Sylvester Cole
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Meticulous Food Safety Professional who regularly oversees the application of food safety standards in the food industry. Especially proficient in the adherence to quality standards throughout every phase of food processing and distribution to achieve customer satisfaction. Specialize in developing and implementing safety processes, audit preparation, and operational improvements. Adept at collaborating with various departments for comprehensive quality control.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
FSQA Non-Vegetable Supplier Program Manager
Dole Fresh Vegetables
10.2023 - Current
- Responsible for developing, managing, and auditing all programmatic elements of the non-vegetable supply chain within Dole Fresh Vegetables division.
- Manage initial approval and annual renewal process for all non-vegetable suppliers and co-packers.
- Enhanced project visibility with regular status updates, leading to increased stakeholder engagement.
- Developed strategic plans, setting clear objectives on supplier performance to provide the business with a tool aid in supplier selection and management.
FSQA Supervisor
Dole Fresh Vegetables
05.2022 - 10.2023
- Develop and implement corrective actions as needed for CAPA programs, consumer complaints, and Quality Improvement plans.
- Enhanced employee training programs for better understanding of FSQA guidelines and regulations.
- Tracked quality issues with external customers, suppliers and internal plant operations.
- Manage and support special projects across multiple plants.
- Tracked quality issues with external customers, suppliers, and internal plant operations.
FSQA Audit Specialist
Dole Fresh Vegetables
07.2021 - 05.2022
- Mandated compliance with regulatory, customer, and corporate standards and led and participated in food safety audits.
- Assists with the annual review and update process of the facility’s food safety plan as required by FSMA.
- Develops SOPs for assigned areas to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and Dole standards/expectations.
- Creates, executes, and performs training verification activities relative to job-specific food safety and quality assurance programs.
- Partner with operations and packaging departments and verify packaging materials and finished goods met company quality and safety standards.
- Conducts weekly safety meetings with plant managers.
- Followed up to assess and report corrective action completion or progress.
- Identified control gaps in processes, procedures, and systems through in-depth research and assessment and suggested methods for improvement.
Food Safety Specialist
Underwriters Laboratories
05.2019 - 12.2020
- Conducted periodic food safety audits for clients to maintain the company's standards and comply with federal regulations.
- Managed over 50+ clients per month and improved food safety programs.
- Audited the organization's food preparation, handling, storage, and transportation processes.
- Coaching food preparation, handling, etc., personnel within the scope of the organization’s FSMS.
- Review the organization’s food safety-related records and documents (e.g., receiving records, HACCP plan, pest control reports).
- Write formal audit reports and review findings with clients.
- Provide guidance to improve quality control measures to increase customer satisfaction.
- Sought diversity of thought and worked to solve food safety problems, overcome challenges, and innovate
Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian
Genesee County Health Department
05.2017 - 05.2019
- Responsibilities included: inspecting properties, businesses, and homes; collecting water samples and analyzing reports; identifying health and environmental hazards including indoor and outdoor air quality; assisted in foodborne and waterborne illness outbreak investigations; providing community health education and health promotion activities; ensuring compliance with a broad range of current local health and environmental codes, regulations, and policies; participating in multi-faceted health or environmental projects; and providing technical assistance and information to individuals, families, and groups regarding public health and environmental issues.
- Drove continuous improvement initiatives within environmental health, safety and sanitation areas.
- Investigated complaints and expediently resolved concerns.
- Served as subject matter expert (SME) on environmental regulations and policies
- Interpreted test data to determine whether contamination existed in accordance with environmental laws
Education
Master of Science - Food Safety
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI01.2026
Bachelor of Science - Health Science
University of Michigan - Flint
Flint, MI12.2016
Skills
- FDA and USDA regulations
- Resource Management
- Cost Management
- Root cause analysis
- Crisis Management
- Conducting technical audits
- Research and reporting
- Analytical skills
- Staff training and development
- Operational budget forecasting
- Team Development
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Operations Management
- Multi-Plant Experience
Certification
- Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) - Qualified individual in all respects of food safety and food protection; including food microbiology, hazard analysis and critical control points (HAACP principles).
- First Aid Certification
- PCQI (Preventive Controls for Human Food) - As a qualified individual, I am able to create a company-specific Food Safety Plan meeting the FDA requirements as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
- HACCP for Processors and Manufacturers
Affiliations
- American Society of Safety Professionals
- National Environmental Health ASsociation
Timeline
FSQA Non-Vegetable Supplier Program Manager
Dole Fresh Vegetables
10.2023 - Current
FSQA Supervisor
Dole Fresh Vegetables
05.2022 - 10.2023
FSQA Audit Specialist
Dole Fresh Vegetables
07.2021 - 05.2022
Food Safety Specialist
Underwriters Laboratories
05.2019 - 12.2020
Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian
Genesee County Health Department
05.2017 - 05.2019
Master of Science - Food Safety
Michigan State University
Bachelor of Science - Health Science
University of Michigan - Flint
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