Executive Management
Sales/Marketing
Budget/Cost Management
Photographer/Graphic Designer/Corporate Secretary January 2002 – Present
Bella Photography & Design, Inc. bellaphotographs.com Valparaiso, IN
Manage the operation of a family owned full service photography, video and graphic design studio serving Chicago-land, NW Indiana, and southern Michigan. Duties include photography, videography, sales, marketing, graphic design, and providing technical support. Bella Photography specializes in corporate, product, wedding, family, children, high school senior and event photography.
Director of Business Development & National Broker January 2017 – April 2018
Columbia Fresh Produce columbiafresh.com Walla Walla, WA
Responsible for marketing, business development and sales of Sunbites Sweet Corn across the United States. Sunbites, a Canadian Agri-Food company, is located in Rougemont and Monteregie, Montreal, Canada.
Director of Marketing & Business Development January 2014 – Dec 2016
Columbia Fresh Produce columbiafresh.com Walla Walla, WA Responsible for marketing and business development of this $10M annual sales fresh produce brokerage company assissting in all functional areas including Columbia Fresh Packing, located in Kennewick, WA, and Columbia Fresh Transportation, Portland, OR. Developed new website with shopping cart functionality, designed communications tools for direct to customer information flow and created new business opportunities to assist in diversifying the sales base.
Police Commissioner January 2004 – Dec 2014
Town of Merrillville, Indiana Merrillville.in.gov Merrillville, IN
Served as President of the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners directing the operations of the Merrillville Police Department through the Chief of Police, 54 sworn police officers and 25 civilian personnel. Duties included hiring, equipment purchasing, policy creation, strategic planning, promotions and discipline.
Director of Procurement – Chicago Division March 2009 – March 2010
Feed The Children feedthechildren.org Oklahoma City, OK
Created food industry partnerships to assist the world headquarters of this international charity and provided leadership for the Food Sourcing team while procuring food and grocery products for a national network of hunger relief agencies. Planned strategy, explored new opportunities, especially in the agriculture arena of the United States, and formed partnerships within the food and grocery industry to advance the mission of charity. Our team created a strategic plan for this annual one billion-dollar organization advising on every functioning area of the charity.
Director of Produce and Food Procurement March 1999 – March 2009
Feeding America feedingamerica.org Chicago, IL
Designed a 150-million-pound annual fresh produce program from the ground up over a decade and provided leadership for the food sourcing team while servicing a national network of 200 food banks. Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger relief charity with a network of over 200 food banks that distribute food to over 65,000 charity agencies throughout the United States. Planned strategy and explored new opportunities and methods of working with food industry, related partners, and the member network.
District Manager of Produce, Bakery & Deli Operations July 1993 – March 1999
Fairplay Finer Foods, Inc. fairplayfoods.com Chicago, IL
Increased sales by double digit percentages while directing the operations of this 12-store supermarket chain. Direct responsibility for produce, deli and bakery operations. Other accomplishments include the development of product procurement programs, category management, weekly sales plans, merchandising, management. Responsible for department gross profit, payroll and expenses.