Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Additional Information
Languages
References
Timeline
Generic
Megan DeJonge

Megan DeJonge

Frostproof

Summary

Experienced farm and warehouse operations professional with over a decade of multi-crop planning and growing expertise. Skilled in agricultural leadership, production efficiency, team management, and financial oversight. Strong problem-solving abilities and training skills. Proficient in safety regulation procedures. Capable of creating and hosting commerce websites to improve business marketing and increase revenue.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Operations Manager

Ben Hill Griffin Inc.
04.2024 - Current
  • Conducted daily greenhouse operations, ensuring optimal plant growth and health through effective resource management.
  • Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts to reduce costs and improve service delivery.
  • Oversaw production schedules to ensure timely and efficient flow across multiple crops.
  • Analyzed crop performance data to identify trends, driving adjustments in cultivation techniques for enhanced yields.
  • Implemented quality control measures that enhanced product consistency and reduced defects.
  • Developed strategic plans for seasonal planting schedules, optimizing resource allocation based on market demand analysis.
  • Designed planting and harvest schedules while developing and executing strategic sales plans to drive revenue growth.
  • Conducted market research to discover new leads, opportunities and messaging for citrus and fresh produce products.
  • Developed custom website with commerce features to meet client needs, resulting in improved functionality and increased sales satisfaction.
  • Division's creator of new marketing campaigns, social media and advertising.
  • Supervised daily division operations ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

Project Coordinator

Village of La Casa Del Sol
07.2022 - 04.2024
  • Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
  • Developed and implemented strategic project plans to meet business objectives.
  • Provided detailed project status updates to out-of-state CEO.
  • Developed strong relationships with residents through positive communication and excellent customer service skills.

Produce Operation and Sales Manager

Ben Wells Produce
07.2017 - 06.2022
  • Managed over 300 acres of multi-crop land, planned all seasonal successions and harvests of produce business.
  • Analyzed and reported market pricing and trends daily through the USDA terminal market website.
  • Conducted all employee schedules and cultivated positive rapport to boost company morale.
  • Skilled forklift and Bobcat operator. Many seasons of loading semi-trucks, delivery trucks and wagons.
  • Created commerce website to begin a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) delivery business during Covid 19 which implemented innovative marketing campaigns that boosted brand awareness, created new product and generated significant sales leads.
  • Facilitated successful cross-functional collaborations with University of Florida Agriculture Extension. (IFAS)
  • Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions within tight deadlines of a fast-paced environment.

Garden Operations and Sales Manager

Blue Sky Farms
03.2014 - 06.2017
  • Created outstanding profit margin in first year in the creation of multi-crop business other than potatoes.
  • Built and maintained business website along with creation of social media accounts.
  • Optimized territory management plans by analyzing data on customer demographics, preferences and buying patterns.
  • Helped with safety concerns and procedures in pesticide and fumigation requirements like buffer mapping and NOAA wind schedules.
  • Helped prepare for major audits and maintained logbooks for Food Safety.
  • Head of all plantings and harvest schedules in the 40 acre garden department.
  • Worked closely with companies like Winn Dixie, Little Potato Company and Costco.
  • Organized promotional events and interacted with community to increase sales volume.
  • Demonstrated products to show potential customers benefits and advantages to encourage purchases.
  • Closed lucrative sales deals using strong negotiation and persuasion skills.

Education

Associate of Science - Criminal Justice Technology

Polk State College
05.2014

Skills

  • Crop management

  • Production planning

  • Plant cultivation expertise

  • Dedication to product quality

  • Regulatory compliance awareness

  • Agribusiness Marketing Strategies

  • USDA Market Research and Analysis

  • Farm operations management

  • Safety procedures

  • Logistics and load planning

  • Forklift operator

  • Quality control

  • Production logging

  • Business commerce website developer

  • Record keeping accuracy

  • Operations management

  • Problem-solving

  • Project management

  • MS office

  • Business development

  • Performance reporting

  • Policies and procedures implementation

Accomplishments

My direct collaborations, photos and innovative business project ideas have been featured on media platforms such as :

  • regional news broadcasts, (Action News Jax)
  • local newspapers, (Highlands Sun),
  • regional news magazines, (Central FL. Ag. News)
  • national cookbooks, (Edible)
  • global TV cooking shows (PBS, 'A Moveable Feast')
  • regional farm booklets, (Localfare, Front Porch Pickings)
  • global farm organization booklets, (Slow Foods)
  • regional published magazines, (Edible Northeast, 4x)
  • national commerical broadcast, (American Express)

Certification

  • Produce Safety Alliance - Certificate of Training (Grower Course) 6/24
  • HACCP for Florida Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Packinghouses - Certificate of Training (Gold Seal Achievement)-Food Safety Course 11/24

Additional Information

I worked in both organic and commercial agricultural practices while a

weekly vendor of the St. Augustine Farmers Markets. As a vendor, I was then hired to help direct the summer staff and nightmarket team by managing both vendors and set up process.

Also, I worked with South Florida Potato Growers Exchange, Winter Park, FL for five years to maximize truck loads for improving profits.

Languages

Spanish
Limited Working

References

Amanda Walters, Head of HR, Ben Hill Griffin Inc.

Email: Awalters@bhgriffin.com

#863-635-2251


Dr. Bonnie Wells, Commercial Horticulture Agent / IFAS Extension of Brevard County.

 Email: bcwells@ufl.edu

#321-633-1702 ext. 52335


James Henson, Packing House/ Warehouse Manager of LM Farms

Email: James.Henson@LMCompanies.Com

#904-344-6013


Danny Johns, Owner of Blue Sky Farms

Email: danny@bsffl.com

#904-692-5938


Jen Clay, Manager of Ben Wells Produce

Email: jennifer.bwproduce@gmail.com

#904-669-7614


Mike Hevener, Head Representative and Purchaser at South Florida Growers Exchange

Email: mike.hevener@sflpotatoes.com

#407-865-6303


Katie and Nick Provow, Head of Operations at St. Augustine Farmers Market

Email: staampmkt@gmail.com

#904-449-4213

Timeline

Operations Manager

Ben Hill Griffin Inc.
04.2024 - Current

Project Coordinator

Village of La Casa Del Sol
07.2022 - 04.2024

Produce Operation and Sales Manager

Ben Wells Produce
07.2017 - 06.2022

Garden Operations and Sales Manager

Blue Sky Farms
03.2014 - 06.2017

Associate of Science - Criminal Justice Technology

Polk State College

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