Richard Cusick Email & Phone Number

Valparaiso Indiana

Small batch producer of artisan chocolates and desserts. Chocolate consulting services.

Valparaiso, IN

Consulting company focused on the Confectionery Business. Offered technical assistance and guidance at the plant level. Offered prototype design, testing and scale up. Worked with clients ranging from Hershey's, Steven Roberts, US FoodService, Joe's Candies to smaller confection companies. Offered hands on training in chocolate and confections.

Chicago

Direct all R&D projects ranging from new products to technical related opportunities. Start up QA program leading to BRC auditing. Design new equipment platforms. Work on Global flavor profiles for locations is Asia.

Work with major Food Manufacturing and Gourmet Customer on technical chocolate related issues at the plant level. Design and develop prototypes, or external or internal customers. Execute/Design global meetings with major customers which include immersion tours and prototype building. Training and customer testing. Teach and train new BC employees. Manage.

Greater Chicago Area

Developed frozen pizza and sandwiches concepts for major retailers and food service outlets. Managed team of three people. Developed and executed presentations for customers. Worked with Starbucks to have a chef council meeting to develop new breakfast sandwiches. Designed the process of bringing current suppliers together with decision makers at Starbucks.

Mobile, Alabama Area

Directed Artisan bakery making Cheesecakes, Brownies, Bread and Cakes. Directed bakery to first “Superior Rating” from AIB. Tripled production output with the addition of 1% to labor. Worked as R&D and Sales role. Traveled to Mobile, Alabama on a weekly basis to run the factory. Increased quality to very low defect levels,never obtained in the past.

Valparaiso, Indiana

Worked with top 200 chains bringing creative menu ideas to market. National Sales Account Manage role for specific accounts. Worked with R&D to create new line items for national account sales. Helped to design new test kitchen. Customer presentations leading to over $3 million in new sales.

Valparaiso, Indiana

Work with top 200 national restaurant chains bringing creative menu ideas to market. Work with R&D to create custom products and solutions. Customer presentations leading to over $100 million in new sales over 5 years. Support all divisions of Sara Lee with culinary expertise, direction and leadership. Sara Lee Customer Excellence Award 2005.

Elmhurst, Illinois

Manager for culinary product development and applications for the Food Service division. New Product Ventures (Blue Sky Team), Retail product applications, prototyping new concepts, testing, project and product testing models, product presentations for National Chain Accounts, Food Styling and Internet development. Kebbler's first Corporate Chef

Greater Chicago Area

Bench top culinary work involving coatings, seasonings, culinary applications, liquid sauce and matching prototypes. Manufacturer presentations and National Account Presentations. Creator of Culinary newsletter involving trend reports. Lead Blue Sky team for new products and innovation. Newly Weds Foods first Corporate Chef.

Greater Chicago Area

. Instruct courses in culinary, baking and sanitation leading to an A.A.S. degree. Department Head for all baking courses. Lead instructor for Restaurant opened to the public. Developed baking and pastry program course work and skill sets. State of Illinois Sanitation Instructor License. Organized and supervised Culinary Competitions for students.