- Volunteer Travel
- Youth Development Programs
- Outdoor Recreation
- Volunteering for community initiatives to give back to local communities and make a positive impact
- Acting and Theater
- Kayaking
Dr. Michael K. Merideth
Acworth,USA
Summary
With over 30 years of experience in food and beverage/CPG manufacturing operations, including roles at Coca-Cola, Cott Beverages, Dean Foods, Land O Lakes, and Graham Packaging, I have developed a deep understanding of the industry. As the global director of lean continuous improvement for 65 plants across the US, Mexico, Europe, and Brazil, I have successfully implemented strategies to drive efficiency and productivity. Additionally, my 5+ years as the beverages corporate quality director for North America East have allowed me to ensure the highest standards of quality control. With 10+ years of experience as a food and beverage plant manager, I have honed my skills in overseeing day-to-day operations and optimizing production processes. Throughout my 25+ years of lean manufacturing management experience, I have consistently delivered results in streamlining operations and reducing waste. My expertise extends to manufacturing supply chain management and budgetary management, where I have consistently achieved excellence. With a strong business acumen for large volume manufacturing operations, I am dedicated to building sustainable profit centers and leading winning teams as a passionate servant leader with high energy. In addition to my extensive industry experience, I am also a mission-oriented professional. As a [Job Title], I have successfully developed robust youth ministry programs and served as a positive role model. My accomplishments include helping youths strengthen their personal relationships with God while providing growth opportunities. With talents in program administration, operations management, and spiritual leadership, I am committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Pastor ( Bi- Vocational)
Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church
10.2019 - Current
- Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship, and service opportunities.
- Interacted with local community, building relationships with civic organizations and other churches.
- Collaborated with worship leaders to create meaningful worship experiences that connected with diverse audiences.
- Provided pastoral counseling to individuals seeking guidance on personal or relationship issues, promoting emotional well-being within the congregation.
- Coordinated special events such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals, providing pastoral care during significant moments in congregants'' lives.
- Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
- Mentored youth group members, providing guidance and support for personal and spiritual development.
- Managed volunteer teams for various ministries, ensuring effective use of resources and talents.
- Streamlined administrative processes for more efficient communication between church staff and congregation members.
- Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons, and worked with key church leaders to carry out church mission.
- Raised congregational awareness of needs and contributions of youth to church life and operations.
- Facilitated weekly Bible studies aimed at deepening understanding of Scripture while fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Championed diversity and inclusion within the church by promoting open dialogue and inclusive programming.
Director, Global Continuous Improvement
Graham Packaging Company, Inc.
01.2018 - 02.2025
- Director for the Company Wide Lean Continuous Improvement System, Processes, Adoption, Engagement and Sustainable Culture for 65 Plants
- Senior Leader for the Education, Engagement and Effectiveness of the Company Daily Management, Problem Solving and Waste Elimination Efforts all for Manufacturing Plants
- Serve as one of several Senior Leaders that helps to shape the success of the Company core initiatives for Manufacturing Operational Excellence, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Foundational Leadership Development and Corporate Sustainability Stewardship
Plant Manager
Graham Packaging Company, Inc.
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Responsible for all manufacturing operations, including safety, production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, financial and Continuous Improvement functions of the Plant
- Senior Leader for an on-sight Injection and Blow Mold Operation servicing a vertical high-speed Pepsi / Gatorade Plant
- Successfully optimize all business acumens to exceed customer requirements, plant profitability and the sustainability of both equipment and people capabilities
- Plant sustained ranking of being the top conversion cost facility in BU as well as On-site Supplier of Choice
Plant Manager
Dean Foods, Inc.
05.2011 - 02.2013
- Company Overview: (Milk and Ice Cream)
- Plant Manager for the Company’s second largest Regional Dairy Plant (Milk and Ice Cream) with complete manufacturing and supply chain responsibilities
- Safety- reduced plant safety DART rate by 50 % to be well under the industry national average within 18months
- People – successfully prevented 2 Union Organization attempts
- Restructured and established a high performance management team
- Created a plant culture where employees and management are working collaborative to bring about positive business performances
- Productivity: Ice Cream manufacturing achieved and sustained the position of the number 1 performing plant in the Company and Milk manufacturing is in the top 10% of performing plants in the Dean Company
- Service: formed a cross functional team (Sales, Supply Chain and Distribution) to enhance the end to end customer service performance, the results of the team engagement has increased the business Perfect Order Program by 30 % in 12 months
- Cost: have performed favorably to the plant annual operating budget by 5% each year with additional savings of $750K from continuous improvement / capital project initiatives without the compromise of any plant essential business continuums
- (Milk and Ice Cream)
Plant Operations Manager
Land O Lakes, Inc.
