Scott Svihula

Experience

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  Holy Cross High School

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1992

  Janitor

  General janitorial duties.

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  Northwest Management

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1993

  Pool Attendant

  Head manager of the Highlands of Algonquin Homeowner's community pool. General pool attendant duties which entailed maintaining pool according to the Illinois Health Department regulations.

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  Natural Wonders

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1993

  Sales Associate

  Sales Associate for a retail store that specialized in natural and alternative specialty items. Also supported marketing and product display to increase sales.

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  Jay Jacobs

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1993

  Sales Associate

  Sales Associate as a trendy retail men's designer clothing store.

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  Rockford University

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1995

  Resident Advisor, Student Aide,Telemarketer & Assistant Grounds Keeper

  Resident Advisor: Duties as an RA included being an educator, mentor, environmentalist, community builder, disciplinarian, role model, counselor, dispute mediator, resource person, advisor, administrator, health aid, crisis intervention, social activity coordinator for a male dormitory of 75 students. Student Aide: Act as resource person for college students living on campus. Serve as security agent to maintain dorm security, as well as, fire marshall. Telemarketer: Contacted incoming new students to answer their questions and concerns about their pending enrollment.Assistant Grounds Keeper: General landscaping duties using various landscaping machinery with special project in beautifying common areas. Show less

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  Home Health Plus Inc.

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1994

  Office Assistant

  Home Health Plus is an in home healthcare staffing company. Worked with confidential employee and client files. Assisted in opening new client files and did general receptionist work.

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  Media Play

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1995

  Video Specialist, Electronic Specialist, Cashier, Security

  Media Play was a warehouse division of Musicland which offered movies, music, books and video games. As Video Specialist charged with maintaining movie library and supporting customers with their questions regarding movies. As Electronic Specialist charged with maintaining video game library and supporting customers with their questions regarding video games. As Cashier I maintained the fastest and most accurate checkout speed with a manual sku checkout system. Worked as plain clothed security to support anti-theft procedures and successfully captured several shoplifters. Show less

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  American Red Cross

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1995

  Human Resource Assistant Manager, Volunteer & Instructor

  Worked as assistant to the Human Resources Director at the local Rockford office. Support efforts in HR with employees, volunteers and instructors.As volunteer worked as counselor at the Red Cross Homeless Shelter; worked with the local fire response team and disaster relief as URV driver and counselor.As Instructor I taught certified classes on First Aid, CPR (adult, child, infant) and HIV/AIDS Awareness.In 2004 while traveling to Birmingham, AL hurricane Ivan hit the gulf coast. During and after the storm supported local Red Cross efforts at the temporary shelter at the convention center. Efforts included commandeering supplies from local business, grief counselling, cook and social activities for children. Show less

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  Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1994

  Caseworker

  Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) provides services focused on dealing with family issues that affect both children and parents. As a caseworker I support on services that include:Intact Family Services provides intensive case management and follow-up services to at-risk families who have been reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for some type of neglect and/or abuse of the children. Available at several locations around the state.System of Care (SOC) provides placement stabilization of DCFS wards and their foster parents to prevent children and youth from moving from foster home to foster home, as well as to a more restrictive setting. Services include crisis intervention, in-home counseling, and family support and consultation. Available for residents of Lee, Ogle, Carroll, Whiteside, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and DeKalb Counties.Sexual Abuse Treatment for juvenile victims and their families is available at LSSI’s West Peoria site to aid in the healing surrounding the trauma of sexual abuse. In addition, this site also offers sexual abuse treatment for juvenile and adult offenders to prevent any future abuse. These services are available for residents of Peoria County only.Extended Family Support for families who are caring for related children who are referred by DCFS. These families do not have child abuse or neglect issues, but have service needs such as legal services and/or counseling. Show less

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  Sundstrand Aerospace

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1996

  Program Office Manager

  Coordinated deadlines, meetings, schedules and updates with 9 engineering departments (stress, producibility, materials, quality, drafting, engineering, planning, operations, and purchasing) to meet customers goals and expectations. Worked closely on several new developmental projects: Global Express Ram Air Turbine, Boeing 777 actuators, and B1 Stealth Bomber Ram Air Turbine. Also worked as dBase operator logging each component on 2 NASA space shuttle engines for refurbishment and repair.

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  Stateline Siding and Windows

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1995

  Promotional Operations

  Worked in customer relations in company promotions. Coordinated and set-up all displays for major shows, exhibitions, fairs, home shows and mall locations. Was in charge with generating all leads for the company sales force.

