MICHAEL B. HASSAY
Dover
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at High Liner Foods, excelling in reducing conversion costs and enhancing safety performance. Expert in developing training programs and driving sustainability initiatives, achieving significant operational improvements. Committed to employee engagement and strategic planning, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Continuous Improvement
High Liner Foods, Inc.
Portsmouth
03.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: High Liner Foods, founded in 1899 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood products. The company serves both retail and food service sectors, selling its branded products under names such as High Liner, Fisher Boy, and Sea Cuisine. High Liner Foods is committed to sustainability and innovation, with a stated mission to "Reimagine Seafood to Nourish Life".
- Overall responsibility for creating and deploying the organizations continuous improvement program.
- Key responsibilities include developing and executing operations cost savings program.
- Training and developing the plant personnel to deliver Safety, Quality, Cost and Delivery improvements.
- Reduced downtime by 50%.
- Exceeded cost savings program goals YOY.
- Decreased OSHA recordable incidents by over 50%.
- Converted oil and breading waste streams into revenue sources.
- Reduced raw material waste by 20%.
- High Liner Foods, founded in 1899 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood products. The company serves both retail and food service sectors, selling its branded products under names such as High Liner, Fisher Boy, and Sea Cuisine. High Liner Foods is committed to sustainability and innovation, with a stated mission to "Reimagine Seafood to Nourish Life".
General Manager
High Liner Foods, Inc.
Newport News
10.2023 - 03.2024
- Covered the GM role for 6 months while recruiting to fill the role.
- Overall responsibility for 24/5 200,000 sq. ft facility with 300 employees.
- Key responsibilities include improving safety, quality, cost.
- Reduced downtime by over 30%.
- Improved work order fill 10%.
- Reorganized operations to create continuous improvement role without adding headcount.
General Manager
High Liner Foods, Inc.
Portsmouth
03.2020 - 06.2023
- Overall responsibility for 24/5 200,000 sq. ft facility with 300 employees and six offsite warehouses.
- Key responsibilities include improving safety, quality, cost.
- Other duties include regulatory compliance and increasing processing capacity.
- Reduced downtime by 50%.
- Exceeded cost savings program goals YOY.
- Decreased OSHA recordable incidents by over 50%.
- Converted oil and breading waste streams into revenue sources.
- Reduced raw material waste by 20%.
Plant Manager
Agri-Mark, Inc.
West Springfield
03.2018 - 03.2020
- Company Overview: Agri-Mark, Inc., the premier dairy cooperative in the Northeast, produces, supplies, and markets dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, whey protein concentrates, dairy product solids, sour cream, and yogurt, as well as provides condensed blends for ice-cream and bakery items.
- Overall responsibility for 24/7/365 100,000 sq. ft facility with 150 employees and six offsite warehouses.
- Key responsibilities include improving safety, quality, cost.
- Other duties include regulatory compliance and increasing processing capacity.
- Increased butter department efficiency by 10%.
- Successfully commissioned $21MM capital investment on time and under budget.
- Decreased OSHA recordable incidents by over 35%.
- Reorganized operations to create continuous improvement role without adding headcount.
- Reduced powder and butter downgrade to less than 1%.
- Agri-Mark, Inc., the premier dairy cooperative in the Northeast, produces, supplies, and markets dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, whey protein concentrates, dairy product solids, sour cream, and yogurt, as well as provides condensed blends for ice-cream and bakery items.
Plant Manager
COMMONWEALTH DAIRY, LLC.
Brattleboro
02.2014 - 03.2018
- Company Overview: Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy is a Vermont food company, a subsidiary of German corporation Ehrmann AG, that produces yogurt from two United States facilities for sale under its own brand and for relabeling by other retailers.
- Oversight of production, maintenance and engineering for a 65,000 sq. ft facility employing 125 employees.
- Key responsibilities included improving safety, quality, cost and delivery while improving employee morale.
- Other duties included regulatory compliance and successful implementation of new product launches.
- Increased yogurt yield by 8%.
- Reduced temporary labor over 50%.
- Implemented ambassador program to enhance employee management relations.
- Maintained SQF Level 3 audit score above 96%.
- Championed continuous improvement program for entire organization.
- Reduced chemical costs by over $400,000/year.
- Improved OEE over 15%.
- Over 1000 days with no lost time accidents.
- Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy is a Vermont food company, a subsidiary of German corporation Ehrmann AG, that produces yogurt from two United States facilities for sale under its own brand and for relabeling by other retailers.
General Manager Northeast Operations
HOT MAMA’S FOODS
Springfield
03.2013 - 01.2014
- Company Overview: Leading specialty food manufacturer, co-packer and private label resource for innovative organic, all-natural, and gourmet foods, which includes fresh hummus, salsas, and pestos sold under both its own label as well as for other leading food retailers.
- Responsible for the safe profitable operation of 20,000 sq. ft. facility with 75 employees.
- Key duties included new product introduction, regulatory compliance, capital investments and employee relations.
- Reduced Material costs over $100,00/year.
- Reduced labor by 15%.
- Reduced overtime by 20%.
- Created and Chaired a Financial Loss Elimination Committee.
- Leading specialty food manufacturer, co-packer and private label resource for innovative organic, all-natural, and gourmet foods, which includes fresh hummus, salsas, and pestos sold under both its own label as well as for other leading food retailers.
Plant Manager
HOT MAMA’S FOODS
Springfield
10.2012 - 03.2013
- Responsible for production, maintenance and capital investments.
- Key duties included improving safety, quality and reducing manufacturing costs.
- Improved production yields by 5%.
- Direct Oversight of Production, Maintenance and Sanitation Departments.
- Updated all SSOPs.
- Created hearing conservation program.
Director of Operations
NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS
Greenfield
06.2007 - 09.2012
- Company Overview: New England Naturals has been a leading granola bulk snack manufacturer since the late 1970s.
- Oversight of QA, Maintenance, Production and Warehouse operations.
- Responsible for continuous improvement of safety, quality, cost and delivery while improving employee morale.
- Ensured capital investments were executed on time and under budget.
- Increased production efficiency by 20%.
- Redesigned layout of primary production line and coordinated relocation to another area of facility, resulting in increased throughput of more than 100%.
- Facilitation of SQF Level 2 Certification - Created and modified processes encompassing quality, sanitation, maintenance and production required to obtain SQF 2000 Level 2 global food safety certification.
- Audit scores exceeded 97% annual compliance.
- Work order ratio 95% preventive 5% reactive.
- Fostered employee recognition through incentive programs and regular appreciation celebrations.
- New England Naturals has been a leading granola bulk snack manufacturer since the late 1970s.
Program Manager
NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS
Greenfield
10.2006 - 06.2007
- Responsible for QA, regulatory, maintenance and capital improvement in a 25,000 sq. ft. plant with 50 employees.
- Key responsibilities were creation and maintenance of food safety and quality programs.
- Facilitation of all customer audits.
- Execution of organization’s capital plan.
- Reduced maintenance costs by 15%.
- Created HACCP program for the organization.
- Trained all production employees on all necessary food safety and quality procedures required to successfully pass 3rd party food safety audits.
Packaging Supervisor
NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS
Greenfield
04.2001 - 10.2006
- Responsible for quality and order completion with 5 direct reports.
- Key duties included creation of SOP and SSOPs.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Amherst01.2006
Skills
- Reducing Conversion Costs
- Improving Safety Performance
- Developing Training Programs
- Project Management
- Sustainability Initiatives
- Employee Engagement
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Strategic Planning
Certification
- Yellow Belt Certification, Continuous Improvement, Kaizen Institute, 01/01/16
- Green Belt Certification, Continuous Improvement, Kaizen Institute, 01/01/18
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Six Sigma Global Institute, 01/01/24, 128423502
- Executive Influence and Presence: Persuasive Leadership Development, The Wharton School, 01/01/25
Timeline
General Manager
High Liner Foods, Inc.
10.2023 - 03.2024
Director of Continuous Improvement
High Liner Foods, Inc.
03.2020 - Current
General Manager
High Liner Foods, Inc.
03.2020 - 06.2023
Plant Manager
Agri-Mark, Inc.
03.2018 - 03.2020
Plant Manager
COMMONWEALTH DAIRY, LLC.
02.2014 - 03.2018
General Manager Northeast Operations
HOT MAMA’S FOODS
03.2013 - 01.2014
Plant Manager
HOT MAMA’S FOODS
10.2012 - 03.2013
Director of Operations
NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS
06.2007 - 09.2012
Program Manager
NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS
10.2006 - 06.2007
Packaging Supervisor
NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS
04.2001 - 10.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
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