Howard Holdridge

Manager with years of experience serving in positions as Operations Manager and Quality Assurance Manager for a producer and distributor of beverage and dairy products. Skilled in manufacturing processes and warehouse operations. Knowledge and understanding of sanitation protocols, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) and HACCP systems certified. Experienced Certified SQF Internal Auditor and site representative for all regulatory compliance inspections. A member of a leadership safety team, Safety Hazmat trained, and a Site Incident Commander. Very strong supervisory, organizational, administrative and communication skills. Able to manage daily details while focusing on corporate goals and strategies. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, proficient in managing priorities and workflow. Proven ability to handle multiple projects while meeting established timelines. 

Saputo Dairy Foods, USA, Plant City, FL                                                       MAR 2020- JAN 2025                                           

Producer and distributor of ESL/ Aseptic dairy products.

Quality OPERATIONS Manager (April 2023- JAN 2025)

• Leader and coordinator of all Quality Department activities related to the plant quality assurance programs and procedures. Protect the food safety and quality of the facility, while meeting all company and regulatory standards. Serve as plant auditing liaison for all third party, customer, State and regulatory agencies. 

PLANT OPERATIONS Manager (Nov 2021- Mar 2023)                                                                             

• Leader and director for all manufacturing operations, including direct responsibility to produce aseptic and extended-shelf-life products. Collaborate with the Plant Manager to direct and manage the day-to-day operation of the facility. Serve as liaison between the plant and other departments including Quality, Distribution, Maintenance, Company Headquarters, and State and Federal regulatory agencies. Execute at a high level, safely and in a manner that optimizes manufacturing costs while meeting the company product quality standards.

Quality Assurance Manager (Mar 2020-Oct 2021)                                                                          

• Principal leader for protecting the facility product safety and quality while meeting the company and regulatory standards. Oversight responsibility for continuous quality improvement programs and ensure that the production and distribution of products meets or exceeds all quality standards. Lead communicator of quality results and instructional transfer of quality and quality assurance knowledge to the facility workforce.

COUNTRY PURE FOODS, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL                                          SEPT 2019-MAR 2020

Producer and distributor of citrus/juice products.

Production Supervisor 

• Leader and coach for twenty-five employees in Production, Warehouse and Maintenance departments. Coordinate shift activities of production department in the blending, processing and packaging of juice products. Review, plan and report production schedules and orders to meet customer delivery dates. Assess operating reports and resolve operational, manufacturing and maintenance issues to ensure minimal costs and prevent operational delays. Conduct daily shift transition meetings to facilitate communication of pertinent information to team and supervisors. Maintain facility safety and product quality through continuous monitoring, observation and reporting of any discrepancies.    

F.X. MATT BREWING CO., Utica, NY                                                             JAN 2019-APR 2019

Producer and distributor of beer and soft drink products.

Packaging Supervisor 

• Leader and problem solver for 30 union bottling, packaging and sanitation operators. Execute and ensure the quality and completion of daily scheduled production and sanitation through continuous monitoring and reporting results of the packaging operations through the utilization of Shoplogix Plantnode systems. Conduct daily shift informational meetings, facilitating two-way communication between employees and the leadership team. Assist with ongoing safety and process improvement within the department by conducting routine inspection walkthroughs and follow-up. Implement and update a robust Standard Operating Procedure program for all operations involving packaging and sanitation while improving efficiency and lowering costs. 

HP HOOD LLC, Vernon, NY                                                                              JUNE1987 – NOV 2018

Producer and distributor of dairy products.

Operations Control Manager (2012 - 2018)

• Communicated, administered, and managed the plant’s administrative policies and programs to support overall business plans and strategies, integral to success and targeted goals. Coordinated and contributed to facility production control process and the development of the annual budget, performance goals, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Monitored plant inventories, variance controls systems, and supervised staff that controls and reports raw materials, packaging, and finished products inventories through AS/400, Warehouse Management System.

Key Accomplishments:

• Partnered with Warehouse Manager in performing root cause analysis; implemented modifications to reduce warehouse inventory dumps and losses by 68% versus prior years reductions.
• Changed schedule for inventory frequency and timing allowing better controls and raw ingredients monitoring that reduced losses by $147K annually and butterfat losses reduction by 33% in 2017 vs 2016 numbers of $201K.

Operations Manager (2001 - 2012)

• Directed five production supervisors, 90 union production operators, maintenance mechanics, and three administration professionals in the annual production of 50M pounds and an operating budget of $20M.  Recruited, hired and performed annual reviews, administered disciplinary actions, and addressed attendance issues and Collective Bargaining Agreement grievances. Prepared production schedules and facilitated and coordinated employee development training. Monitored the KPIs attributed to cost/unit, cost/case, packaging efficiencies, and product variances to increase production by increasing productivity. Supervised daily processing, packaging, and shipping of all finished goods to meet customer needs.

Key Accomplishments:

• Executed changes in case/corrugated board grade from 40 to 29 Edge Crush Test (ECT) that produced annual cost savings of $107K and a $43.5K cost savings due to the launch of a perforated adhesive application on finished product casing material. 

Quality Control Manager (1989 -2001)

Oversaw the Quality Management Program and supervised employees to ensure the efficiencies of production and manufacturing lines and compliance with Federal and State food safety requirements. Reviewed product specifications to determine standards and reliability expectancy of finished products.

Key Accomplishments:

• Maintained the department budget by monitoring production, assessing waste, and performing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections. 
• Applied total quality management tools and approaches to analytical and reporting processes.
• 2002 NYSAFP Howard B. Marlatt Memorial Award- In recognition of outstanding service and leadership in the field of Laboratory Technology.  

AAS -Applied Science