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  EcoWater Systems LLC

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1995

  Sales Representative

  Worked as a sales representative for Ecowater/Servisoft a water treatment company. Duties included chemical testing of water, educating customers on their water and water problems and generating a clientele list by telemarketing, canvassing and working local trade shows, exhibitions, fairs and home shows.

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  Jostens

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1995

  Graphic Artist

  Worked in the local Rockford office as graphic artist working on yearbook layouts for high schools and colleges.

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  Specialty Coffee Association of America

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2006

  Master Brewer, Conference Committee Member, Speaker

  Established in 1982 by a small group of coffee professionals seeking a common forum to discuss issues and set quality standards for the specialty coffee trade, the SCAA is now the world's largest coffee trade association with nearly 3,000 company members. SCAA members can rightfully be credited for much of the growth and success the specialty coffee industry has experienced over the past twenty-five years.As Master Brewer I was charged with coordinating logistics and brewing thousands of cups of coffee to Golden Cup specifications for the annual conference and exhibition. Received special recognition award for my services. (1998-2006)Conference Committee Members are charged with all logistics and planning for the annual conference seminars, events & actives and exhibition floor. Worked on a few sub-committees: marketing, communication, & master brewing. (1998-2006)Author of "When Coffee is Good, Business is Good" in the Retailer's Promotional Guide for National Specialty Coffee Week. (2002)Speaker Credits Include: "Aroma, Body, Taste & Acidity: How Do I Dial It in the Cup?" (2006) "Achieving Consistency in the Last Stage in a National Coffee Program" (2004) "Coffee Brewing & Serving in a Variety of Settings" (2004) Show less

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  CDW

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1996

  Sales Associate

  As Sales Associate I worked to support the needs of small to medium businesses with IT solutions.CDW is a leading provider of integrated information technology solutions in the U.S. and Canada. We help our customer base of more than 250,000 small, medium and large business, government, education and healthcare customers by delivering critical solutions to their increasingly complex IT needs.

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  TruGreen

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1996

  Sales Representative

  Worked as a sales representative for TruGreen * ChemLawn a lawn and horticulture care company. Diagnosed diseases, insects and general care in a 14 point lawn and tree/shrub analysis. Prescribed an individualized treatment program to care for diagnosed problems.

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  FETCO®

  Jul 1996 - Jul 2006

  Director of Marketing

  DIRECTOR OF MARKETING 2003-2006SOUTHWEST REGIONAL MANAGER 1998-2003DISTRICT SALES MANAGER 1996-1998Launched a prolific and progressive career with this specialized manufacturer and distributor of tea and coffee brewing technology as a district sales manager before earning a promotion to Southwest Regional Manager and subsequently taking on a directorship with oversight of marketing efforts, plans, strategies, and initiatives for the US and Canadian markets. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING – FETCO  Directed the activities of a globally dispersed 4-member team comprising a marketing assistant, trade show coordinator, and graphic artists/photographers, and indirectly managed 11 regional sales managers and 5 customer service partners.  Designed, launched, and monitored a customer loyalty program and collaborated with the director of international marketing to develop and maintain a global brand position.  Orchestrated the design, launch, and ongoing maintenance of a customer loyalty program and served as the company’s resident tea expert, playing a principal role in achieving a 1,200% increase in tea equipment sales. Integrated an electronic SKU-based network order entry system to replace a paper-based system, increasing productivity, while reducing the incidence of missed orders by 30%.  Developed and delivered an intensive 3-day new hire training course for all incoming employees Led the company’s domestic trade show presence, which captured significant ROI in sales and new account acquisition.  Executed multiple advertising campaigns to generate, qualify, and capitalize on national account leads.  Responded to a critical gap in the market for tea training and education, working diligently to enhance the level of knowledge among the staff and promote the adoption of state-of-the-art tea technology. Show less

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  Quill

  Jan 1997 - Jan 1997

  Major Account Representative

  In this position I was charged with maintaining relationships with large customers with their business supply needs. Major accounts were the top 2% of accounts based on their volume and importance to Quill.

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  HULA Consulting

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2005

  Owner

  HULA Consulting is a web design and marketing company. Responsible for design and maintenance of websites for not-for-profit agencies, major corporations and small in-home businesses. HULA Consulting also offered hardware and software support to businesses from consultation, implementation, trouble shooting and training.

