Experience

Bernatello's Foods

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

• Vice President Manufacturing and Engineering

  • Jan 2022 - Present

  Wisconsin, United States Working with an awesome team of leaders to streamline our manufacturing operations and implement new and improved capital projects to meet our tremendous growth in frozen pizza.

• Senior Director of Engineering & Capital Projects

  • Mar 2020 - Jan 2022

  Kaukauna, Wisconsin, United States Strategic development of multi-year capital plans and project implementations. Working with Operations and Maintenance teams to improve current line capacities, plans for future growth and capital, as well as leading other projects within operations and the supply chain.



DeBeau Consulting

• Engineering Consultant

  • Nov 2018 - Mar 2020

  Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States Worked with the leaders of multiple food manufacturing companies and food equipment design/fabricating companies to spearhead engineering design, strategy and planning efforts. • Conducted site evaluations to determine options for expansion through growth or consolidation of manufacturing operations including network optimization opportunities. • Developed detail needed to create a multi-year growth plan for manufacturing and distribution. • Provided engineering input on critical… Show more Worked with the leaders of multiple food manufacturing companies and food equipment design/fabricating companies to spearhead engineering design, strategy and planning efforts. • Conducted site evaluations to determine options for expansion through growth or consolidation of manufacturing operations including network optimization opportunities. • Developed detail needed to create a multi-year growth plan for manufacturing and distribution. • Provided engineering input on critical equipment designs and improvements for equipment design and operation. Show less



Grande Cheese Company

• United States
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Director Engineering

  • Aug 2014 - Oct 2018

  Oshkosh, Wisconsin Area As the Engineering Director I led a great team of Engineers that included Process Engineering, Project Engineering, Plant Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Packaging Engineering, and CADD for the Grande Cheese Company. Leading the Engineering team required close working relationships with the operations team, the research and development team, supply chain, and the business unit leadership. Key responsibilities included; • Continuously developing new technologies that improve… Show more As the Engineering Director I led a great team of Engineers that included Process Engineering, Project Engineering, Plant Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Packaging Engineering, and CADD for the Grande Cheese Company. Leading the Engineering team required close working relationships with the operations team, the research and development team, supply chain, and the business unit leadership. Key responsibilities included; • Continuously developing new technologies that improve performance, reduce process variation, improve quality, and maximize flavor, texture and functionality of the product. • Implemented and managing the project management processes by leveraging a stage gate process, including Front End Engineering and Design and the Project Management Office (PMO) and systems in order to improve project delivery and capital planning. • Provide leadership and direction to the engineering team as we implement multi-million dollar projects each year. These projects are in cheese production, milk processing, whey production, packaging, and wastewater treatment. • Established a structure within the Engineering department that contains a strong plant engineering element and a solid intern program to help funnel talent into the department, improve accountability at the plant-level, and maintain specific plant-level knowledge. • Provide leadership across the enterprise as we design and develop new methods and processes for the testing, validation, and production of new products • Developed strategic partnerships to improve line throughput, quality, and product excellence. These strategic partners are both internal and external. The external partners include; multiple engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, fabricators, contractors, and consultants. Show less



Schwan's Company

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

• Director Operations Engineering

  • May 2011 - Aug 2014

  Marshall, MN As the Director of Operations Engineering I led the Project Management Office; Facility Master Planning; and Energy Management for Schwans Global Supply Chain. • Project Management Office - Implemented a stage gate system and spearheaded the design and implementation of a cloud-based Project Management Office (PMO). The PMO portal places all project data at the fingertips of all stakeholders, standardizes all engineering cost estimating and organizes the documents. Through these efforts… Show more As the Director of Operations Engineering I led the Project Management Office; Facility Master Planning; and Energy Management for Schwans Global Supply Chain. • Project Management Office - Implemented a stage gate system and spearheaded the design and implementation of a cloud-based Project Management Office (PMO). The PMO portal places all project data at the fingertips of all stakeholders, standardizes all engineering cost estimating and organizes the documents. Through these efforts we were able to improve the process leading to a reduction in project overspend, and an improvement in the design and the project implementation. • Through a cross functional team effort we improved the capital approval process, reducing the routing time for capital projects • Implemented an Energy Management System that is positioned to drive energy intensity down by 20% over 5 years. Year-one results in one plant were a remarkable 22% reduction. The team achieved these reductions by leveraging; technology for tracking energy, and identifying ideas then developing them into energy saving projects. Show less



DeBeau Enterprises, Inc.

• President

  • Jul 2005 - May 2011

  Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area DeBeau Enterprises provided business management and engineering consulting services to a variety of clients. Services range from environmental consulting to providing performance improvements through business management and engineering. Techniques utilized include; project management, scorecards, project flow, linking performance to compensation, building teams, and fostering teamwork. Example projects include; • Developed business plans and project plans for multiple clients • Assessed… Show more DeBeau Enterprises provided business management and engineering consulting services to a variety of clients. Services range from environmental consulting to providing performance improvements through business management and engineering. Techniques utilized include; project management, scorecards, project flow, linking performance to compensation, building teams, and fostering teamwork. Example projects include; • Developed business plans and project plans for multiple clients • Assessed staffing and resources, provided recommended structure and process to improve function and effectiveness, then led the implementation. • Developed project management processes and systems, and assisted client in implementation. A significant undertaking was when I partnered with the start-up Companies of WUTGROUP, LLC and WUTPOOL, Inc. It was during this time when I developed and implemented business plans and marketing strategies, led the design, build, and manufacture of load-bearing retractable covers. Some of my accomplishments during this partnership include: • The development and implementation of a business plan and strategy that led to securing $280,000 of venture capital • Led the design and oversaw the manufacture and installation of the first $420,000 of products sold • Managed all capital projects and negotiated and implemented contracts and agreements • Listed as a Co-inventor on the Company’s 2011 patent and patent-pending technology Show less



Land O'Lakes, Inc.

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

• Director

  • Feb 1989 - Jul 2005

  Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area During my tenure at Land O’Lakes, I led teams of technical professionals that provided services for eight divisions and multiple joint ventures. The teams included Project Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Health & Safety, and various other functions. Managed an annual department budget that totaled about $3.2M. • Implemented a project/capital management system that more effectively managed projects and reduced the cost of implementing projects • Created tools and systems to manage… Show more During my tenure at Land O’Lakes, I led teams of technical professionals that provided services for eight divisions and multiple joint ventures. The teams included Project Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Health & Safety, and various other functions. Managed an annual department budget that totaled about $3.2M. • Implemented a project/capital management system that more effectively managed projects and reduced the cost of implementing projects • Created tools and systems to manage engineering resources (internal and external) in order to better handle the peak demands for engineering • Integrated R&D’s product development process as well as product requests from marketing into the engineering stage gate process thereby reducing project costs, improving plant implementation, and achieving timelines • Served as team lead on multiple large and medium-sized acquisitions • Introduced and implemented a Balanced Scorecard method as the vehicle to measure performance across the organization. Successfully linked the scorecard to the compensation (bonus) of business unit employees (from C-level to the plant floor) • Reduced Work Comp costs by improving the claims management process for the corporation, producing first year savings of over $200,000. Show less