Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Core Competencies
Mom
Generic

Stephanie Medina

Pinole,CA

Summary

Seasoned product development leader with 17+ years of experience in the natural and organic food and supplement industry. Proven record of scaling operations, driving innovation pipelines, strengthening procedures, and finding product efficiencies to support aggressive growth and profitability. Recognized for people-first leadership, cross-functional alignment, and delivering results in both privately held and private equity–backed environments.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Vice President, Product Development & Compliance

Mommy’s Bliss
01.2024 - 08.2025
  • Promoted from Senior Director to lead Product Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality Assurance across dietary supplements, OTC drugs, cosmetics, and organic-certified categories.
  • Created a master product project plan encompassing innovation, renovation, diversification, and cost savings with a focus on contract manufacturers, COGS, and technical implementation.
  • Expanded R&D scope to lead all contract manufacturing project check-ins, including internal alignment and phase-gate tracking, allowing Operations to focus on forecasting and procurement while ensuring on-time innovation and renovation.
  • Used product insights and cost analysis to lead product renovations that improved quality and margins by 10–30%.
  • Served as executive lead on product regulatory interactions, responses, and quality system upgrades, aligning with executive leadership.
  • Aligned Marketing, R&D, Legal, and Supply Chain to drive seamless commercialization and brand expansion for all new items, variations, and distribution channels.
  • Represented company in regulatory/scientific forums; led vendor partnerships for formulation and compliance excellence.

Senior Director, Research & Development and Quality

Mommy’s Bliss
01.2018 - 01.2023
  • Directed R&D, Regulatory, and QA during a period of rapid growth, diversification, and private equity transition.
  • Contributed to revenue growth of 660% over ten years.
  • Diversified portfolio with new formats (gummies, tablets, gels, capsules, powders, lotions, OTC “clean” acetaminophen), expanding categories from 3 → 8 and fueling ~40% revenue growth.
  • Drove more than 60 new formulas, flavors, and line extensions, achieving rapid market introduction online and across three consumer segments.
  • Partnered with Supply Chain and co-manufacturers to implement design-for-manufacturability and margin optimization on new product launches.
  • Led development of award-winning products including: Babies Best Awards 2024: First Clean Label Project–Certified Pain & Fever (Acetaminophen). Good Housekeeping Best Parenting Awards 2023: Organic Baby Vitamin D Drops. Baby Innovation Awards 2023: Organic Little Gums Soothing Massage Gel.
  • Established relationships with 20+ co-manufacturers and implemented a Supplier Database and Qualification Program to support new projects and shifting priorities.
  • Spearheaded product innovation strategy and pipeline development aligned with brand positioning, consumer trends, and retailer requirements.
  • Directly developed or led a team in delivering 60+ SKUs across six formats and four categories, ensuring timely, risk-mitigated launches.
  • Established certification pathways achieving Organic, NSF, Clean Label, NGMPV, and others.
  • Key contributor in management meetings and diligence sessions ensuring company’s first successful private equity acquisition.
  • Strengthened QA/R&D by expanding the team, creating PMP certification pathways, and securing new third-party audits.
  • Implemented a cross-functional claims approval procedure, including a “Product Claims Guideline,” to streamline regulatory review and reduce risk.
  • Refreshed the Innovation Timeline and instituted a stage-gate QARD process (NDA, kick-off, benchtops, shelf life, check-ins, artwork, certifications, approvals, claims, first runs).
  • Negotiated and managed QA/R&D contracts to secure supplier technical capabilities and accountability.

Senior Director, Product Development & Operations

Mommy’s Bliss
01.2015 - 01.2020
  • Led Operations and Quality across contract manufacturing, QC specifications, procurement, inventory control, warehousing, logistics, and product development research with a $1–6M budget.
  • Oversaw development and launch of the company’s first organic-certified products, opening new categories, securing national retailers, and driving five consecutive years of double-digit growth.
  • Represented “all things product” in weekly business reviews and strategy sessions.
  • Built operational infrastructure: Innovation Timeline, NAV ERP Item Master process, recall/mock recall protocols, and Artwork Approval workflows/SOPs.
  • Scaled team from 2 → 10 (direct and indirect reports), adding an Operations Planning Manager, QA Supervisor, and warehouse staff to support 3x SKU growth and a 40% increase in warehousing capacity.

