Experience

FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former CEO & Co-Founder

  • Aug 2023 - Present

  Kansas City Metropolitan Area



FairWave Holdings, LLC

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Sep 2020 - Jul 2023

  Kansas City, MO Experienced Beverage & Food Executive serving in the Leadership role for a Middle Market Specialty Coffee platform company that competes within the $45 billion Specialty Coffee Category. FairWave Holdings, LLC is a Specialty Coffee Collective made up of Market leading Local Coffee Brands who operate together to drive world-class coffee, bakery, and culinary experiences for consumers in their Local markets. This Collective holds powerful local brands which have a "kindred spirit" and a shared… Show more Experienced Beverage & Food Executive serving in the Leadership role for a Middle Market Specialty Coffee platform company that competes within the $45 billion Specialty Coffee Category. FairWave Holdings, LLC is a Specialty Coffee Collective made up of Market leading Local Coffee Brands who operate together to drive world-class coffee, bakery, and culinary experiences for consumers in their Local markets. This Collective holds powerful local brands which have a "kindred spirit" and a shared mission grounded in the following 4 key principles: 1) Sourcing the highest quality coffee beans with Farm Direct Relationships and respecting every hand in the journey 2) Quality - by mastering the Art & Science of Roasting 3) Investments in Cafes to have consumers experience the best of the brand, whether it be in Learning Cafes, Connection Cafes, or "Pit Stop Cafes" 4) Being and Acting Local as an important investor and contributor to the Local community As of July 2023, the Collective holds 6 Leading Specialty Coffee Brands in the Midwest (KC, MSP, MKE) along with the leading French Style bakery in KC (IBIS Bakery). The coffee brands are The Roasterie, Messenger Coffee, Spyhouse Coffee, Anodyne Coffee, Folly Coffee, and Philtera Cold Brew. Show less



Pegasus Foods Inc

• United States
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Nov 2018 - Feb 2020

  Dallas TX & Los Angeles CA Leadership role for a Middle Market Frozen Food Manufacturing platform company that competes within the $22 billion Frozen Food Category. Responsible for driving accelerated growth via both organic expansion and acquisition activity that will create shareholder value and provide great products for the ultimate consumer!



DWT Consulting LLC

• Owner

  • Mar 2018 - Oct 2018

  Kansas City, Missouri Area Working with Private Equity firms and Entrepreneurs to evaluate businesses and improvement opportunities for firms in transition.



Phelps Industries, LLC

• Chief Executive Officer / President

  • Jan 2015 - Mar 2018

  Greater Chicago Area Leadership role for a Middle Market Pet Treat Company that competes within $6.2B Pet Treat Category. Responsible for accelerating growth via both organic expansion and acquisition activity. Reports to the Board of Directors with the majority stake controlled by Wafra Partners, NY-based Private Equity firm. Primary areas of focus include rapid top-line expansion via both product innovation and customer/channel expansion coupled with driving improved operating results in the manufacturing… Show more Leadership role for a Middle Market Pet Treat Company that competes within $6.2B Pet Treat Category. Responsible for accelerating growth via both organic expansion and acquisition activity. Reports to the Board of Directors with the majority stake controlled by Wafra Partners, NY-based Private Equity firm. Primary areas of focus include rapid top-line expansion via both product innovation and customer/channel expansion coupled with driving improved operating results in the manufacturing function while adding new capabilities to the organization. Show less



