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Tracey K. Roane
Minden,USA
Summary
Food industry professional with 20 years of expertise in product development and project management. Successfully led $110MM projects, fostering cross-functional partnerships to enhance operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Group Leader, Conagra, Taste and Wellbeing
Givaudan
Omaha, Nebraska
07.2016 - Current
- Successfully led end-to-end projects and briefed senior management for a $110MM business, ensuring seamless execution across Technical Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.
- Acted as a trusted technical advisor, leveraging extensive experience in seasoning blend development and application across diverse product categories.
- Led and mentored a team of Scientists and Senior Scientists in seasoning creation and application, providing strategic direction, technical guidance, and developmental support to foster expertise growth and innovation quality.
- Built and maintained cross-functional partnerships with key account teams to ensure alignment and enhance customer satisfaction through proactive project leadership.
- Demonstrated decisive leadership by actively listening and analyzing complex challenges to make balanced decisions that protect company interests while supporting customer success.
- Exhibited strong business acumen by maintaining a strategic perspective and identifying opportunities for value creation through optimization of people, processes, and resources.
- Showcased self-awareness and growth-oriented leadership by soliciting feedback, acknowledging and learning from mistakes, and reflecting on behavioral triggers to continuously improve effectiveness and team engagement.
Principal Development Scientist
ConAgra Foods-Spicetec
Omaha, Nebraska
10.2007 - 07.2016
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to review project progress, provide technical guidance, and enhance product-processing requirements, leading to improved functional product designs.
- Formulated and executed development of new flavor systems from bench to production scale to support new product launches and product optimization initiatives across Slim Jim, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Healthy Choice, and Banquet brands.
- Applied and commercialized internalized flavor systems, delivering approximately $7MM in cost savings for ConAgra Foods.
- Created standardized protocols for ingredient specification authoring and approval, streamlining documentation and compliance processes.
- Qualified new and alternative raw materials and manufacturing sites, achieving cost reductions and strengthening supply chain risk management.
- Evaluated market trends and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for competitive differentiation.
- Supervised and mentored rotational employees and interns, fostering professional growth and technical capability development.
Product Development & Tech Service Manager
Oakland Foods
Oakland, Iowa
12.2005 - 12.2007
- Collaborated with Corporate R&D partners to drive new product and process development, ensuring seamless integration of innovation into production workflows.
- Developed and implemented standardized protocols for ingredient specification creation and approval, ensuring regulatory compliance and streamlining processes.
- Created, updated, and maintained detailed product and ingredient specifications to support quality and consistency across manufacturing sites.
- Managed multidisciplinary team of Technical Service Supervisor, SPC Coordinator, and Label Coordinator to enhance accountability and drive operational excellence.
- Oversaw ingredient and equipment handling alongside plant personnel to ensure proper execution of development and production activities.
- Conducted process audits on specification adherence, identifying improvement opportunities in documentation and execution practices.
- Documented product evaluations, procedures, and process outcomes to provide comprehensive records for management analysis.
- Presented finished products and processing methodologies to management and customers for final evaluation, supporting commercialization decisions.
- Ensured full compliance with labeling regulations and internal standards, mitigating risk and maintaining brand integrity.
Senior Food Technologist
ACH Foods-Tone Brothers
Ankeny, Iowa
05.2000 - 12.2005
- Led end-to-end development from concept to commercialization for French’s, Spice Islands, and Durkee retail brands, driving innovation and market growth.
- Conceived, developed, and presented multiple new seasoning blend concepts to Foodservice and Club Marketing teams, leading to numerous SKU extensions for Durkee Foodservice and Tone’s brands.
- Collaborated with Processing, Quality Control, and Research teams to troubleshoot formulations, ingredients, and finished product issues, ensuring optimal product performance.
- Coordinated ingredient identification, formula entry, and process text implementation as a co-packer for a major customer, ensuring seamless integration into their supply chain.
- Assisted with co-packer plant audits and supported development of new retail cake decorating products, including icings and decorative gels, enhancing product offerings.
- Served as an active member of the SKU Reduction and Process Improvement Team, contributing to initiatives that achieved over $1MM in cost savings.
- Mentored new technicians and led training sessions on formulation, department procedures, and specialized software tools to ensure team competency and process consistency.
Research and Development Manager
Newly Weds Foods
Baldwin Park, California
07.2000 - 05.2000
- Led the development of custom seasoning blends for processors serving national chain accounts, aligning formulations with brand standards and production requirements.
- Supervised team of three R&D food technologists and technicians in West Coast seasoning division, ensuring timely project execution and product consistency.
- Delivered technical expertise and customer support through product demonstrations, sensory evaluations, and technical cuttings, enhancing client relationships and reinforcing brand credibility.
- Facilitated transition from Precision Blends to Newly Weds Foods, aiding system integration via AS/400 training, ingredient consolidation, declaration verification, and inventory control.
Food Technologist
Newly Weds Foods
Chicago, Illinois
04.1997 - 07.1999
- Directed product development initiatives within Seasoning Division, duplicating competitive products, optimizing existing formulas, and implementing cost-reduction projects for mid- to large-scale industrial accounts to enhance market competitiveness.
- Created and maintained detailed product specifications and ingredient statements for all produced items, ensuring compliance with internal and regulatory standards to support product integrity.
- Delivered technical support to customers, sales teams, and customer service through hands-on product demonstrations and cuttings, fostering strong relationships and aligning product offerings with client expectations.
Chemist
Newly Weds Foods F.W. Witt
Yorkville, Illinois
07.1995 - 04.1997
- Developed and implemented Quality Control and Quality Assurance policies and procedures to enhance product consistency and regulatory compliance.
- Oversaw product development activities, duplicating competitive products, reformulating existing items, and implementing cost-reduction initiatives for small to mid-sized industrial accounts, enhancing product offerings.
- Coordinated product costing and pricing to optimize profitability and ensure alignment with company financial targets.
- Facilitated organizational transition from F.W. Witt to Newly Weds Foods, ensuring successful integration through effective inventory control, ingredient statement verification, and documentation alignment.
Education
BS - Agriculture: Food Science and Technology
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, Wisconsin12-1994
Skills
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Seasoning development
- Product commercialization
- Regulatory compliance
- Process improvement
Timeline
Group Leader, Conagra, Taste and Wellbeing
Givaudan
07.2016 - Current
Principal Development Scientist
ConAgra Foods-Spicetec
10.2007 - 07.2016
Product Development & Tech Service Manager
Oakland Foods
12.2005 - 12.2007
Research and Development Manager
Newly Weds Foods
07.2000 - 05.2000
Senior Food Technologist
ACH Foods-Tone Brothers
05.2000 - 12.2005
Food Technologist
Newly Weds Foods
04.1997 - 07.1999
Chemist
Newly Weds Foods F.W. Witt
07.1995 - 04.1997
BS - Agriculture: Food Science and Technology
University of Wisconsin-River Falls