***** SOLUTIONS - Sioux City, IA
PRESIDENT/PRINCIPAL 2009 to present
Management Consulting Firm
A professional marketing & sales company that manages and supports a wide variety of programs, campaigns, and initiatives using skill sets in every discipline. Our resources operate at all levels, from specialized project managers to chief executives, throughout numerous industries.
• Key clients include Nutra-Flo, Kay Dee, Lopez Foods, John Soules Foods, and more.
• Creates solutions that drive significant business opportunities by identifying the needs of clients.
• Helps clients find common ground with customers by having experience & relationships with both corporation and the vendor communities.
• Industry columnist for The National Provisioner magazine, a BNP media publication.

Most recently completed a turnaround project for Kay Dee Feed/Nutra Flo, an agriculture company with both animal feed ingredients and crop nutrients. As a hands-on manager I was able to turn around the sales and marketing effort through a series of brand positioning, sales force development, and educational selling reversing a seven year sales decline and resulting in a 30% increase of sales.

As National Sales Manager and Marketing Director for Lopez Foods, a minority food processor servicing McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Tim Horton’s, Walmart, Sam’s, BJ’S, Food Lion, Publix, Wegmans, Wakefern Sara Lee, Tyson, Ahold, Food Lion, Costco, Restaurant Depot, CVS, 7-Eleven and other accounts nationwide, I delivered significant product development and contract manufacturing which in turn eliminated 80% excess plant capacity in nine months and increased annual profits by four million dollar in nine months.

Directed the start up of Creta Farms, a subsidiary of Creta Farms – Greece, as an independent operating company. Set up complete operation from scratch including establishing an office, assembling HR systems, IT systems, employee benefits, product liability insurance, sales & marketing operations, product development, promotions, all other operational systems and increased sales 100%.

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION - Dallas, TX
V.P. SALES/MARKETING 1997 to 2009
America’s Top Poultry Producer
Was instrumental in growing the company from $970 million to $8.5 billion in annual sales in twelve years by building a dynamic team and through new business development, consumer research driven product development, customer consultation, organic growth, and acquisition.
• Using limited capital expenditures, delivered annual growth of 15%.
• Led production and marketing to create a series of successful new items including Nestles Lean Cuisine, the Chicken Whopper for Burger King, Boneless Buffalo Wings for Chili’s and a 100% natural line, with a cross-functional team including R&D, sales and consumer research. Projects yielded $1.5 billion in annual sales.
• With my broad experience in foodservice marketing/sales, retail sales, contract manufacturing, and product development, I have led teams that developed Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Supervalu, Sam’s, Costco, Publix, Ahold, Wakefern, Delhaize, Wegmans, Burger King, McDonald’s, Yum Brands, Carlson-Restaurants, Applebee’s, Wendy’s, Subway, Brinker, Applebee’s, Sysco, US Foodservice, Nestle, Kraft, Heinz, Michelina’s, General Mills, Hormel, ConAgra, and other accounts into over 2 billion dollars in annual sales using solution selling.
• Directed in-house agency executing digital/direct marketing creating an interactive unique bond between consumers and the Pilgrim’s Pride brand, saving the company $500k per year in agency fees.
• Established and launched company website and social media program; web traffic double each of the past 7 years.
• Guided corporate public relations during a major food safety crisis, three major acquisitions, a close encounter with PETA, the death of a CEO, and several new product roll-outs.
• Led the charge by hiring and training a sales/marketing team that revolutionized the industry, implementing solution selling to customers, creating a unique relationship with clients and producing new opportunities.
• Created a private label portfolio of retail and co-manufactured products with $1 billion in annual sales.

Florida State University
MBA and Bachelor of Science Degree - Marketing

OLD WORLD INDUSTRIES, a global automotive aftermarket products & chemical trading company - Chicago, IL
• Directed PEAK antifreeze marketing programs featuring Kyle Petty, Mike Ditka, and Wayne Gretzky.
JENO’S FOOD FROZEN FOOD, a national food manufacturer - Orlando, FL
• Group product manager for Jeno’s Totino’s Pizza Rolls and Michelina’s prepared frozen foods.
STP CORPORATION, an international automotive aftermarket product company - Boca Raton, FL
• National sales training director and brand manager working directly with Richard Petty to promote STP products.