Early in my career I had the opportunity to help build a start-up contract manufacturing company, Evergreen Innovations. I knew nothing about manufacturing and before working for Evergreen, I was a bartender at a swanky cocktail joint in St. Paul, MN. It’s safe to say that filling equipment and batch process manufacturing were definitely not in my repertoire. I remember thinking at the time that the opportunity really didn’t make a ton of sense for me, but looking back now I am able to connect the dots and know that I was in the right place, at the right time, and according to my former boss— I was the right person for the job.

I have a natural eye for fine details, mapping out processes, effective communication and a passion for problem solving. All skills that blend perfectly with what is required to start a business, build processes, lead teams, and create a best in class customer experience. I started as employee #3 , working in an empty 35,000 sq ft warehouse. I had no product development templates, zero experience in the personal care industry, and had never helped start a company before. Ultimately, I left a team of 54 employees, 40+ happy clients, 900+ products launched, and millions in revenue made.

It was a wild ride and I definitely got my hands dirty. The skills and experiences I gained that are highly translatable and proven to help growing businesses maneuver through market unknowns, navigate distressed supply chains, and sustainably build their business.

Roles + Responsibilities

Sales + Project Liaison // June 2018 - May 2020

• Coordinated build out of 35,000 sq ft facility including sourcing and procurement of various filling/warehousing equipment

• Organized IT infrastructure and commissioned various project management tools/processes

• Deeply involved in all new customer on boarding, contract negotiation and defining project scopes and management baselines

• Defined and lead product development projects for new and existing customers from concept to launch -- including formula + package development

• Implemented and was responsible for AR/AP processes during year 1 of business

• Helped to write and train on company SOP’s in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to support our FDA, USDA, and COSMOS ORGANIC registrations / audits

• Worked closely with manufacturing team to oversee new product launch success, acting as liaison and goalkeeper between all stakeholders

Customer Experience Manager // May 2020 - June 2021

• Hired and structured organizational charts for multiple departments including Customer Service, Supply Chain, and Warehouse

• Gathered various performance data that provided leadership team and investors weekly pulse points on budgets and growth initiatives

• Set and maintained the highest standards in Customer Experience that have the company recognized by medium sized brands in Ulta, Sephora, and Target as top contract manufacturer in our industry

• Lead and supported business development initiatives and trade shows that resulted in landing a $1mm / yr client

• Founded the Employee Experience committee that prioritized company culture and diversity. Hosted holiday parties, employee appreciation, and recognition ceremonies

Supply Chain Director // June 2021 - April 2022

• Managed raw material forecasting initiatives and vendor pricing negotiations

• Worked closely with R&D team to cross qualify raw materials where global shortages existed

• Negotiated freight rates and optimized inbound logistics for cost savings

• Prepared and analyzed financial documents to support capital investments

• Managed day to day activities, budgets and the professional development of a team of seven from three different departments

• Responsible for financial reporting metrics and strategic growth initiatives for the Customer Experience, Supply Chain, Warehouse and Purchasing departments