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  World Tea Expo

  Jan 2003 - now

  Strategic Technical Advisor, Advisory Board Member, Educational Committee Member, Judge & Speaker

  World Tea Academy Strategic Technical Advisors serve an important role in program development & support. (2013-Present)World Tea Academy Developer & Author - ADV.11 Blending, Flavoring, Scenting & ADV.14 Art of Flavoring, Blending, and Scenting Part 2Global Tea Championship & North American Tea Championship Head Judge, Judge, & Coordinator (2009-Present)Advisory Board Members provide objective feedback on the direction of WTE; maintain and fuel cooperative relationships between the WTE and its customers: exhibitors and attendees; represent and assist customers in their dealings with the WTE; participate in the assessment of vendors to best serve the needs of exhibitors and attendees; provide ideas and recommendations for changes and improvements to the overall Expo including the educational conference, special events, dates & locations. (2003-2011)Educational Committee Members provide objective feedback on annual education content & review each proposal for progressive content. (2011-2014)As a Speaker I have spoken at the annual conference on: 2018 World Tea Academy Live: Certified Tea Craftaman 2017 Skill Building Workshop:The Ins & Outs of Scenting, Blending, & Flavoring Teas 2016 Stop Losing Your Beverage Sales to Water! 2015 Regulatory Compliance: Tips, Tricks & Techniques 2014 Skill Building Workshop: Tisane, Herbal Tea & Infusion: An Exploration From Seed to Cup 2012 Developing a QA Plan From Beginning To End 2011 Skill Building Workshop: Cupping: Sensory Skill Building 2010 Skill Building Workshop: Brewing & Serving Tea 2010 Skill Building Workshop: Becoming a Better Cupper: Introduction to Olfaction 2009 Skill Building Workshop: Brewing & Serving Iced Tea 2009 Skill Building Workshop: Brewing & Serving Hot Tea 2008 Skill Building Workshop: Brewing & Serving Tea 2007 Tea Solutions for Foodservice 2003 Are You Well Equipped?World Tea Expo was formerly known as Take Me 2 Tea Expo Show less

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  Specialty Tea Association (STI)

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2011

  Advisory Board Member, Education Committee & Instructor

  The mission of the Specialty Tea Institute shall be to promote awareness and consumption of Specialty and Premium teas by providing an educational forum, resources and education about quality tea for members, the trade, the media, and consumers.STI will function as the recognized voice of the specialty and premium tea industry, and as such will interact with other national and international trade, consumer, governmental, non-government, and other groups to further the cause of quality teas worldwide. Furthermore STI will sponsor a wide spectrum of geographically dispersed programs to promote the appreciation, consumption, knowledge and sale of specialty and premium teas.The Advisory Board is charged with running the STI through educational seminars.(2007-2009)The Educational Committee was charged with writing, organizing logistics, implementing and teaching the Foundation Series levels 1 & 2 and Professional Series level 3 & 4. (2005-2011)As an instructor I have taught the Foundation Series (Level 1 & 2) and Professional Series (Level 3) classes numerous times. (2006-2011)STI was formerly known as two separate companies: American Premium Tea Institute (APTI) & STAR. Show less

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  Tea Daddy LLC

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2008

  Co-Owner

  Tea Daddy identified an untapped market selling directly to customers through private in-home parties. I formulated an educational presentation that outlines the health and other benefits of drinking tea while offering an affordable price structure that allows fine tea to be purchased through Tea Daddy parties, website and catalog. Favorable pricing was achieved by accessing personal network of tea brokers, purveyors and producers from around the world and passing the savings on to customers.

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  China Mist Tea Company

  Jul 2006 - Jul 2014

  Teasmith

  Scott has been a key contributor to China Mist Tea Company, serving as the Teasmith. Headquartered in Scottsdale, it is the premiere supplier of iced, hot and BIB tea for the Foodservice Industry. An elite organization, it blends, packages, and markets under China Mist. Scott is currently charged with product development, compliance (HACCP, Food Safety, Food Defense, OSHA, Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher & Halal), new product roll outs, quality assurance, and training. In this position he is heavily involved with Research & Development of high-end tea, and related products. Previously Scott was managing an 18-state region, growing distributor sales and national accounts. In addition, Scott serves as corporate trainer, instructing on everything from “leaf to cup." He understands what is at the foundation of an exceptional cup of tea, including the key ingredient: water. He has completed extensive research on the chemistry of water and methods for manipulating and formulating it utilizing the latest filtration technology. In 2009, Scott joined forces with Dr. Utermohlen-Lovelace, from the Taste Science Laboratory of Cornell University, to conduct some of the first research ever done in tea to understand the science behind tea’s olfactory response and why people choose the teas they do.Award Winning Teas By My Design:2012 NATC-2nd Place BIB Black Iced Tea2012 NATC-2nd Place Fresh Brewed Black Iced Tea2012 NATC-2nd Place BIB Sweet Black Iced Tea2012 NATC-3rd Place Fresh Brewed Green Flavored Iced Tea2011 NATC -1st Place Blended Black Hot Tea2011 World Beverage - Platinum RTD Tea2011 NATC-2nd Place Blended Green Hot Tea2011 NATC-2nd Place Breakfast Hot Tea2011 World Beverage - Bronze RTD Tea2011 NATC-3rd Place Flavored Fruit Blend Hot Tea2010 NATC-1st Place Flavored Black RTD Tea2010 NATC-2nd Place Sweet Green RTD Tea2010 NATC-3rd Place Genmaicha Hot Tea2010 Sofi - Silver RTD Tea2009 NATC-Top Tea Cocktail2008-2009 World Beverage Silver RTD Tea Show less