Corporate QA Raw Material Manager

Amy’s Kitchen
01.2010 - 01.2015
  • Led flavor, texture, piece size, color, and viscosity assurance across IQF vegetables, canned tomatoes, dried beans and legumes, oils, and dairy packaging.
  • Oversaw QA upon receipt for 200+ raw materials and all food-contact packaging across five global manufacturing sites.
  • Expanded QA Raw Material team by 30% and opened two new labs, increasing inspection capacity by 40%.
  • Attended 100+ manufacturing runs as a Quality inspector, auditor, and lead sensory advisor.
  • Partnered with R&D, Procurement, Technical Services, and suppliers to strengthen specifications, corrective actions, and approvals.
  • Served as SME for the QA and Procurement module in Oracle ERP, including SOPs and training.
  • Ensured uninterrupted production of 500+ finished SKUs by managing hold/release processes, root cause investigations, and CAPAs.

Contract Manufacturing Administrator

Amy’s Kitchen
01.2008 - 01.2010
  • Coordinated external manufacturing operations, compliance documentation, and production scheduling.
  • Strengthened relationships with contract manufacturers and supported QA oversight.

Sales Intern, Foodservice

Driscoll’s
01.2008 - 01.2008
  • As an agribusiness intern, I gained first hand experience in the intersection of harvest yield and customer order management

Store Marketing Manager

New Frontiers Natural Marketplace
01.2005 - 01.2008
  • Built community engagement and in-store marketing programs aligned with store initiatives and sales programs.

Marketing Coordinator / Salud! Cooking School Manager

Whole Foods Market
01.2000 - 01.2005
  • Single handedly designed class programming to drive engagement and sales in store.
  • Assistant to guest Chef and Cookbook authors diving finding passion in culinary arts and food science.

Education

B.S. - Agribusiness Marketing, Cum Laude

California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
01.2008

Skills

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
  • Experience with ERP platforms: Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Navision
  • Project oversight
  • Business growth initiatives
  • Continuous process evaluation
  • Skilled in contract negotiation
  • Market growth strategies
  • Building strategic vendor partnerships
  • Policy development
  • Strategic innovation oversight
  • Cross-functional team management
  • Operational process optimization

Certification

  • Project Management Institute – Member since 2015
  • Leadership Academy: Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, Crucial Conversations, Conflict Resolution – Enact Leadership (2012)
  • GMP & GAP Auditor Training – Primus Labs (2008)
  • Tomato Processing School – UC Davis/California League of Food Processors (2012)

Timeline

Vice President, Product Development & Compliance

Mommy’s Bliss
01.2024 - 08.2025

Senior Director, Research & Development and Quality

Mommy’s Bliss
01.2018 - 01.2023

Senior Director, Product Development & Operations

Mommy’s Bliss
01.2015 - 01.2020

Corporate QA Raw Material Manager

Amy’s Kitchen
01.2010 - 01.2015

Contract Manufacturing Administrator

Amy’s Kitchen
01.2008 - 01.2010

Sales Intern, Foodservice

Driscoll’s
01.2008 - 01.2008

Store Marketing Manager

New Frontiers Natural Marketplace
01.2005 - 01.2008

Marketing Coordinator / Salud! Cooking School Manager

Whole Foods Market
01.2000 - 01.2005

B.S. - Agribusiness Marketing, Cum Laude

California Polytechnic State University

Core Competencies

  • Product Development
  • Flavor & Sensory
  • Innovation Strategy
  • FDA Compliance
  • Private Equity Diligence & Integration
  • Supply Chain & Contract Manufacturing
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Budget & P&L Oversight
  • Coaching & Talent Development

Mom

Proud momma in general and especially since I successfully helped scale a company remotely with a toddler at home during the pandeimc. 

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