Director of Quality Assurance at So-Alive Company (2019-09 – Present)
- Direct quality and food safety operations for produce packing facilities serving major retail and high-volume wholesale customers throughout North America
- Lead 40 quality control employees between five multi-site teams across facilities in California, Mexico, and Central America, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, and food traceability requirements
- Create specifications for implementation by quality control team
- Perform internal audits and prepare quality team for third-party audits
- Oversee third-party and customer audits
- Manage customer complaints
- Maintain audit scores at 98 percent and above
- Perform root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
Quality Assurance Manager at Foster Farms (2018-03 – 2019-09)
- Managed quality control department for USDA protein product packing plant, including school lunch products such as tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, and military rations
- Maintained quality assurance records
- Responsible for GFSI, AIB, and NSF audits
- Coordinated health inspection audits with outside agencies including USDA
Director of Business Development at L.A. Salad Company (2012-06 – 2018-03)
- Developed new products including packaging, presentation, and extension of shelf-life for existing customers in the produce industry
- Expanded business into new markets in North America and Japan
Quality Assurance Manager at L.A. Salad Company (2009-02 – 2012-05)
- Implemented and managed all quality control programs, including food safety programs and USDA audits
- Oversaw production at four fresh produce packing plants in Guatemala, Mexico, and California
- Supervised and trained 25 quality control employees at plants in Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru
- Enforced HACCP requirements and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
- Ensured compliance with company and regulatory requirements
- Directed audit readiness and compliance programs for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits across multiple processing plants
Quality Manager at SunOpta Fruit Group (2007-05 – 2009-02)
- Managed 15 quality control employees in frozen produce processing plant
- Enforced Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs)
- Ensured compliance with company and regulatory requirements
- Maintained technical documentation
Quality Control Manager at Corn Maiden Foods, Inc. (2006-11 – 2007-04)
- Managed and supervised ten sanitation and food safety workers preparing ready-to-eat products (RTE) including tamales and burritos
- Worked directly with and reported to USDA inspector
