PAUL HETTLER
Mill Valley,CA
Summary
Senior Operations Executive with 15+ years of leadership experience managing complex supply chains, perishable/cold-chain logistics, and high-stakes infrastructure for high-growth CPG startups and world-class production studios. Proven track record of scaling physical operations from Seed to $40M+ revenue (Krave Jerky $240M exit acquisition) and managing mission-critical technical projects for global leaders like ILM and DreamWorks. Expert in perishable inventory management, S&OP evolution, and building high-performing teams to support rapid organizational scaling.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Operations
Fresh Victor
San Francisco, CA
01.2019 - 01.2024
- Spearheaded end-to-end operations for a high-growth cold-chain (perishable) beverage startup, managing temperature-sensitive logistics and supply chain evolution to support rapid scaling.
- Managed all co-packer relationships and logistics vendors for temperature-sensitive products, ensuring zero-fail production deadlines and FDA compliance.
- Optimized DTC fulfillment and small parcel freight for perishable goods, implementing process automation that scaled digital sales channels.
- Analyzed KPIs to forecast demand planning and inventory levels for short-shelf-life products, ensuring reliable forward-looking projections through ERP platforms.
Vice President, Operations
Krave Jerky
Sonoma, CA
01.2011 - 01.2015
- Employee #4: Built the operational backbone for a category-defining CPG brand, contributing to revenue growth from $150k to $40M.
- Scaled logistics and fulfillment networks to 1.5M cases annually across B2B and B2C channels, ensuring a top-tier customer experience.
- Managed USDA QA/QC protocols and ingredient movement, playing a key role in the $240M acquisition by The Hershey Company.
Executive Producer / Senior Producer
Strategic Production & Operations Leadership
01.2005 - 01.2011
- Led complex projects and multidisciplinary teams for global film and television companies, delivering high-stakes results under extreme pressure and tight deadlines.
- Solved urgent logistical and operational challenges within live action & visual effects production and post-production, collaborating with international clients to achieve mission objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Cinema/Television Production
San Diego State University
Skills
- Strategic S&OP: Demand/Supply Planning, Executive Consensus, Inventory Optimization
- Logistics & Fulfillment: 3PL/4PL Management, Network Design, OTIF Optimization, B2B/DTC
- Perishable Operations: Cold-Chain Logistics, Short Shelf-Life Management, Temperature Control
- Partner Management: Co-Manufacturer Onboarding & Performance, Contract Negotiation
- Systems & Compliance: ERP/WMS Implementation (Zoho, QuickBooks), EDI (SPS Commerce, iTrade), FDA/USDA
- Leadership: Multidisciplinary team management, scaling organizational structure, budget ownership
Timeline
Director of Operations
Fresh Victor
01.2019 - 01.2024
Vice President, Operations
Krave Jerky
01.2011 - 01.2015
Executive Producer / Senior Producer
Strategic Production & Operations Leadership
01.2005 - 01.2011
Bachelor of Science - Cinema/Television Production
San Diego State University