Melissa Garza
Quincy,FL
Summary
10+ years of experience in extraction and manufacturing, detail-oriented and efficient leader skilled in reporting/analyzing metrics and problem-solving with a history of making a positive impact on manufacturing operations, with an emphasis on helping companies create high-quality and successful products.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Extraction Lead
Trulieve
03.2022 - Current
- Skilled in running distillation machinery such as the Glass VTA and Stainless VTA.
- Skilled in running ethanol extraction such as C-40, AV-30, and reactor.
- Skilled in running Hydrocarbon machinery and harvest hydrocarbon concentrates
- skilled with the Ethos Advance Microwave terp extractor and Ethos XL Advance Microwave terp extractor.
- Skilled in running Apeks Transformer 2000/CO2 extraction.
- Worked different stations to provide optimal coverage and meet production goals.
- Coached team members in techniques necessary to complete job tasks.
- Trained new team members by relaying information on company procedures and safety requirements.
Live Rosin Extraction Technician
Trulieve
08.2021 - 03.2022
- Prepare frozen flower in IceCube work bags for water extraction; Prepare "washer machine" with cold water and ice before runs.
- Collect wet hash from the washer machine, freeze the hash and place it in a Harvest Right & Cascade Sciences' freeze dryers for a 16 hr program.
- Harvest dry hash and bag it into Rosin Evolution 25 micron mesh bags to be pressed by PurePressure heated plate press.
- Prepare final product for transfer to designated facility
- Trained on the EthosX "Terp Extractor", extracting live terpenes from frozen flower.
Extraction Technician
Trulieve
02.2020 - 08.2021
- Preparation of equipment and plant materials for extraction
- Knowledgeable and trains employees with Ethanol extraction CAPNA machinery such as Ares, Ethos, Atles and SolventVap Rotary Evaporator(Rotos) .
- Performed activated charcoal filtration of hydrocarbons & particulates through the Maximus (MAX), including DE/Silicate filtration.
- Experience in the Oven Room; Ethanol purging of concentrates through the Across International Vacuum Oven such as Shatter, Crumble and Wax. Taffy pulling Crumble & whipping Wax for 2nd stage and harvesting of concentrates.
- Experienced in Rosin production; sifting flower after being in liquid nitrogen, collecting the sifted plant material to be hot plated pressed and homogenized.
Food Safety Technician
Juniper Tomato Growers
09.2019 - 02.2020
- Audit packing house daily to ensure employees follows standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations; audit the fields for cleanliness and organization; audit chemical rooms in the fields
- Audit company's records
- Collect water samples from the fields creek to send to testing, inspect the water pumps
Shipping Quality Assurance Lead
Trulieve
08.2019 - 02.2020
- Proven work ethic, dedication and ability to visualize and excel, maintain drive and determination to obtain personal and team objectives
- Verified outbound orders going to dispensaries, communicated and suggested ideas to help improve the shipping department. Reduced errors from 80% to 0.4%, and averaged 99.6% no errors going to dispensaries
- Coordinated efficient storage areas to optimize material movements and minimize labor hours
- Boosted inventory and record keeping accuracy by conducting thorough inspections and comparing shipment contents with documentation. Compared shipping orders and invoices against contents received to verify accuracy
- Worked effectively with shippers to resolve issues with shipments, including damaged materials and shortages. Kept team on-task and operating according to tight schedules
- Organization of shipping department, implemented employees to place proper product label on trays and be accountable for their work; initialing trays and QA inspecting each product and label
Quality Assurance Cultivation Lead
Trulieve
07.2019 - 08.2019
- QA Lead for the Dry Rooms and the Curing Department
- Environmental checks in the dry rooms, checking RH levels, temperature and moisture of the flower
- Auditing dry rooms for any malfunction that could be going on, example: AC unit having an error code or humidifiers not working properly
- Inspection of mold and undeveloped buds of the flower, pests and the quality of the flower, immediately communicated to management for any concerns and document data for each dry room daily. Inspect the flower that cures for approximately 21 days for mold and pest and document data, brought up any concerns to the Curing manager
Production Quality Control Lead
Trulieve
05.2018 - 07.2019
- Led a team of 10 Quality Inspectors from Labeling, Oil, Concentrates, Bulk Flower and Pre-Rolls
- Approved in-process production by confirming specifications; conducting visual and measurement tests; communicating required adjustments to production supervisor. Documented inspection results by completing reports and logs; summarizing re-work and waste; inputting data into quality database
- Ensured product is manufactured in accordance with the proper Standard Operating Procedure's (SOP)
- Continuous Improvement to maximize product quality and minimize costs. Maintain and improve level of quality by managing and implementing inspection criteria and procedures of quality control inspections in manufacturing and job sites consistent with all applicable standards and specifications
- Trained employees as required, Provided feedback and evaluations as needed
- Ensured document description matches the product and all necessary materials are being used and properly cleaned
- Audit employees that are wearing their proper PPE and follow GMP
- Verified and approved test results from ACS for production to start running and the labeling department to start on printing labels
Quality Assurance Technician
Seneca Foods
07.2011 - 10.2015
- Plated product for bacteria such as E. Coli, Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and swabbed all over plant for Listeria and Salmonella
- Provided quality assurance from every stage of product development process, from manufacturing to packaging. Maintained compliance with safety and clean area procedures
- Performed multitude of inspections, including Cookers, Warehouse, Canning Room and Freezer department inspections. Identified where product issues were coming from and rectified issues
- Monitored employee performance to ensure quality ; Audit machine operation and assembly personnel for compliance and adequacy
- Checked facility for compliance with sanitation and disposal procedures as part of comprehensive inspections. Swabbed machinery with a ATP monitoring system during sanitation while auditing
- Completed and processed records and reports outlining proper and improper operations
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee, FLCertification - Cybersecurity
Coursera/ Google Certification
OnlineHigh School Diploma -
San Benito High School
San Benito, TX2009
Skills
- Team leadership skills
- Quality-focused
- Microsoft Office Suite; Excel, PowerPoint, Word
- SAP (ERP)
Timeline
Extraction Lead
Trulieve
03.2022 - Current
Live Rosin Extraction Technician
Trulieve
08.2021 - 03.2022
Extraction Technician
Trulieve
02.2020 - 08.2021
Food Safety Technician
Juniper Tomato Growers
09.2019 - 02.2020
Shipping Quality Assurance Lead
Trulieve
08.2019 - 02.2020
Quality Assurance Cultivation Lead
Trulieve
07.2019 - 08.2019
Production Quality Control Lead
Trulieve
05.2018 - 07.2019
Quality Assurance Technician
Seneca Foods
07.2011 - 10.2015
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Tallahassee Community College
Certification - Cybersecurity
Coursera/ Google Certification
High School Diploma -
San Benito High School