Russell Stover Candies

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services

• Chief Operations Officer

  • 2006 - Oct 2014

   Recruited by the CEO to evaluate company strengths/weaknesses, identify issues, define strategy and execute plan to improve cash flow and strengthen operating performance for RSC, the 3rd largest chocolate company in North America.  Created strategic roadmap to increase revenue, decrease costs and strengthen performance; implementation led to 50% revenue growth, $10+ million savings, robust technology/operational enhancements and $97 million EBITDA in 2014.  Improved net operating… Show more  Recruited by the CEO to evaluate company strengths/weaknesses, identify issues, define strategy and execute plan to improve cash flow and strengthen operating performance for RSC, the 3rd largest chocolate company in North America.  Created strategic roadmap to increase revenue, decrease costs and strengthen performance; implementation led to 50% revenue growth, $10+ million savings, robust technology/operational enhancements and $97 million EBITDA in 2014.  Improved net operating income by more than $70 million and increased margins from 4.5% to 15%+ over 5 years.  Unlocked dramatic revenue growth and yielded the strongest brand growth in a decade by defining and leading strategy to modernize/revitalize the brand image, introduce innovations to existing products and launch new/seasonal products.  Delivered core brand growth of 5-10% annually, outpacing category growth of 3- 5% over the last 4 years.  Transformed RSC international business; grew Canadian market from $18 million to nearly $40 million in 4 years. Opened the Mexico market, and reinvigorated Australia market, including launch of a new product that became a market Top 5 in the confectionary category and delivered $10 million in sales.  Drove more than $7 million to the bottom line with sales force automation project. Revamped the distribution center model leading to nearly $10 million in freed cash flow and $3 million annual savings.  Implemented supply chain/demand forecasting project to lower operating costs, purchasing costs, waste, and inventory levels; improved demand accuracy nearly 20 points and saved $3+ million to date.  Show less



American Italian Pasta Company

• Consumer Goods
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President AIPC Sales Co. & EVP Sales/Marketing

  • Jul 2003 - Mar 2006

  ▪ Recruited to lead sales, marketing, and strategic planning for $400 million company, the largest pasta enterprise in North America and 2nd-largest in the world. Charged with creating long-term brand strategy for AIPC and halting 3-year sales decline. ▪ Defined and executed innovative pricing strategy and divested lowest-margin business which filled underutilized capacity in the industry and enabled a $13 million (7%) pricing increase and drove a 6-fold earnings improvement across 2… Show more ▪ Recruited to lead sales, marketing, and strategic planning for $400 million company, the largest pasta enterprise in North America and 2nd-largest in the world. Charged with creating long-term brand strategy for AIPC and halting 3-year sales decline. ▪ Defined and executed innovative pricing strategy and divested lowest-margin business which filled underutilized capacity in the industry and enabled a $13 million (7%) pricing increase and drove a 6-fold earnings improvement across 2 business units. ▪ Increased EBIT margins from 7.9% to 10% over 12 months. Show less



PepsiCo

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President - North America Sales Strategy & Development / VP Sales - Non-Carbonated Beverages

  • 2002 - 2003

  ▪ Directed business strategy and oversaw operations for the Sales and Marketing integration of all of Pepsi’s Non-Carbonated products, which represented 15% of Pepsi’s total volume, 20% of sales and 70% of volume and profit growth. ▪ Instrumental role in the integration of Gatorade into the non-carbonated product portfolio following Pepsi’s acquisition of Quaker Oats, leveraging Gatorade’s $3.1 billion annual sales and 74% supermarket share. ▪ As VP of Sales & Strategy, drove business to… Show more ▪ Directed business strategy and oversaw operations for the Sales and Marketing integration of all of Pepsi’s Non-Carbonated products, which represented 15% of Pepsi’s total volume, 20% of sales and 70% of volume and profit growth. ▪ Instrumental role in the integration of Gatorade into the non-carbonated product portfolio following Pepsi’s acquisition of Quaker Oats, leveraging Gatorade’s $3.1 billion annual sales and 74% supermarket share. ▪ As VP of Sales & Strategy, drove business to $1.4 billion, nearly 20% increase in volume.

• Vice President & General Manager - Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership (Joint Venture - Unilever/Pepsi)

  • 1997 - 2002

  ▪ Selected by CEO to lead all facets of joint venture between Pepsi and Unilever to market ready-to-drink tea in the US, Canada and Mexico; directed sales, marketing, operations, finance and R&D. Grew business from $160 million to $300 million in 5 years. ▪ Created and launched Lipton Lemonade, a key extension of the brand which continues to flourish today. ▪ Worked with Unilever leadership in Europe to expand the JV globally, paving the way for what is now a $1.0 billion business… Show more ▪ Selected by CEO to lead all facets of joint venture between Pepsi and Unilever to market ready-to-drink tea in the US, Canada and Mexico; directed sales, marketing, operations, finance and R&D. Grew business from $160 million to $300 million in 5 years. ▪ Created and launched Lipton Lemonade, a key extension of the brand which continues to flourish today. ▪ Worked with Unilever leadership in Europe to expand the JV globally, paving the way for what is now a $1.0 billion business. ▪ Propelled profit from $17 million to $64 million with top-line sales of 13% CAGR; increased market share 3 points to 42% and launched innovations that represented 40% of JV growth.

