Resident Student - Father Flanagan's Boys Town, Boys Town NE
www.btnaa.org
Military- United States Armed Forces
www.army.mil
Meat Technology - Southwest Wisconsin Technical Institute, Fennimore, WI
www.swtc.edu
Marketing - Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Superior, WI
www.witc.edu
Marketing & Distributive Education - University Wisconsin - Stout, Menomonie, WI www.uwstout.edu
Cooperative Education Work Experience
Foodservice, Kitchen & Steakhouse Manager – Junior College
Meat Cutter, Installed Resort in-house Meat Processing Center - College
Career Path
Distributor Sales/Supervisor Walter's Foods (Reinhart), Milwaukee, WI www.reyesholdings.com
07/1981 to 05/1987
Established, developed and managed street sales territory for this smaller independent broadline distributor. Initiated program selling with DOE system resulting in company’s first major program account sales. Used Center of Plate as driver with high rate of Chemical & Beverage installs. Attained Salesperson of the Year, Highest Volume Producer, and 2nd in Margin Performance topping out at 2.6 million annualized. Promoted to Sales Supervisor. Develop and manage branded meats programs. Sales, forecasting, inventory, order placement, and general merchandising as well as excess inventory responsibilities over and above primary role in sales and sales supervision. Privately-held broadline distributor. (Acquired - recruited by Swift-Eckrich)
National Multi-Unit/Account Manager ASE (Smithfield) Chicago, IL www.smithfieldfoods.com
05/1987 to 07/1991
Developed and managed company’s largest value-added deli/foodservice account. Responsible for Multi-unit operator and distributor level business. Pioneered deli/foodservice segments for cooked beef, prime rib, sausage, and bacon products with top National Accounts and many Regional Chains. Negotiated, set-up, forecasted and monitored inventory of further processed COP product lines for 18 Distribution Centers. Trained COP Merchandisers (Buyers) on PO system that tracked claims, promo/rebates, and reconciled invoicing. Built business direct and then managed with and through national distribution and broker networks. Extensive work and collaboration with Corporate and Distributor Associates, Division Presidents and Core Team Members to establish congruency throughout supply chain. Worked in the field with over 600 Sales, National Account, and Merchandising personnel. Recruited, trained and developed a national deli and foodservice sales specialist team over a 4 year period of rapid growth, acquisitions, and change. Profitably spearheaded Multi-Unit business from 20 to 60 million dollars in real organic growth reaching 100 million mark through effective integration of COP programs resulting from distributor and end-user mergers. Publicly held value- added meat processor. (Started own business to eliminate extensive travel due to firstborn child)
Owner/Operator Brynwood Cafe & Deli, Rockford, IL
07/1991 to 09/1994
Succesfully acquired, designed, gutted, laid out, stocked, opened and operated full service high-volume deli/cafe business. Cross functional hands-on management of Corned Beef & Pastrami House. Personally made payroll as an owner/operator. (Sold business)
DSR Business Development IFD Indianhead Foodservice Distributors, Eau Claire, WI www.callifd.com
11/1994 to 10/1997
Recruited to revitalize and further develop Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro market for medium size independent distributor. Sold primary vendor agreements utilizing DOE/Inventory/Cost software. Received Sales Performance Award. Positioned territory for fold out of multiple territories forming new metro District. Joined Chain Distribution Service (CDS), to develop contracts with national accounts. Helped drive fresh-cut steak program in addition to developing a metro sales territory. Recruited 2 DSR’s transitioning each into matrix territories holding added business for new DSM to manage. Privately held regional broadline distributor. (Recruited by Alliant Foodservice)
Division Manager Alliant/USFoodservice, Eagan, MN - San Francisco, CA www.usfoodservice.com
10/1997 to 09/2000
Division Sales Manager 10/1997 to 04/1998 Recruited to reestablish Northern Minnesota Division with committed Duluth-based shuttle/turn around site and immediate rapid recruitment, hiring, training and development of multiple district sales personnel. Following acquisition of Omaha based independent broadliner, capital equipment was reallocated to Omaha and Northern Division plan went on hold causing lay-off of newly hired personnel with change in direction. While working interim projects over a 3 month period exploring options, took outplacement to U.S. Foodservice Northern CA Division as Regional Sales Manager 07/1998 to 09/2000. Relocated to Central CA as member of an attempted turn-around team. Mission was to build up Central Region sales organization in effort to offset loss sales in San Francisco region due to serious post Rykoff-Sexton acquisition union and sales turnover issues. As division operations continued to deteriorate, additional responsibility developed for chain account relationships and initiating service alternatives outside the San Francisco Bay area to protect high margin chain business and newly established Central CA business. Assisted in the initial plan of locating and ultimately transferring operations to Fresno, CA facility. After assisting in division closure, out placing all newly hired personnel, and completing transition of chain business from San Francisco to Fresno facility, accepted Vice President position with Skylark Meats in Omaha, NE. Interim work between positions. Privately and publicly held broadline food distributor and custom cut meat processor. (Reallocation of capital resources, corporate turmoil, division closure, recruited by Skylark Meats)
Vice President Skylark Meats (AFG), Omaha, NE
www.americanfoodsgroup.com 09/2000 to 05/2003
