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, distributors, suppliers, and internal team.• 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 / QA / food safety perspective on brand’s overall direction. • 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 center of plate (seafood, chicken, and beef), sides, desserts, and beverages. Managed and supervised Product Development teams, Test Kitchen operations staff and department budget. • 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. Moderated focus groups as needed. • 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.• Led cross-functional presentations to Corporate Management, Board Members, Franchisee Groups, and Field Personal both domestically and internationally.• Trained restaurant support teams, franchisee, store managers and crew on procedures for new products in test market and national rollout.

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