Virginia Brown

• Managed R&D, PRL and DevEx personnel in Fairfield, California Plant. Supervising daily operations for product development, research lab trials, commercial trials and replicate commercial trials. Completing employee reviews and determining salary budgets as well as travel budgets for employees.

• Responsible for all new ingredient qualification and support

Fairfield and Columbus sites.

• R&D Lead Developer for Curate Nutritional Bar line introduction of six new adult flavors and 3 children’s flavors.
• Project team lead for ZonePerfect Simple new line and a key formulator of feasibility and optimization of the new product line.
• Project lead and contributor for launch of the ZonePerfect Seasonal bar launch. Key formulator of feasibility and optimization of products for the ZonePerfect and Curate bar line.
• Lead developer for EAS bar and snack line.
• Managed 55 prototypes for the ZonePerfect, EAS, and Glucerna lines through product transfers from Third Party Manufactures (TPM) and new product development at Fairfield site.
• R&D lead representative with sensory, flavor, operations, process engineering, packaging and marketing to establish project timelines, parameters, and goals for launch. Travel to various site locations and suppliers providing directions and guidance to support commercial launches.
• Lead developer for 15 prototypes for new brand of nutritional bar and snack platforms through an accelerated timeline. Key contributor to the flavor development and feasibility
• Acted as the PR&D liaison for multiple Third Party Manufactures (TPM). Maintaining communication between the TPM’s and team members from different functions within the Abbott organization. Supported product runs at these facilities and assisted with the coordination and management of documentation necessary for trial manufacture.
• Assisted in the evaluation of a new and alternative proteins to extend shelf life and improve product texture. Identified an alternate ingredient sources for existing products to cost and manufacturing.
• Collaborated with process engineers, plant operators, flavor specialists, packaging and marketing on new concepts. Resolved issues with product development and plant production by traveling to sites and providing direction and technical expertise for commercial production runs of existing and new products.
• Organized data collected from analytical, sensory and microbial test to provide direction, develop shelf-life and label claims for ZonePerfect, Glucerna and EAS products.
• Develop and set product specifications and ranges for production manufacture. Provide assistance to coworkers by attending various PRC, plant trials and FLTS manufactures. Assist with the training of new team members; organize documentation for the R&D processing lab and coordinating testing for the Fairfield PR&D group.
• Sensory Trained certified taste panelist.

• Independently develop and test flavors in food applications for the divisional and global sales efforts. Provide development leadership to building flavor portfolios and technical services for customers. Provide application training for Technologists, Interns, and Sales Trainees. Develop prototypes to advance strategic category and platform initiatives.
• Working effectively and provide leadership within assigned teams, ensure highest win rate possible by developing salable and production friendly flavored foods, within the project parameters meeting regulatory and client restrictions Interact successfully with key customers developing applications to requirements and building customer relationships. Resolve problems with raw materials, flavor systems and finished prototypes.
• Participate directly and provide cross-functional teams in strategic category and platform initiatives to build flavor system capabilities. Develop application skills to address changing food product trends and processing techniques.

• Support innovation in discovery, advancement, and evaluation of new technologies in the area of food process and research and development which can offer significant impact to support business growth. Provide innovative, timely, and cost-effective improvements, concepts, developments, or scientific insight and understanding with respect to new or existing products or processes worldwide.
• Coordinate with food techs, launch program managers, engineers, consumer insights, plant operations, packaging, and marketing to support new product concepts and launches. Support commercial trials and plant testing by traveling to sites and providing direction and technical expertise.
• Assisted in the evaluation of new flavor technologies to support sodium and sugar reduction efforts in existing Kellogg products. Identify new ingredients to increase shelf life and improve products sensory attributes. Identified alternate fiber source products to improve product texture, shelf life, manufacturing, and provide overall cost reduction for the brands.
• Develop new products and food design to support weight management brands. Support development of weight management nutritional bar, snack, and cereal products to increase satiety while providing pleasurable eating experience for consumers.

• Key contributor for launch of the ZonePerfect Dark Chocolate bars and a key formulator of feasibility and optimization of new products for the ZonePerfect brand line.
• Working closely with sensory, flavor, operations, process engineering, packaging and marketing to establish project timelines, parameters, and goals for launch. Travel to various site locations and suppliers providing directions and guidance to support commercial launches.
• Managed 11 prototypes for the ZonePerfect Indulgence line through an accelerated timeline. Key formulator for the ZonePerfect Indulgence through project optimization and launch. Key contributor to the flavor development and feasibility of ZonePerfect Indulgence line
• Acted as the PR&D liaison for multiple Third Party Manufactures (TPM). Maintaining communication between the TPM’s and team members from different functions within the Abbott organization. Supported product runs at these facilities and assisted with the coordination and management of documentation necessary for trial manufacture.
• Assisted in the evaluation of a bar softening protein and shelf life-extender to improve product quality. Identified an alternate ingredient sources for existing products to improve manufacturing, decrease cost and improve product texture.
• Collaborated with process engineers, plant operators, flavor specialists, packaging and marketing on new concepts. Resolved issues with product development and plant production by traveling to sites and providing direction and technical expertise for commercial production runs of existing and new products.
• Organized data collected from analytical, sensory and microbial test to provide direction, develop shelf-life and label claims for ZonePerfect, Glucerna and EAS products.
• Develop and set product specifications and ranges for production manufacture. Provide assistance to coworkers by attending various PRC, plant trials and FLTS manufactures. Assist with the training of new team members; organize documentation for the R&D processing lab and coordinating testing for the Fairfield PR&D group.
• Working with Sensory department as a certified taste panelist.

Weekend employment responsible for testing and evaluation ingredients, packaging, and finished product for beer production.