis, TN area. Specific customers included Jitney Jungle, Sack & Save, SuperValu Hammond & Indianola and all grocery customers supplied by SuperValu aggregately totaling $4.6 mil in sales.* Planned and implemented customer specific business plans, budgets, marketing and merchandising. Also provide accurate quarterly and yearly sales and spending forecasts for all accounts. Maintain a current customer specific AR statement. * Trained and managed new sales representatives and PIA broker merchandisers.

Responsible for the headquarter accounts of all independent grocers in the Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina region being supplied by Richfood and Wetterau and smaller C-Store suppliers.