• Directed strategic planning and maintained operational alignment across a 295K square foot non-union manufacturing facility comprising 150 employees for an industry-leading agricultural cooperative.• Employed DMAIC optimization cycles and lean methodologies, assessing and remedying standard operating procedures (SOPs) to increase profit yields and drive continuous improvement (CI).• Directly managed designated budgeting preparation and delivery, coordinating with the finance department to effectively perform forecasting and analysis while meeting established corporate targets.• Continually met and exceeded organizational benchmarks and key performance indicators (KPIs), surpassing throughput by approximately 3% year-over-year (YOY) to bolster enterprise growth. • Regularly acknowledged as an organizational changemaker and innovation advocate, leveraging industry expertise and strategic acumen to design, implement, and manage dynamic new initiatives. • Ensured mission-critical regulatory compliance with all requisite agencies—including OSHA, FDA, EPA, NSF, BRC, GFSI, USDA, and AIB—to mitigate risk while reinforcing emphasis on quality. • Collaborated with plant functional managers regarding labor relations and organizational culture to ensure a positive work environment for all internal stakeholders and promote employee retention.

• Identified 12 high-potential individuals for the “Train the Trainor” program, demonstrating industry best practices and internal operating procedures to develop a dynamic team of internal stakeholders.• Recognized as an enterprise leader for superlative performance, receiving numerous acknowledgments including “Plant of the Year” and the coveted “Board of Directors Award for Excellence in Leadership” honor.• Provided technical leadership for the Chilean operations team regarding sweetened dried cranberries (SDCs), concentrate, quality assurance (QA) documentation, and operational standards to ensure international mission-alignment. • Successfully instituted and commissioned an SDC line that exceeded year-over-year (YOY) quotas, accelerating throughput capacity from 5.3M pounds in 2013 to 21.3M pounds in 2016. • Prioritized avenues for safety enhancement and internal controls, instilling a culture of accountability and workforce protection to successfully reduce lost time accident (LTA) recordings.

• Oversaw an SDC and concentrate operation comprising 150 employees with direct oversight of five individuals, achieving major performance improvements through strategic leadership. • Achieved the “Plant of the Year” designation on three occasions as a result of enterprise-leading throughput to standard, first pass quality, and attainment to schedule metrics.• Pioneered a key throughput enhancement project, facilitating the project from design through realization to successfully optimize internal workflow and increase profits.• Directed professional development and coaching efforts, providing effective mentorship for internal stakeholders and facilitating the promotion of two direct reports into supervisory roles. • Carried out the education, administration, and enforcement of requisite policies and procedures to promote safe employee work habits while ensuring compliance with key regulatory requirements.

• Managed long-term tactical planning for overall plant activities including developing policy, material resource planning (MRP), and operational oversight to drive year-over-year (YOY) growth. • Created and implemented staff appraisal systems along with generating key training needs to bolster opportunities for professional development and increase employee engagement. • Drove the development and institution of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) aimed at mitigating prospective risk and instilling a culture of accountability.