Diane Lyon Email & Phone Number

Brunswick, GA

• Develops and commercializes new products for National Accounts, Food Service and Private Label Brands.
• Develops new products, product matches and cost saving to meet customers defined project objectives. Partners with Sales and Marketing to successfully present products and concepts to customer.
• Focused on development of new flavors using vacuum marinades, breading, and batters. Owns the commercialization process for new product from bench to full production.
• Writes and monitors raw material and finished product specifications for production of new products. Aligns with production, QC and customers to resolve any on-line production or specification issues.
• R&D project lead for national/regional chains and company convenience store initiative focused on new products and processes to drive growth for company and customer.

Louisville, Kentucky Area

• Developed and executed supply plan for Yum Brands with concentration on Long John Silver’s (LJS) and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) food, packaging, and equipment.
• Ensured successful and flawless execution of initiatives, including national, regional, and local launches, margin improvements, and new concepts by defining procedures and driving program plans with brand.
• Developed strategy for and facilitated resolution of contingency plans, avoiding product shortages or deplete product overages due to sales fluctuations or initiative changes.
• Ensured flawless execution and right amount of product in right place by serving as central point-of-contact for cross-functional project teams, buyers, supplier and distributors.
• Partnered with cross functional teams to develop, test and launch new products.

Louisville, Kentucky Area

• Led teams responsible for overall product development, quality assurance (QA), QA hotline, food safety, engineering, and packaging. Functioned as member of Executive Team, providing insight and solutions from culinary.
• Improved current menu items and generated ideas for new products and services that ensured food-safe supply chain by setting strategic direction of research and QA.
• Strategically partnered with Operations and Marketing, balancing culinary, operational, and marketing initiatives in order to meet sales and profit targets.

Louisville, Kentucky Area

• Led Food Innovation Menu Development Team in new ideation, product development, and core improvements for Long John Silver’s and A&W Restaurants. Developed and commercialized product across all parts of menu, including.
• Conducted validation of products through consumer research based upon focus groups, research guidance tests, central location testing, in-store testing, and buyer reaction studies, developing and optimizing products..
• Developed specification for new products, equipment and packaging. Supervised and approved production of new products for tests and national launch, ensuring products meet specification.
• Excellent understanding of both domestic and international supply chains for raw material and finished products.
• Designed and recommended small wares, equipment, and packaging based upon laboratory and in-store testing.
• Managed LJS / A&W Product Development Teams for all new calendar items.

Wichita, Kansas Area

• Managed operations in all aspects of Zoo relations that involved the public including Admissions, Food Service, Gift Shops, Rides, Vending Machines and Security
• Supervised daily operations of 8 separate retail and food operations with an annual income of $1.82 million
• Planned, developed and opened four new concepts increasing area wide income by 27% and profits by 10% over a 2 year period
• Supervised four Area Managers and over 125 employees including all human resource activities
• Developed and implemented budgets within required parameters
• Developed and implemented procedures for food safety, inventory control and cash control

Wichita, Kansas Area

• Managed daily operations of downtown branch of YMCA
• Administered branch membership including new member sign up, maintenance, billing and terminations
• Coordinated employee schedules for all areas of the YMCA
• Supervised and coordinated volunteer activities