11.2009 - 05.2011
- Company Overview: (Butter and Spreads)
- Responsible for total operations management of a dairy butter spreads facility with 13 production lines
- The plant operates 24 hours and is staff with 180 unionized employees
- The sphere of work expectation includes meeting and exceeding safety, quality, productivity, cost, environmental, employee development and continuous improvement goals within prescribed guidelines of the company and the facility annual business plan
- I was the plant leading manager to synthesize all operations performance activities through a proprietary production business system that focus on optimizing equipment reliability by using both team concepts and scientific lean management tools
- Tenure achievements: 20% OEE productivity improvement, 2 “Superior A” BRC annual ratings, successful 3-year union contract ratification, 50% reduction in plant annual business plan financial losses
- (Butter and Spreads)
Director, Corporate Quality Assurance
Cott Beverages Corporation
04.1998 - 01.2009
- Company Overview: (Water, Beverages)
- Corporate Quality Director for Company Owned Manufacturing Plants, Co-Packers and Suppliers
- Job responsibility was for a 300+ million cases supply chain business in North America Market
- Supplier Quality: Developed and enacted audits, approval and certifications of suppliers for Company North America existing and new business units
- Revitalized company supplier quality variance resolution process with results of 25% decrease in plant waste and $250K supplier restitution to company 2007-2008
- Co-Packer Quality: Developed and enacted audits, approval and certifications of Co-Packers for Company North America existing and new business units
- Successfully facilitated quality business integrations with Company and Co-Packers to secure 30+million cases supply chain capacity
- Company Owned Manufacturing Quality: Implemented cost saving measures by converting Company North America Plants to a Dry Conveyor Lube, saving 17MM gallons of water and $100k annually
- Project Owner for Company Carbon Footprint (GHG) Program
- Revised and enacted the Quality Management System for Company Owned Manufacturing by moving the quality program from a quality control to a quality assurance working environment resulting in a decrease of 17% manufacturing related down time and waste savings of $300K from 2007-2008
- Quality Stewardship for the Company physical and analytical product testing, microbiological stability, engineering, water technology, manufacturing formulations, plant sanitation, regulatory compliance, food defense process management systems
- (Water, Beverages)
Plant Manager
Cott Beverages
10.2000 - 10.2004
- Embraced the challenge to manage a very distressed facility and immediately implemented improvement measures: 1) repaired employee/ union discord and reduced employee turnover by converting from union to company-representation and by selecting qualified/motivated employees; 2) resolved safety and sanitation issues; 3) improved product quality; maintenance reliability: plant financials and developed corporate community relationships
Education
Doctorate Degree - Theology
Andersonville Theological Seminary
Camilla, GA01.2018
Master Degree - Theology
Andersonville Theological Seminary
Camilla, GA01.2009
Bachelor of Science Degree - Business Administration
Trinity College-University
New Orleans, Louisiana01.2003
Biology and Chemistry Studies -
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee Institute, Alabama01.1986
Skills
- Pastoral care
- Pastoral counseling
- Relationship building
- Organizational leadership
- Spiritual leadership
- People management
- Operational excellence
- Discipleship training
- Critical thinking skills
- Youth ministry
- Spiritual cultivation
- Stewardship education
- Biblical studies
- Coaching and mentoring
Accomplishments
- Developed and introduced youth leadership programs to increase engagement and service within community.
Certification
- Level 3 Award in HACCP for Food Manufacturing, RSPH- Royal Society for Public Health, 2010
- Safe Quality Food (SQF) Practitioner, Ecosure, division of Ecolab, 2008
- HACCP Certification, Ecosure, division of Ecolab, 2008
- Food Defense Instructor Certification, American Institute of Bakery (AIB), 2005
- Quality Leadership Development, Eckerd College, 2001
Phone Numbers
678-540-6035, 252-258-6100
Ordained and Commissioned Minister
Ordained by Experienced Ministries International body of Clergy. ( Non- Denominational) since 2018.
Doctorate Degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Pastoral Theology
Interests
Timeline
Associate Pastor ( Bi- Vocational)
Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church
10.2019 - Current
Director, Global Continuous Improvement
Graham Packaging Company, Inc.
01.2018 - 02.2025
Plant Manager
Graham Packaging Company, Inc.
01.2014 - 01.2018
Plant Manager
Dean Foods, Inc.
05.2011 - 02.2013
Plant Operations Manager
Land O Lakes, Inc.
11.2009 - 05.2011
Plant Manager
Cott Beverages
10.2000 - 10.2004
Director, Corporate Quality Assurance
Cott Beverages Corporation
04.1998 - 01.2009
Master Degree - Theology
Andersonville Theological Seminary
Bachelor of Science Degree - Business Administration
Trinity College-University
Biology and Chemistry Studies -
Tuskegee University
- Level 3 Award in HACCP for Food Manufacturing, RSPH- Royal Society for Public Health, 2010
- Safe Quality Food (SQF) Practitioner, Ecosure, division of Ecolab, 2008
- HACCP Certification, Ecosure, division of Ecolab, 2008
- Food Defense Instructor Certification, American Institute of Bakery (AIB), 2005
- Quality Leadership Development, Eckerd College, 2001
Doctorate Degree - Theology
Andersonville Theological Seminary
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