Functioned as capital projects manager and process engineer for prepared foods group innovation.• Directed development, installation, and start-up of 4 refrigerated snack tray and 3 sandwich assembly lines in multiple manufacturing sites, overseeing approximately $9M in capital invested per project, reducing costs, and minimizing supply chain disruptions.• Led and managed $3M transfer of 3 refrigerated snacking lines between co-packing sites for cost savings and quality improvement.• Headed technical development and approximately $12M capital budget planning for new prepared foods and poultry snacking product at existing co-manufacturing facility.• Developed and implemented product line extensions on automated snacking cup line, managing approximately $200K in capital spending.• Guided development, installation, and start-up of 7 frozen bread slicing lines at cost of approximately $2M, eliminating purchase of pre-sliced bread and significantly reducing formulation costs.• Spearheaded implementation of standard foreign material detection and weight inspection equipment across all snacking lines in internal and co-packing network, including sandwich and small plates platforms.• Aided in converting existing equipment in snacking lines across 4 plants to be safer and more ergonomic.

Worked as technical lead / manager for all North American ready-to-eat (RTE) frozen soups and meals.• Formed and managed new team structure comprised of 6 experts in product development and commercialization, improving delivery time to customers and cutting quality complaints up to 50%.• Established best practice of using pilot plant equipment to scale up formulas and processes prior to execution of manufacturing trials, trimming $400K from research and development (R&D) travel budget and enhancing consistency in scale-up.• Implemented formula and process guardrails for kitchen batches that simulated typical manufacturing and stress environments, reducing scale-up time in manufacturing sites and getting faster approvals of final specifications.• Improved profitability across business unit through process optimization and identification of ingredient synergy savings.

Guided integration of next-generation thermal processing equipment in pilot plant and served as engineering co-op student manager.• Spearheaded preparation of standard operating procedures (SOP) for pilot plant operation, managing training for equipment controls and troubleshooting technical issues with R&D food scientists and maintenance personnel.• Trained 3 maintenance technicians in operations and troubleshooting of equipment within 1 month and established best practices for product developers testing alternative thermal recipes that reduced processing 50%.• Collaborated with process safety on standard policy for manufacturing of consumable prototypes, proving equipment as viable solution to commercialize new thermal processes, improving product quality, and expanding innovation potential in product development.• Tested and validated new low-acid aseptic filler and sterilizer for pilot plant production.• Trained and managed chemical engineering student for 6 months, supporting development of new procedures for operating thermal equipment that became standard for running plant trials to commercialize new products.

Drove initial pilot plant development and established process designs and manufacturing specifications for Oscar Mayer R&D projects.• Researched and installed new poultry harvesting equipment that improved cooked yields up to 50%.Developed thermal processes facilitating product innovation for bacon and cold cuts brands.• Ran continuous improvement project for thermal processes at Madison, WI manufacturing plant, earning Six Sigma Green Belt certification.• Innovated alternate refrigeration methods, increasing protein functionality in turkey-based delicatessen products.• Established thermal and slicing processes used in launch of Carving Board Pulled Meats new brand platform.• Executed process design for deli / cold cuts brand innovation, yielding better product appearance, greater processing efficiency, and expanded product platform.