• Vice President / Director of National Pricing - Pepsi-Cola North America

  • 1995 - 1997

  ▪ Key member of strategy team charged with defining and addressing major strategy issues facing Pepsi-Cola North America. ▪ Achieved targeted $100 million margin improvement annually on $7 billion sales through effective business and pricing strategies. ▪ Led extensive consumer research to determine price gap between national brand and private label products in the soft drink category, laying critical foundation for pricing strategy in the industry, minimizing private label impact and… Show more ▪ Key member of strategy team charged with defining and addressing major strategy issues facing Pepsi-Cola North America. ▪ Achieved targeted $100 million margin improvement annually on $7 billion sales through effective business and pricing strategies. ▪ Led extensive consumer research to determine price gap between national brand and private label products in the soft drink category, laying critical foundation for pricing strategy in the industry, minimizing private label impact and optimizing profit margins. ▪ Delivered 8% growth in margin contribution across Pepsi North America and reshaped the ‘single-serve’ business with innovative change in packaging that positively impacted consumer perception of value and led to significant growth for Pepsi.

• General Manager - Pepsi-St. Louis / Pepsi-Cola North America

  • 1992 - 1995

  ▪ Selected to lead the 2nd-largest Pepsi market in the US with $160 million in sales; delivered the highest market share swing versus Coke in the country by identifying the need to centralize and modernize production. ▪ Built $35 million manufacturing facility with state-of-the-art, high-speed packaging equipment, which positioned the business unit to be the 1st market in the country to launch innovative new packaging and drove 30% increase in ROAE. ▪ Delivered 15% bottom-line… Show more ▪ Selected to lead the 2nd-largest Pepsi market in the US with $160 million in sales; delivered the highest market share swing versus Coke in the country by identifying the need to centralize and modernize production. ▪ Built $35 million manufacturing facility with state-of-the-art, high-speed packaging equipment, which positioned the business unit to be the 1st market in the country to launch innovative new packaging and drove 30% increase in ROAE. ▪ Delivered 15% bottom-line improvement by implementing new warehouse support system which automated/streamlined operations, reduced labor requirements, increased customer satisfaction, and enhanced employee satisfaction across 650 member organization.

• Chief Financial Officer - Pepsi-St. Louis / Manager of Planning and Analysis - Pepsi-St. Louis

  • 1989 - 1992

  ▪ Directed financial operations/control and business planning for $160 million operation. Led 50-member team. ▪ Led acquisition of several Pepsi operations; prepared the business plan for $35 million new facility investment. ▪ Grew market share 7 points, influenced by development/delivery of effective annual finance plan.



Anheuser-Busch

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Various Functional Roles in Marketing, Operations, Finance, and AB International

  • May 1983 - Jul 1989

  Greater St. Louis ▪ Recruited as one of a handful of candidates from a field of 200+ to the Leadership Development Program; completed management rotations through multiple functional areas including Marketing, Sales, Operations, Inventory, Finance and Logistics. ▪ As Director of Export Operations for the Metal Container Division, managed key agreements and relationships with Pepsi bottlers and can/lid sales worldwide, with emphasis in the Pacific Rim. ▪ Early roles: Financial/Systems / Logistics Analyst -… Show more ▪ Recruited as one of a handful of candidates from a field of 200+ to the Leadership Development Program; completed management rotations through multiple functional areas including Marketing, Sales, Operations, Inventory, Finance and Logistics. ▪ As Director of Export Operations for the Metal Container Division, managed key agreements and relationships with Pepsi bottlers and can/lid sales worldwide, with emphasis in the Pacific Rim. ▪ Early roles: Financial/Systems / Logistics Analyst - Anheuser-Busch Inc. & Anheuser-Busch International (1983-1987) Show less