John Shamburg

People and Operations Manager with nine years of experience leading large teams, daily operations, and complex public events. Directed an onsite workforce of approximately 320 employees across four shifts at Mars Chocolate, including four shift managers and 24 team leads. Currently plans and executes major events at the Topeka Zoo, coordinating vendors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, entertainment, and food and beverage partners for audiences of thousands.

Named

Manager of the Year in 2024 for work supporting a Fortune 500 company. Partnered with community organizations to develop workforce programs that filled open positions while creating opportunities for underserved members of the community.

Special Events Manager - Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center - Topeka, KS

(2025-01)

Plan and run the zoo's major public and fundraising events, including Brew at the Zoo, Roar & Pour, Boo at the Zoo, Boots & Bowties, and ZooVerse.

• Own the full event operation: budgets, vendor and sponsor coordination, contracts, site layouts, staffing, volunteers, entertainment, ticketing, VIP areas, setup, live execution, and breakdown.
• Coordinate 35 to 45-plus outside vendors for large events and work directly with alcohol distributors, food trucks, performers, contractors, and community partners.
• Created and launched ZooVerse, a new comic convention-style event with more than 35 vendors; post-event survey results averaged 4.4 out of 5.
• Improved year-over-year event results, including approximately $30,000 more revenue for Brew at the Zoo and $10,000 more for Roar & Pour in 2025, followed by another successful event cycle in 2026 that matched or exceeded revenue goals.
• Build detailed operating schedules and site plans, then make real-time decisions during events involving guest flow, weather, safety, staffing, vendor issues, and facility needs.
• Represent the zoo in live television and radio interviews, in-studio appearances, and social media videos.

Account Manager - TrueBlue SMX Workforce Management at Mars Chocolate - Topeka, KS

(2020-01 - 2025-01)

Ran the SMX onsite operation at Mars Chocolate supporting approximately 320 employees across four shifts, with four shift managers, roughly 24 team leads, and recruiting support working through the account.

• Grew the onsite workforce from approximately 65 employees to more than 320, contributing about $4.5 million in additional annual business revenue over two years.
• Held responsibility for hiring, terminations, payroll, scheduling, staffing levels, attendance, employee discipline, performance management, training, safety, and employee relations.
• Worked directly with Mars leadership on production staffing, service levels, safety, labor costs, quality concerns, and urgent operational problems.
• Managed labor budgets, payroll review, P&L reporting, staffing forecasts, performance metrics, client reporting, and contract requirements.
• Oversaw janitorial and facility-support work inside the manufacturing site and addressed staffing, equipment, supply, quality, and safety issues.
• Built operating procedures, manager and lead accountability practices, and training processes as the account expanded.
• Directed sanitation and production-support needs in food-handling, shipping, and food-production areas.

Production Manager - Bettis Fabrication - Topeka, KS

(2017-01 - 2020-01)

Managed daily production and performance for a 48-person manufacturing team, including 15 employees working on the road in other states.

• Set schedules and work assignments, moved employees between priorities, and coordinated materials and production deadlines to meet customer commitments.
• Hired, trained, coached, evaluated, and disciplined employees while maintaining expectations for productivity, quality, attendance, and safety.
• Worked directly with customers from initial requirements through production and delivery, resolving timeline and quality concerns as they arose.
• Introduced standardized work and cross-training that improved flexibility, reduced waste, and made production more consistent.

Volunteer Event Organizer - Annual Charity Golf Tournament - Topeka, KS

(2017-01 - 2022-01)

Organized an annual two-day charity golf tournament for approximately 144 participants, including sponsorships, registration, volunteers, vendors, catering, budgets, setup, and tournament-day operations.

Welding Certification - Washburn University Institute of Technology (2018-01)

Anthropology Studies - Washburn University (2019-01)