Experienced business lawyer with a demonstrated history (as external and senior in-house counsel) of advising food & beverage, agribusiness, tech, energy and other business clients and negotiating and closing transactions for them, including M&A, commercial (i.e. technology/IP licensing, sales, procurement, supply chain, technology).

Manage SolarPanelStore.com, the long-time e-commerce-based retailer/wholesaler of solar photovoltaic panels and related products to off-the-grid and grid-tied residential customers/installers, industrial customers and RV/marine customers across North America and beyond.

Provide broad-based, practical and solutions-focused “in-house style” commercial legal support to a national food company in Seattle. Also advise, negotiate and prepare commercial contracts, business formation/buy/sell transactions, real estate transactions, and estate planning for individuals and small businesses.

Responsible for leading and directing CMNA's sales organization for the food and health ingredient segments (including a broad range of sweeteners) across the US and Canada.

Responsible for leading national account sales professionals that sell sweeteners (both specialty and commodity) and health food ingredients to food, beverage and dietary supplement markets across North America

Responsible for leading and directing the North American sales and technical service organization to grow Cargill's health food ingredients portfolio.

Responsible for leading sales professionals in food, beverage and dietary supplement markets.

Led Cargill's global IT sourcing category and team to develop and execute sourcing strategies to support Cargill's IT needs, including software, hardware, telecom, outsourced IT services, and temporary labor.

Managed general/commercial legal affairs and provided legal services to a number of internal Cargill business units and functions over 7 years in Cargill's large in-house law department. This included managing litigation, preparing and negotiating a wide variety of commercial and deal agreements (i.e. supply agreements, sourcing agreements, IP licensing agreements, leases, M&A deal agreements), preventative law training and risk assessment, managing outside counsel, and advising business leaders. Also served as specialty lawyer in trademark practice and shipping/trading/maritime area. Last position held was lead lawyer to Cargill's domestic grain origination business, managing paralegal and specialty lawyer resources to deliver effective legal support.

Corporate/M&A Associate in major Minneapolis law firm counseling business clients in business formation, acquisition & divestitures, and other corporate transactional matters.

Marketed antibiotics, anti-hypertensives, and infant nutritionals (Similac/Isomil) to clinic-based physicians and hospitals in southwestern and north-central Minnesota.

Recruited out of college to join Toyota’s select annual management training program (first at TMS headquarters in Torrance, CA, then to the Chicago region) to learn and succeed in the wholesale car business (comprised primarily of marketing cars, parts and services to Toyota franchise dealers) via rotating assignments in sales, sales training, financial/business management, distribution, marketing, and customer service.