Misha Patel Email & Phone Number

Chicago, IL, US

Carrollton, TX, US

• Lead cross functional team (Quality, Sales, Operations, Procurement) through new product development process
• Development of new formulations and specifications, renovate existing formulations and specifications within shelf stable beans and hominy space and ensure product quality is produced, maintained and documented
• Production Team Support - troubleshoot out of spec product and evaluate product concerns
• Regulatory - Label review and maintain ingredient specifications and formulas within labelling software
• Product Portfolio Development and Management and Data Analysis
• Direct Project timelines and communications to organization for Private Label and Food Service Initiatives

Darmstadt, Hessen, DE

• Led the R&D plant-based core teams to design and implement tests, draw and present conclusions to commercialize products and grew the plant-based business by 78% from last year to $79 million
• Responsible for new business development and interface with Marketing, Sales, and Operations, to translate business opportunities into R&D strategies and initiatives and developed contingency plans to demonstrate a.
• Managed interfaces between cross-functional departments – plants – business units and suppliers as an R&D representative by autonomous communication, coordination, and follow-ups to meet project goals and speed to market
• Oversaw the largest expansion of the R&D department for food and plant-based business in company history for the North America division, established robust operation programs and managed the Capital Budget to execute.
• Collaborated with Quality and Regulatory teams for ensuring final product quality and defined food safety requirements and quality specifications that deliver consistent- high-quality products and satisfy FSIS and CFIA.

Boston, MA, US

• Led, and participated in external technical projects and activities to drive the business forward by building client trust with effective interactions and an over-delivery against client expectations with a high level.
• Led, participated in all stages of product development from ideation to commercialization and formulated product across various product categories by collaborating with cross functional teams
• Applied advanced food engineering principles and actively identified technologies to elevate ideas for new product innovations to drive overall business strategic growth
• Led and coached junior developers on product development and technological projects by setting clear goals and expectations to deliver defined business objectives by ensuring all SOPs for GMPs (Good Manufacturing.
• Conducted feasibility assessments, costing, commercialization guide, label development, shelf-life assessment and technical support for initial factory production and participated in plant commercial trials

Indianapolis, Indiana, US

• Developed & Innovated award-winning RTDs cocktails, seltzers, spirits, and commercialized brand and co-packer beverages to maintain a daily production goal of between 8000- 10000 finished beverage case count
• Actively managed technical programs and plant trials by coaching a team of R&D technicians, Food Scientists, QC leads and a microbiologist to support the brand and co-packing business operations
• Directed ideation, research and development and commercialization activities for new products including pilot plant test, factory test work, and initial product scale-up activities in conjunction with marketing and sales
• Managed Raw material and finished product inventory to check received criteria, supplier approvals, raw material testing, and new ingredient/ vendor technical approval by collaborating with Sourcing and Procurement
• Collaborated with Engineering and Technics and Maintenance teams to design new equipment for the manufacturing facility for new products
• Managed shelf-life assessment studies and thermal processing assessment for current products, new or improved products made on new equipment or processes

Raleigh, North Carolina, US

• Led and managed technical projects and activities to drive the mission of NC State to help small entrepreneurs, consult and support industry leaders for ongoing improvements to find solutions to their challenges
• Project 1: Evaluated bioactivity of Cannellini Bean powder dietary supplement (powder and capsule forms) by postprandial insulin response through a sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Project 2: Evaluated the effectiveness of Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) for phytonutrient and antioxidant extraction by studying dielectric properties at 915 MHz and 2450 MHz between 20-100C for fruit and.
• Project 3: Supported Sinnovita to developed innovative functional gummies of three different flavourings of high protein and high fibre by extracting nutrients from upcycled produce
• Project 4: Supported LC America Inc. to improvise extruded snack pellet type products, investigated production line problems to improvise production efficiency by 1.5 hours and waste reduction by 15%
• Project 5: Collaborated with Videri Chocolate Factory to prepare the HACCP Plan for the chocolate manufacturing process and identified the critical control points for finished product quality validation

• Developed new prototype formulations for Fruitsup Beverage line by using Corbion ELECSIS, tracked progress in existing formulations, ingredients, and processes
• Coordinate and execute product development and attend hot-fill and cold-fill commercialization activities including pilot plant test, factory test work and initiate product scale-up activities
• Validated beverage quality by assessing pH, brix, TA, turbidity and color before production release
• Developed and maintained standard lab documentation including SOPs, calibration schedules and material management.
• Provided support to the procurement team for raw materials cost reduction projects by evaluating new suppliers and the raw material quality and usage

• Conducted independent research projects in Food Product Development and Food Packaging domain
• Formulated benchtop prototypes for soymilk, soymilk ice-cream and mayonnaise by using Genesis Formulation Software and evaluated consumer perception by discrimination sensory testing
• Achieved decrease in calories by 25%, total fat by 65%, saturated fat, and cholesterol by 100% and increase in protein by 77.3% and dietary fiber by 400% than conventional dairy milk counterparts
• Investigated the use of food starches like corn, potato, cassava, rice, maize, tapioca for developing bioplastics for biodegradable food packaging
• Developed prototypes by using different types and concentrations of starches, plasticizers, flexibilizers and water
• Evaluated the plastic effectiveness through tensile strength, flexural strength, shear strength, Izod impact strength, Rockwell hardness and elongation at break

Executive Education, Epgm (Executive Program In General Management)

Master'S Degree - M.S., Food Science

Bachelor'S Degree, Chemical Engineering