Neal Clark
Bentonville,AR
Summary
Accomplished Senior Food Scientist with a proven track record at Tyson Foods, Inc., specializing in project and customer relationship management. Expert in poultry and ready to eat products, alternate protein, product optimization and data management, significantly enhancing product quality and operational efficiency. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and pioneering new food products and processes.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Leader / Senior Food Scientist
Tyson Foods, Inc.
05.2012 - 10.2024
- Established strong relationships with customers (external and internal) and suppliers, working with broad project team throughout entire project lifecycle.
- Developed New to the World products and processes for different product lines / brands.
- Developed and managed products / processes for several brands (Tyson, Hillshire Snacking, Raised & Rooted, Jimmy Dean).
- Completed optimization projects to reduce cost for multiple existing products
- Subject Matter Expert for specification system and alternate proteins
Senior Food Technologist
Tyson Food, Inc.
11.2006 - 05.2012
- Developed and coordinated the implementation of the new specification system for Tyson Foods, including creating all of the specification fields, computer code for customized calculated fields and the new print model of the specifications for the company.
- Collaborated with Senior Leadership across multiple channels within the company to develop the desired workflows for all specifications and supplier submitted documentation.
- Catalogued, cleansed and organized all formula specification data to be transferred into new specification system.
- Guided and collaborated with software supplier to reconfigure system to meet both industry and company's specific needs. Presented findings and next steps to future clients of the software supplier.
Food Technologist
Tyson Foods, Inc.
07.2001 - 11.2006
- Developed and implemented products and cost optimization for Tyson Food Service.
- Developed and partnered with several national account customers, include Long John Silvers, A&W, Rock Bottom, TGI Fridays, Fazoli's, etc.
- Appointed by VP of R&D to test and confirm SAP Recipe Management software could provide the company's specification and data management needs.
- Evaluations and scenarios confirmed that another software supplier was needed and presented conclusions to senior leadership.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager
Tyson Foods, Inc.
09.1999 - 07.2001
- Managed the Quality Assurance department for Corydon, IN facility, including the microbiological lab. Staff consisted of one management supervisor and 13 technicians.
- Implemented Tyson Foods Quality procedures, processes and updated specification format for former Hudson Foods plant.
- Upgraded plant internal Quality Assurance score from 21 to 80 within one year (scale of 100).
- Plant liaison for Popeye's and Church's plant visits and corporate communications.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN12.1997
Skills
Project Management
Customer Relationship Management (Food Service & Retail)
Product Data Management (Specifications, Supplier Documentation and Process Workflows)
Poultry Processing (Slaughter, Raw, Further Processed, including specialty in Ready to Eat products)
Alternate Protein Products
Prepared Food Products (Ready to Eat)
Product Optimization
Sensory & Regulatory Collaboration
MS Office Software
Zoom and Microsoft TEAMs meetings
Affiliations
- Member of the Institue of Food Technologists
- Member of the Research Chefs Association
Certification
Certified Culinary Scientist
Timeline
Project Leader / Senior Food Scientist
Tyson Foods, Inc.
05.2012 - 10.2024
Senior Food Technologist
Tyson Food, Inc.
11.2006 - 05.2012
Food Technologist
Tyson Foods, Inc.
07.2001 - 11.2006
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager
Tyson Foods, Inc.
09.1999 - 07.2001
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
Purdue University
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