Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Samantha Heithaus

North Charleston,SC

Summary

Seeking a position that capitalizes on my extensive diverse experience, skill set, and educational background while providing ample opportunities for future growth, skill development, and professional advancement. I am a driven Entrepreneurial Candidate and Expert in Product Research and Development, which drives my dedication in this field.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Brand Founder & CEO

Green + Lovely
01.2013 - Current
  • Orchestrated end-to-end development of a pioneering brand as a startup, encompassing logo design, trademark acquisition, marketing strategies, product formulation, listing, sourcing, SEO, and website design. In 2024 we hit 1 million in lifetime sales.
  • Introduced compelling seasonal marketing campaigns and executed captivating graphic design initiatives, leveraging digital marketing, email newsletters, social media posts, social marketing, SMS text marketing, and professional photography shoots.
  • Conducted target market research to scope out industry competition and identify advantageous trends.
  • Manage contract employees to streamline labeling, filling, packing, and shipping activities, adapting to the company's expanding requirements and key account PO's.
  • Established fundamental operational processes that laid the groundwork for seamless business operations.
  • Successfully financed and spearheaded budgeting, acquired funding as a woman owned business and achieved consistent growth over time.
  • Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.

Nutrition Contractor

Self-employeed
04.2014 - 05.2019
  • Exclusively responsible for maintaining and updating the extensive nutrition database in Genesis for the company, ensuring compliance with current state regulations and calorie requirements.
  • Responsible for updating the company's nutrition website, facilitating consumer access to crucial information regarding calorie and allergen needs with the most up to date information.

Research & Development + Marketing Specialist

Golden Corral Corporation
05.2009 - 01.2011
  • Spearheaded the development and rigorous testing of menu items across the product pipeline, encompassing new core products, limited time offers, and market tests.
  • Collaborated closely with the Marketing team to seamlessly integrate new marketing graphics, brand voice, taglines, and promotional materials into the overall product strategy.
  • Facilitated effective communication and coordination between vendors and all departments to ensure comprehensive knowledge and adherence to receiving, storage, production, food cost, execution, holding, and product delivery protocols.
  • Collaborated with purchasing, marketing, supply chain, quality assurance, and suppliers to conduct thorough testing of new products and equipment, ensuring optimal performance and quality.
  • Conducted comprehensive analysis of nutrition and ingredient content for new products across all brands, enabling accurate labeling and meeting consumer demands.

Research & Development Specialist

FOCUS Brands
04.2006 - 03.2009
  • Led the research and development efforts in conceptualizing, developing, and meticulously testing menu items for the dynamic product pipeline, encompassing new core products, limited time offers, and market tests.
  • Collaborated closely with vendors and cross-functional departments to facilitate seamless knowledge transfer and ensure compliance with rigorous standards in receiving, storage, production, food cost, execution, holding, and product delivery.
  • Aligned closely with purchasing, marketing, supply chain, quality assurance, and suppliers to conduct comprehensive testing of innovative products and equipment, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
  • Conducted thorough analysis of nutrition and ingredient content for new products across all brands, delivering accurate and compelling labeling information to meet regulatory requirements and cater to consumer demands.


  • Responsible for product innovation of the following tested & launched products:
  • Carvel Ice Cream – LTO Ice Cream soft serve and hard dipped flavors, cake designs, smoothies, Carvelanches, Cinnabon & Pecanbon a la Mode
  • Carvel’s New Beverage line, consisting of blended coffee and non-coffee based ice cream beverages, which launched into their 500+ locations in Feb
  • 2008
  • Flavors include: Coffee Freeze, Mocha Freeze, Caramel Macchiato Freeze & Peanut Butter, Fried Ice Cream, and Cookie Dough Arctic Blenders
  • Cinnabon International – Fruit Topped Minibons, Chocolate Dipped Stix, Cafébon, Dulce de Lechebon, Hot MochaLatta, and LTO blended Chillattas including: Cherry & Green Apple
  • Seattle’s Best International – LTO Lattes & non-coffee offerings including: Dark Chocolate Orange Mocha (hot & iced), Banana Coconut Latte, & Hot Caramel Apple Cider
  • Blended coffee and non-coffee Javakulas including: Java Chip, Lemon Lime, and Raspberry Cream
  • Moe’s Southwest Grill - Steak and chicken quality improvement, green chili marinated pork, whole grain tortillas, reformulation of guacamole and queso, Nacho Burrito, Philly Cheesesteak Burrito, Green Chili Burrito, Buffalo Chicken Burrito, Moe Burger Moe Burger, Rice Bowls, 3-Cheese Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla, Chicken Carbonara Burrito, Jamaican Jerk Burrito, Baja Chicken Enchilada Soup, Southwestern Chili, and Trans Fat Free cookies
  • Development of a snack menu, including flatbreads, dips, pickled jalapeno poppers, and southwestern lettuce wraps to target lower price-point offerings and smaller portions, including the Joey Junior Burrito.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Nutrition and Food Science

Georgia State University

Skills

  • SKILLS/STRENGTHS:
  • Research & Development Expertise of High Quality Products
  • Entrepreneurial and Innovative
  • Experienced with Startups
  • Market Trend Expertise
  • Market Research
  • Business Development
  • Business Consulting
  • Project Oversight
  • Attention to Quality
  • I am a results-oriented product development food scientist I possess expertise to efficiently and precisely tackle new projects, leveraging advanced creative and program skills
  • Expert in programs: Genesis Nutrition Software, Optimum Control Food Cost Database, and the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher) I am also well-versed in using Meta, Google Ads, Canva, PicMonkey, Photoshop, SMS Bump, AdScale, and Shopify Website Development for optimal performance in my role

Accomplishments

  • Natural Expo West, Brand Exhibitor for green + lovely - Anaheim, CA 2022
  • Tyson University – Fayetteville, AK, 2008 – received culinary credentials
  • Kerry Ingredients Flavorology course in beverage applications – Dallas, 2007
  • Danisco 2-day course studying stabilizers in cold applications – Kansas, 2006
  • Professional Cake Decorating Certification at Rich’s – Buffalo, 2006
  • Cinnabon Consumer Research – 2006, Published column in MD News
  • Student writer for FightBAC.org Food Safety Campaign
  • VOLUNTEER
  • Hands on Atlanta, Relay for Life, Merrick’s Walk, GSU Health Fairs, EDIN GALA, FightBAC! and 5-a-Day Education Distribution, Taste of Atlanta, Private Home Nursing Care

Affiliations

2007 Member of the Research Chef’s Association Certified Food Safety Manager – National Registry of Food Safety Professionals – May, 2006 Member of the American Dietetic Association since January 2004

Timeline

Nutrition Contractor

Self-employeed
04.2014 - 05.2019

Brand Founder & CEO

Green + Lovely
01.2013 - Current

Research & Development + Marketing Specialist

Golden Corral Corporation
05.2009 - 01.2011

Research & Development Specialist

FOCUS Brands
04.2006 - 03.2009

Bachelor of Science - Nutrition and Food Science

Georgia State University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Samantha Heithaus