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  Hula Consulting

  Jul 2010 - now

  Founder

  One-Stop Tea and Coffee Business Solutions from Hula ConsultingHula Consulting™, the new comprehensive service approach for tea and coffee businesses from twenty-year industry professional Scott Svihula, has hit the marketplace.This consulting firm offers everything needed for an established or startup beverage industry business from product development, sourcing, contract manufacturing to regulatory compliance, training and product packaging design, marketing and even technology support.“Scott is one of the most knowledgeable, organized, dependable and versatile people I know in the tea and beverage industry. He is professional in every respect and at the same time very personable,” said Donna Fellman, founder of the Tea Education Alliance and Online Education Director of World Tea Academy. “I have always been happy to work with Scott and would highly recommend that opportunity to anyone else.”Hula Consulting’s contract and private label manufacturing is well up to the challenge of producing your brand’s packaged products. Their team of diverse manufacturing specialists offer numerous packaging services at extremely low minimums. This paired with Svihula’s award-winning beverage blends and services, for every step of the beverage business, makes Hula Consulting a champion for every cup of finely crafted tea (or coffee). Show less

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  City of Phoenix

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2014

  Phoenix Fire Department - CERT Volunteer

  The Phoenix CERT program exists to support the mission of the Phoenix Homeland Defense Bureau. The Bureau consists of the Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Department of Public Health. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.In addition to typical CERT activities, Phoenix CERT also supports the Phoenix Police Department with missing persons searches. We also work with the local community to support tactical logistics for major events and programs.Certifications:2014 - Tools for Leadership Success2014 - Emergency Communications2014 - Animal Response 1 2014 - Animal Response 22013 - Amateur Radio Technician License - Call Sign: KG7DNA2013 - Physical Fitness Pack Test2013 - Missing Person Search2013 - Land Navigating - Orienteering2013 - Report Writing2013 - Introduction to Incident Command Center IS-100b2012 - CPR / AED for Infant, Child & Adult2012 - Grief Support2012 - Crisis Intervention2012 - Effective Communications IS-2422012 - Leadership& Influence IS-2402012 - Alzheimer's2012 - Harassment2012 - Stress Management2012 - Ethics2012 - Diversity & Cultural Competency2012 - Tactical Communication2012 - Exposure Control & Blood Borne Pathogens2012 - Scene Safety & Crime Scene Preservation2012 - Basic Cert Class 17-12 Show less

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  Teas Etc, Inc

  Jul 2014 - Oct 2015

  Operations Director

  A family owned ethical direct trade specialty tea company, focused on supplying traditional teas to the US market. Was hired to leverage my experience in operations to greatly improve regulatory compliance, reduce cost of goods, and stream line production; while serving as a key leadership team member.  Reduced cost of goods by 15% in the first 11 months working with supply partners, negotiating contracts, reducing labor costs, and changing how products where sourced. Reduced inventory valuation by 20% in the first 8 months while keeping customer service levels above 99%.  Managed operations team including Inventory/Purchasing Manager, Production Manager, Logistics Manager, Quality Development Manager and Production Staff. Senior member of the Leadership Team using the “Traction System” tasked with the development and implementation of strategies, initiatives, and capital/operating budgets.  Wrote, implemented and trained new company policies and programs encompassing HACCP, GMP, SSOP, Food Safety, Supplier Certification, Organic, OSHA, Allergen and Employee Manual.  Managed company’s IT infrastructure including hardware and software focused on using Fish Bowl to automate production processes.  Charged with companies HR functions including hiring, reviewing, terminating and benefits.  Developed new on trend award winning teas including a 2015 North American Tea Championship first place winner. Show less