Jeff Almekinder
Rochester,NY
Summary
Dynamic plant management professional with over 16 years in flexographic printing. Proven track record in leading enhancing operational efficiency, and implementing safety protocols. Skilled in process improvements and quality control to drive productivity and reduce costs.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Plant Manager
Bison Bag Corperation
Lockport, New York
12.2025 - Current
- Managed the daily operations of the plant, including scheduling personnel and equipment.
- Managed daily operations of production lines for efficiency and quality.
- Implemented process improvements that streamlined workflow and increased productivity.
- Monitored plant performance metrics, such as throughput, quality, cost, and safety.
- Planned, directed and coordinated operations for production, machinery and processing within company policies and procedures.
- Ensured high-quality daily production by enforcing product standards and conducting quality monitoring.
- Oversaw inventory management to ensure adequate supply levels.
- Supported departments in successfully utilizing available labor, materials and equipment resources for production.
- Collaborated with other departments to align production goals with company objectives.
- Developed training materials for employee onboarding and skills development.
- Maintained accurate records of employee attendance, overtime hours worked, inventory levels.
- Established goals for improving productivity, product quality, safety standards.
- Collaborated with managers across plants to exchange best practices for operational efficiency.
- Conducted regular meetings with department heads to review progress towards set objectives.
- Identified and solved complex problems that impacted management and business direction.
- Eliminated materials waste and unnecessary labor hours to reduce costs.
- Provided direction to team members to enhance workflow and collaboration. and leadership to all levels of employees and managers.
Press Department supervisor
Bison Bag corporation
Lockport, NY
12.2022 - 12.2025
- Managed scheduling and staffing for production shifts.
- Ensured compliance with quality standards in manufacturing processes.
- Implemented process improvements to enhance workflow efficiency.
- Conducted performance reviews and provided constructive feedback to employees.
- Trained employees on new processes and procedures.
- Facilitated communication between departments to support overall objectives.
- Established goals for each team member and monitored progress towards those objectives.
- Modeled supportive leadership qualities, motivating staff to achieve department goals and promote staff participation and team building.
- Created reports summarizing daily operations for upper-level management review.
- Participated in weekly meetings with senior leadership teams to discuss progress.
Vista flex operator and trainer
American Packaging Corporation
Town of Chili, NY
01.2018 - 12.2022
- Efficiently operated 10-color Vista Flex printing press, achieving optimal output.
- Trained new employees on safe press operation protocols, enhancing team compliance and safety awareness.
- Implemented safety protocols for handling ethyl alcohol acetate and diacetone, ensuring workplace safety.
- Performed quality control checks on finished products, ensuring compliance with standards.
- Supported successful 2018 plant startup initiatives through active involvement in key processes.
- Handled materials effectively using fork trucks and walk-behind pallet jacks.
Press Department Group Leader - Optimization Specialist
Berry Plastics
Macedon, NY
09.2013 - 08.2017
- Maintained safety protocols for everyone in the Press Department.
- Ensured compliance with quality standards across all products.
- Tracked and improved rate, yield, and changeover times for the entire shift.
- Enhanced production efficiency on all presses through strategic oversight.
- Identified and resolved quality and press issues across all presses.
- Backfilled the supervisor's role during vacation periods.
- Trained new hires on operational procedures
- Educated operators and assistants on processes.
- Coordinated shift schedules and allocated resources to optimize production flow.
Press Operator
Berry Plastics
Macedon, NY
08.2011 - 09.2013
- Efficiently Operated W&H Stella flex, Nova flex, Prima flex, Astra flex, Vista flex, Mira flex and PCMC Infinity 8 and 10 color Presses
- Printed line, process, surface and reverse print jobs
- Ran press speeds at an average of 1600 FPM on process image orders
- Line color jobs ran at an average of 2000 FPM
- Trialed a few jobs at 2600 FPM
- Kimberly Clark (Personal care)
- Pepperidge Farms (Bakery)
- Kroger (Bakery)
- Mission (Bakery)
- Becton Dickinson (Medical)
- Facilitated customer process approvals, ensuring alignment with quality standards
- Supported Optimization Specialist, contributing to process enhancements
- Heavily involved with Vista flex and Mira flex start up Trained on Color Century
Press Assistant
Berry Plastics
Macedon, NY
08.2010 - 08.2011
- Assisted on PCMC 4,6, 8 and 10 color presses
- Assisted on 8 and 10 color W&H presses
- Changed and maintained inks for consistent print quality
- Replaced doctor blades and seals to ensure optimal press performance
- 3. Hung production film made splices - Manual and Automatic
- Ensured cleanliness of press to maintain operational standards
General Laborer
The Garden Factory
Gates, NY
06.2007 - 07.2010
- Organized and replenished merchandise on shelves to ensure product availability
- Welcomed customers and assisted with inquiries to enhance shopping experience
- Provided customer service and promoted new product lines for lawn fertilizer
Education
Level 3 FTA Certification -
FTA
01-2017
Gates Chili High School
01-2010
Skills
- Production scheduling
- Inventory management
- Quality control
- Safety compliance
- Lean manufacturing
- Cost reduction strategies
- Six sigma
- Lean manufacturing processes
- Efficiency enhancement
- Production and processing management
- ISO standards
- Process improvement
- Flexo printing presses
- Lamination troubleshooting
- Converting
Personal Information
Title: Plant Manager
Additional Information
- Training / Certification
- - First certified Press operator (FTA)
- - Dealing with difficult people leadership training through RIT College
- - Practical leadership training for supervisors through RIT College
- - SMED continuous Improvement training for changeover reduction team
- - Trained with W&H technicians and trainers on how to operate optimize and repair Vistaflex and Miraflex prices
Timeline
Plant Manager
Bison Bag Corperation
12.2025 - Current
Press Department supervisor
Bison Bag corporation
12.2022 - 12.2025
Vista flex operator and trainer
American Packaging Corporation
01.2018 - 12.2022
Press Department Group Leader - Optimization Specialist
Berry Plastics
09.2013 - 08.2017
Press Operator
Berry Plastics
08.2011 - 09.2013
Press Assistant
Berry Plastics
08.2010 - 08.2011
General Laborer
The Garden Factory
06.2007 - 07.2010
Level 3 FTA Certification -
FTA
Gates Chili High School