Senior quality management professional equipped to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence. Adept at developing and implementing quality assurance protocols, fostering cross-functional team collaboration, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Known for adaptability and results-driven approach, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Skilled in root cause analysis, process optimization, and stakeholder communication.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Quality Leader
Kroger (Delight Products)
Springfield, TN
09.2023 - Current
Provides leadership to the plant in areas of food safety and product quality
Audits plant sanitation process through environmental testing, product testing, physical inspections, and monitoring pest control compliance
Ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of best practices in quality management, staying current on industry trends, and sharing insights with the wider team
Leads cross-functional teams for effective collaboration on quality improvement projects, resulting in improved efficiency and cost savings
Achieves departmental objectives by setting clear performance metrics and regularly reviewing progress against targets
Develops and manages efficient quality management systems for streamlined operations and reduced defects
Develops and delivers comprehensive quality training programs for employees at all levels of the organization to reinforce best practices and maintain a strong culture of excellence
Enhances customer satisfaction by addressing consumer comments promptly and working with production to implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence
Conducts root cause analysis for process failures, leading to the development of effective preventive measures and to reduce potential threats to product quality or regulatory compliance
Champions a culture of continuous learning within the organization, promoting ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members at all levels
Assures that record keeping is accurate and meets Kroger, SQF, and government regulations
Maintains strong relationships with external auditors, ensuring smooth audit processes and timely resolution of any identified issues or nonconformances
Collaborates with CFT (Corporate Food Technology) teams to integrate quality considerations into new product development processes, ensuring successful launches with minimal issues
Senior Quality Control Manager
Walmart
Shelbyville, TN
05.2021 - 08.2023
Oversaw quality control activities in the areas of inbound, inventory, and delivery
Drove compliance with supply chain procedures related to product quality
Coached personnel on how to use tools and equipment for quality inspection
Evaluated commodity data at a network level and offered recommendations to internal and external partners
Built succession plans to support business continuity
Conducted proper risk assessments to guarantee the safety of food handling/delivery and cold chain policies
Identified opportunities to improve efficiency and product quality
Applied analytics techniques to enable real-time decisions and data-led actionable insights to deploy proper models for analysis
Led and oversaw the fruit ripening program by giving guidance and input on bananas, avocados, pears, and other produce conditioning and ripening as well as the ordering and scheduling of incoming trucks delivering the fruit
Developed training materials and techniques for distribution center and retail staff on proper handling procedures
Monitored industry trends, key players, and major competitors; developed strategies accordingly
Utilized process improvement techniques and methodologies, change management principles, and process analysis processes to align with organizational goals
Manufacturing Supply Chain Manager
Frito-Lay
Pulaski, TN
03.2021 - 05.2021
Identified and coordinated improvements in the operations area necessary to meet the variance commitments for the plan and cost objectives
Ensured that cost gaps were identified, actions plans developed, and adequate resources allocated to meet objectives
<ul>
<li>Spearhead the management and oversight of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, a pivotal national asset developed in partnership with the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</li>
<li>Collaborate with USDA and DHS stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition of operations and mission capabilities from the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) to NBAF, ensuring uninterrupted research, diagnostics, and training essential to national security</li>
<li>Lead the operational endurance phase, validating work processes and laboratory setups to guarantee compliance with the highest safety and biocontainment standards, particularly in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environments</li>
<li>Act as the hiring manager, conducting interviews and selecting high-quality employees to ensure the success of both DCA and NBAF</li>
<li>Serve as a subject matter expert pert for the payroll system Paychex, overseeing and approving payroll for 63 officers biweekly while managing paid time off and leave requests to maintain the security posture for the facility</li>
<li>Monitor project milestones, providing critical updates to senior management and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with USDA's mission objectives and federal guidelines</li>
<li>Direct the development and execution of strategic initiatives to facilitate efficient collaboration with federal partners, ensuring all laboratory operations adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)</li>
<li>Foster a culture of excellence and professionalism within the team, emphasizing rigorous training, safety compliance, and operational integrity as key components of NBAF's mission to safeguard public health and the nation's food supply</li>
<li>Monitored budgeting activities by tracking expenditures and providing regular updates to management.</li>
<li>Analyzed existing processes within a department or organization in order to identify areas for improvement or increased efficiency.</li>
<li>Implemented quality control measures throughout each stage of a project's lifecycle.</li>
<li>Worked closely with senior managers to ensure that all projects were completed according to schedule.</li>
<li>Conducted research on potential vendors, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors for projects.</li>
<li>Provided administrative support to the Project Manager in order to facilitate successful project outcomes.</li>
<li>Prepared monthly progress reports summarizing key accomplishments achieved since the last report.</li>
<li>Trained junior staff on best practices for managing multiple projects simultaneously.</li>
</ul> at Defense Contracting Activity, LLC<ul>
<li>Spearhead the management and oversight of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, a pivotal national asset developed in partnership with the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</li>
<li>Collaborate with USDA and DHS stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition of operations and mission capabilities from the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) to NBAF, ensuring uninterrupted research, diagnostics, and training essential to national security</li>
<li>Lead the operational endurance phase, validating work processes and laboratory setups to guarantee compliance with the highest safety and biocontainment standards, particularly in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environments</li>
<li>Act as the hiring manager, conducting interviews and selecting high-quality employees to ensure the success of both DCA and NBAF</li>
<li>Serve as a subject matter expert pert for the payroll system Paychex, overseeing and approving payroll for 63 officers biweekly while managing paid time off and leave requests to maintain the security posture for the facility</li>
<li>Monitor project milestones, providing critical updates to senior management and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with USDA's mission objectives and federal guidelines</li>
<li>Direct the development and execution of strategic initiatives to facilitate efficient collaboration with federal partners, ensuring all laboratory operations adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)</li>
<li>Foster a culture of excellence and professionalism within the team, emphasizing rigorous training, safety compliance, and operational integrity as key components of NBAF's mission to safeguard public health and the nation's food supply</li>
<li>Monitored budgeting activities by tracking expenditures and providing regular updates to management.</li>
<li>Analyzed existing processes within a department or organization in order to identify areas for improvement or increased efficiency.</li>
<li>Implemented quality control measures throughout each stage of a project's lifecycle.</li>
<li>Worked closely with senior managers to ensure that all projects were completed according to schedule.</li>
<li>Conducted research on potential vendors, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors for projects.</li>
<li>Provided administrative support to the Project Manager in order to facilitate successful project outcomes.</li>
<li>Prepared monthly progress reports summarizing key accomplishments achieved since the last report.</li>
<li>Trained junior staff on best practices for managing multiple projects simultaneously.</li>
</ul> at Defense Contracting Activity, LLC