PIPER HALPIN

• Integrate a newly acquired company, Lef Farms, into the BrightFarms network via establishing new organizational structure, adding food safety systems / protocols, integration of the agriculture program, and implementation of new back office processes and procedures with the help of BrightFarms FSC divisions.
• Directly manage the work force of greenhouse to achieve the objectives, including hiring, firing, labor planning and labor reporting.
• Be accountable for revenue, for operating expenses, for quality and for the operation of the facility. This includes production (WIP and people) planning and reporting, plant performance, labor management, balancing inputs, throughput & demand, and facilities maintenance.
• Create an innovative work culture that aligns to BrightFarms CORE philosophies. Expand the knowledge of mobile gutter growing systems at the site and throughout the BrightFarms network.

Accomplishments:

• Brought NEH into SQF Certification for the first time.
• Stabilized yields and provided a proof of concept for future MGS growing model expectations at 18 pounds per sqft.
• Retrofit facility with new equipment to maintain BrightFarms Food Safety Standards including: Pad walls & Greenhouse Infrastructure, Pack and Harvest Equipment, and Seeding Line / General Facility upgrades.
• Scaled from 4 to 14 SKUs by producing both BrightFarms and Lef Branded produce, adding two new 4oz products, and adding a new line of Crunch Kits (adding allergen processing to our Operational capabilities).
• Created new data capture processes and communication to connect NEH to the BrightFarms network.
• Hired, Onboarded, and Trained new team after COVID vaccine mandates; worked with P&C to establish ideal candidate profiles per position to target more streamlined and effective hiring.
• Created new onboarding practices and learning and development programs that aided in quicker and more effective employee onboarding.

• Plant Manager (May 2021 - Present) Manage day-to-day aspects of site level Operations: Post Harvest, Lab/Extraction, Processing, Packaging, and Analytics (85 Team Members)
• Ensure the cost-effective, timely manufacturing of goods meeting all GMP / GAP / Compliance standards and budgetary goals.
• Effectively coach, provide goals, and support all Department Heads, Supervisors, Leads, and associated team members.
• Cultivation Manager (Aug 2020 - May 2021) Led Cultivation Department (40 Team Members) in all stages of growth operations including genetic selection, fertigation, IPM, vegetative, flowering, harvest, and post-harvest functions.
• Accomplishments: Created and implemented new organizational chart and hiring/onboarding/training program, scaled department from 16,000 – 37,000 canopy square feet, increased flower yields from 65 to 85 grams per square foot, implemented on-site data tracking according to corporate standardization initiatives, created management training for leadership team, aligned site level SOPs to national standards.

• Director of Operations (Jan 2019 - Aug 2020) Oversee day to day operations of grow facility under GAP and GMP standards: Ensure team (35 Members) exceeds scheduling and manufacturing goals, provide hands on coaching for all levels of employees, execute QA/QC initiatives, manage on-site inventory, oversee maintenance of facility.
• Successfully started-up a 2nd and 3rd branch of the company: CBD and CBG Plantlet Propagation Center with a 350,000-plantlet capacity per month and a Commercial Research Center.
• Director of Special Projects (Jan 2018 - Jan 2019) Managed commercial research and development team. Designed custom automation, optimized operating procedures, and created training programs. Extrapolated a 2-million plantlet pilot project into a 10-acre integrated greenhouse-vertical farm.
• Relations Manager (April 2017 - Jan 2018) Increased sales by over 50% in a six-month period through establishing relationships with new and existing customers: chefs, produce managers, and regional grocery retail buyers.
• Vertical Farmer (Sep 2016 - April 2017) Responsible for seed-harvest care, integrated pest management, farm sanitation, and reporting