Officer with EBIT accountability for all distribution sales of non-processed and company processed Center of Plate products going to both Foodservice and Retail channels. Accountable for all purchasing working very close with Director of Purchasing as a direct report. Managed limited product lines, inventory turns, and excess or obsolete inventory positions. Monitored inventory to achieve service level goals, verified pricing, vendor invoice reconciliations, claims, contract compliance commitments. Negotiated and implemented vendor programs. Transitioned commodity product lines into exclusive branded programs. Spearheaded and co-managed complete Creekstone Farms start-up from 1st Kill through their acquisition of Ark City, KS plant with and through 12 area managers in the Midwest. General management of distribution facility, operations, finance, customer service, purchasing, sales, and transportation. Special projects for parent company Rosen Meat Group now American Foods Group. Positioned commodity distribution sales to be sold. Target markets included retail meat, deli and foodservice segments calling on headquarter distribution, warehouse, and chain operator levels. Privately held meat and custom cut steak processor. (Change in direction, relocate back to WI/IL)
Interim District Manager PFG Thoms Proestler Co, Rock Island, IL www.pfgc.com
05/2003 to 05/2004
Following post acquisition of TPC, agreed to an interim arrangement in return for a complete relocation from Omaha back to WI/IL area. Revitalized established but failing 18 million dollar district. Responsible to 10 district sales representatives as their manager, coach and change agent. Immediately addressed vulnerable district based multi-unit chain business by working with appropriate sales, support and decision making personnel. Replaced 1 mediocre salesperson while recruiting long term District Sales Manager. Spearheaded introduction of corporate branded beef program while positioning new DSM for sustainable consistent and profitable long-term growth. Lead, introduced, trained, set-up, priced, forecasted, managed and sold complete corporate branded beef program for operating company. Manage all excess inventory and worked very close with VP Merchandising and Purchasing Director to see them through before ending one year interim agreement. Today District is top performing in both sales and profit competing at the 25 million dollar level and positioned for a fold out. Publicly held broadline food distributor and custom cut meat processor best known for its previous line of retail mixed salads “Fresh Express” found in most produce sections of food retailers. (Interim one year agreement, mission accomplished, recruited by Hollymatic Corporation)
Director Marketing/Sales Hollymatic Corporation, Countryside, IL 09/2004 to 08/2005
Recruited to create and effect rapid fundamental change in the direction and management of the company’s sales and marketing approach. Company best known for inventing meat mixer/grinder and hamburger patty machine. Revitalized Dealer/Distributor network, established National Account positions in both foodservice and retail segments, and implemented Regional Sales Manager program. Quickly impacted the performance of sales organization. 2005 was first sales increase in 9 years and the only double digit growth under current 20 year ownership. FY 2006 again saw real and profitable growth. EBIT accountability. Privately held OEM manufacturer. Reported directly to Chairman/Sole Proprietor realizing fit was not long term, accepted several consultancy projects in addition to an interim position with Magnuson/CCM Corporation. (Not a long-term fit)
02/2006 to 09/2006
Interim position to help revitalize headquarter and plant relations with major accounts. Positioned strategic selling approach by organizing first ever senior management business reviews with company’s top 3 Global accounts based in the Midwest. Results offered Magnuson a renewed opportunity to collaborate and pursue turn key sales of vegetable processing systems and exposed sized reduction equipment/systems to industrial fresh-cut market and meat segments. Privately held OEM food processing. (Project accomplished)
Consultancy JV WILLIAMS, South Beloit, IL
www.jvwilliams.com
09/2006 to present
In an effort to transition career to level compatibile with family priorities, accepted several interim projects leading to what developed into a consultancy practice. In part this practice has led to helping teach a 2 credit course part-time at Rock Valley College, Rockford, IL. This course is an elective in the Graduate Program at The Citadel and uses theory with proven practices to take students through all the steps of starting and operating an online business.
www.mahoneyenvironmental.com / www.mendotaagriproducts.com
Currently working under an "at will" agreement to help develop a new businesss unit providing liquid recycling and wastewater solutions for industrial food processors.
Other Consultancy, Interim and/or Contract Work Projects
Rock Valley College - Interim Instructor www.rockvalleycollege.edu
Tallgrass Beef Company - National Branded Grass Fed/Finished Beef Program www.tallgrassbeef.com
Atlanta Bread - Bakery Cafe Restaurant Chain www.atlantabread.com
Amphire Solutions, Inc. – Supply Chain Software www.amphire.com
Biro Manufacturing, Inc. – Meat Processing Capital Equipment www.birosaw.com
The Broaster Company - Foodservice Equipment, Licensing, Brands www.broaster.com
Emmpak Foods/Peck Meat Packing – Meat Processor www.cargillmeatsolutions.com
VSA/Multifoods – Specialty Distribution www.vistarvsa.com
Sysco Corporation – Broadline Distribution www.sysco.com
The Fortune Group – Sales Management Training www.fortune-group.com
Edward Don & Company – Specialty Distribution www.don.com
Career Training & Development Education
SiteBuildIt! - Building a Successful Business Using the Internet
Rosen Diversified Inc. - Executive Officer Development
The Fortune Group International - Practical Management
The Fortune Group International - Practical Sales Management
The Fortune Group International - Creative Selling Skills
Miller Heiman - Strategic Selling
U.S. Foodservice - STARS & CHAMPS Sales & Management Programs
CIA Culinary Institute of America - Selling the Executive Chef
United States Armed Forces - Security, Inventory Supply
Industry Association
American Meat Institute
Food Marketing Institue
International Dairy Deli Bakery Association
National Restaurant Asscociation