Experience

• 

  Nestle

  Jan 1980 - Jan 1991

  National sales manager
• 

  Kb sales & marketing inc

  Jan 1990 - now

  President/ceo

  Created and currently manage a successful natural/organic and conventional retail, membership club, web sales, drug and mass merchandiser full service consulting and advisory businessAdvise & guide start-ups, as well as established companies, such as Modern Pop, Valley Fine Foods, Nutiva, Ruiz Frozen Foods, Certified Origins, Kiwi Distributing, Power Brands, Kingfish Group, Cascade Designs Inc., Nestle USA, Bay Area Coffee Inc., Caffe Sanora, Tony Chachere’s Spices, Marroquin Organics, Koala Beverages, Late July Organic Snacks, GLG Consultants, Apex Leaders plus many others in developing and building their management structures, sales forces, broker networks, distributor networks and management culture. Assist & work with the management team’s in making successful headquarter calls on major retailers nationally such as Whole Foods regional and global, Albertsons/Safeway, Kroger, Sprouts, Target, Trader Joe’s, Super Valu, Publix, Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club, HEB/Central Market, Wal-Mart, Fresh Market, Fresh Thymes, Walgreens, Rite Aid and many other independent retail natural/organic and grocery retailers Work with all web resellers & natural distributors nationally such as UNFI, Tony’s, Albert’s Organics, Kehe, Market Centre/Unified Western Grocers, DPI and several smaller independent distributors Counsel manufacturer’s on how to build corporate relationships at retailers nationally, developing a strong broker network, securing new & deeper distribution, improving price points, effective and well planned promotions and enhancing shelf positions while adding increasing sales and profits to their bottom line. Confer with companies on structuring or restructuring their management to ensure top performance from the field team as well as the internal organization Assist in P&L manangementA member of management advisory boards assisting in long term planning and capital fund raising initiatives Show less

• 

  Annie's inc.

  Aug 1998 - Aug 2008

  Senior vice president of sales

  Led the sales and management team of a nationally recognized consumer packaged goods company from infancy to $100M in less than 9 years.

• 

  Nutiva

  Nov 2012 - Mar 2014

  Vice president of sales

  Nutiva® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1 percent of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is the world’s best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods, extra-virgin coconut oil, Red Palm Oil and chia seeds. Its products are offered by 15,000 retailers in the United States, Canada, and the EU, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Publix, Safeway, Loblaws, NCGA stores, Raley's, HEB/Central Market, Costco, Kroger, Gelsons, New Seasons, PCC Markets, INFRA Stores, Wegmans, Stop n Shop, Amazon.com, New Seasons, PCC Markets and many more independent retailers nationally. Show less

• 

  Valley fine foods

  Mar 2014 - Jan 2017

  Executive vice president of sales and business development

  *Manage and mentor the sales and marketing teams for both natural, retail and club sales globally*On the management board for the company with responsibility of making decisions on new products introductions and launches, marketing programs, strategic growth objectives, P&L and operational strategies*Increased the sales from $85M to $130M within two years, a 52% increase*Introduced a brand new pasta line called Artisola, a fresh non gmo verified pastas and sauces, achieving new distribution in the natural trade*Established the entire distribution channel for the natural business nationally*Organized and initiated a very successful total re-launch of the retail and club brands to the trade*Managed the developing, hiring of personnel for the Roadshow Program in the clubs nationally *Directed the company on strategic growth in the natural, club and retail channels*Solidified relationships with all of the retail management/buyers in the frozen and refrigerated categories*Honored as “Women of Influence for 2015” in the Food IndustryValley Fine Foods produces a gourmet refrigerated fresh pasta, sauce and meal line of products called Three Bridges, Pasta Prima and Pasta Bellezza. These are made with all natural and organic ingredients. Artisola is our brand new line of non gmo verified pasta's and sauces that is now being distributed and sold in the natural foods trade nationally. Show less

• 

  Self-employed

  Nov 2024 - now

  Entrepreneur

  Helping other entrepreneurs succeed and stay focused.