Bridget Suhr
Summary
Quality Assurance Manager & Food Scientist with 5+ years of progressive leadership spanning food and pet food manufacturing. Experience directing 14+ member quality teams, leading regulatory audit readiness, and executing continuous improvement initiatives that drive defect reduction in high-volume production environments. Expertise in FSSC 22000 internal auditing, PCQI protocols, and HACCP compliance to ensure high-standard food safety and product integrity.
Overview
1
1
Certification
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Quality Assurance Manager
Nestle Purina
Allentown, PA
03.2026 - Current
- Lead, mentor, and oversee 14-member QA department.
- Collaborate with R&D team on new product trials.
- Manage internal and external factory audit programs.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce consumer complaints and enhance quality performance metrics (FTR/FQ).
- Lead quality culture programs, build shop-floor engagement and accountability across all production lines.
Associate Quality Manager
Nestle Purina
Allentown, PA
05.2023 - 03.2026
- Led QA operations team of 1 supervisor and 8 technicians, managed hold and destruction processes, and overhauled facility Master Sanitation Plan (MSP).
- Supported regulatory inspections (FDA, PA Dept. of Agriculture), FSSC 22000 external audits, Nestle Food Safety Assessments, and Nestle Internal Audits.
- Managed post-audit CAPA workflows—utilizing root-cause analysis to address audit findings, prevent recurrence, and strengthen ongoing plant audit readiness.
Performance Acceleration Team Project Leader
Nestle Purina
Allentown, PA
01.2023 - 05.2023
- Spearheaded cross-functional continuous improvement projects, led 5S workplace organization routines, and implemented basic condition maintenance improvements at Filler/Seamers to enhance line reliability.
Quality Management Development Associate | Quality Assistant
Nestle Purina
Crete, NE
06.2021 - 05.2023
- Completed an accelerated rotational development program and developed and deployed digital Quality Critical Skills with corporate QA team.
Quality Assurance Intern
UDairy Creamery
Newark, DE
09.2020 - 12.2020
- Executed analytical and microbiological samples on raw milk, finished cheese, and ice cream products and managed environmental monitoring programs.
Quality Assurance Intern
Schreiber Foods
Carthage, MO
06.2020 - 08.2020
- Executed daily analytical (pH, moisture, fat) and microbiological testing on hot-fill processed cheese lines, performed sanitation pre-operational inspections, and supported internal audit against SQF code.
Cheesemaking Intern
UDairy Creamery
Newark, DE
10.2019 - 05.2020
- Assisted producing small-batch artisan cheese, executed Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS), and supported product development trials.
Quality Assurance & Food Safety Intern
Bell & Evans
Fredericksburg, PA
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Improved sensory portion of shelf-life studies, developed sensory panelist training program, investigated pathogen mitigation strategies (e.g., Salmonella and Campylobacter), and supported microbiology lab.
Education
Honors B.S. - Food Science
University of Delaware
Newark, DE05-2021
Skills
- Inventory management (WMS)
- ERP systems (SAP)
- CAPA management
- SharePoint/ Document control
- Digital MOC (Management of Change)
- RedZone
- POKA/ digital learning platform
- Microsoft Office
- Root cause analysis
- Complaint investigation
- Project management
- Continuous improvement
- Employee supervision
Certification
- FSSC 22000 Internal Auditor, 03/25
- HACCP, 12/24
- Better Process Control School, 10/22
- PCQI Certified (FSPCA Preventive Controls for Animal Food), 06/22
Affiliations
- Women's Meat Industry Network (WMIN) member, Nestle Purina Women in Manufacturing (WiM) member, community gardener, and acrylic painter
Timeline
Quality Assurance Manager
Nestle Purina
03.2026 - Current
Associate Quality Manager
Nestle Purina
05.2023 - 03.2026
Performance Acceleration Team Project Leader
Nestle Purina
01.2023 - 05.2023
Quality Management Development Associate | Quality Assistant
Nestle Purina
06.2021 - 05.2023
Quality Assurance Intern
UDairy Creamery
09.2020 - 12.2020
Quality Assurance Intern
Schreiber Foods
06.2020 - 08.2020
Cheesemaking Intern
UDairy Creamery
10.2019 - 05.2020
Quality Assurance & Food Safety Intern
Bell & Evans
06.2019 - 08.2019
Honors B.S. - Food Science
University of Delaware