During his tenure at Neoware, Michael successfully led global ERP and CRM implementations, directed the construction of the SaaS product line, developed numerous internal systems, and initiated many other major business process improvements. Barbara has diverse experience in consumer insights, business development sales, event planning, and digital marketing. Donna has worked in consumer brands with Rich Thompson for over 17 years, first as executive assistant at Meow Mix, then as senior executive assistant at Freshpet, and now as director of office operations at Factory, where she works with the partners in managing the day-to-day activities of the company. She now uses her marketing degree from Penn State University and analytical skills to conduct market and consumer research for our brand partners, including fielding taste tests in our on-site consumer insights lab. At Factory Manufacturing, we provide the highest quality powders and are constantly innovating and seeking taste and texture solutions that will also optimize costs and get products to market faster. In other words, Factory helps get more product out and put that product in more places, which translates to higher sales and net income. fine for parking in handicap spot in ohio. Industries served range from Health Care, Digital Signage and Media, Food Banks, QSRs, Restaurants, Manufacturing, Software and Farming. Rich Thompson Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-1 , 210lb (185cm, 95kg) Born: July 1, 1984 (Age: 38-281d) in Hornsby, Australia au More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 63 54 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Rich Thompson, founder and managing partner of Factory LLC, recently started a plant to makes powdered drinks, protein bars and other consumable products. Directory of Profiled Business People: Rich Thompson Thompson, Andie - Thony, Steve > Thompson, Reuben - Thompson, Rosario > Thompson, Rich - Thompson, Richard > Thompson, Rich 1-25 of 1,583 Contacts Petrucci Co., was among the 5.2 million square feet of industrial space delivered so far this year in Lehigh and Northampton counties. ET, Site and contents are 2023 Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. July 11, 2009. Before joining Factory, Christoph worked at Emil Capital Partners, a consumer-orientated venture capital and growth equity firm based in Greenwich, CT. At Emil, Christoph focused on managing the firms current investments as well as sourcing new deals. Sign-up for our weekly newsletter! Donna has worked in consumer brands with Rich Thompson for over 17 years, first as executive assistant at Meow Mix, then as . Marcy manages our relationships with co-manufacturersfrequently traveling to be on-site for production runsand leads efforts to improve efficiencies, product quality and cost savings. Nicolette holds an associates degree in specialized technology from Antonelli Institute, a graphic design and photography school formerly located outside of Philadelphia. Anthony Salamone is a reporter covering general news in Northampton County. Thousands of people were at the shelters with signs and balloons and lots of pets were adopted.Do you spend all your time on Zootoo?Mostly, but I have other businesses. We do the Shelter Makeover so that the community has to get involved with the shelter to help it win a million-dollar makeover. Marla is a CPA and financial executive with over 25 years of experience in financial accounting and reporting, budgeting and planning, and treasury. He has worked with manufacturers, retailers, and brand development agencies, including Gillette, Dial, H-E-B Private Brand, and Daymon Worldwide. So they started thinking about all the things that can go wrong, even when an entrepreneur has a great idea. Tierney said building the second facility in Lehigh Valley was a no brainer it is in the heart of the Northeast market where Thompson and himself have built a strong network of resources. Rich Thompson, Factory founder and managing partner, said most investment firms' idea of a partnership is putting people in a conference room and "talking about a marketing plan." A photo from inside Factory's Innovation and Scale-Up Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. By the time Thompson left his post as CEO in 2016, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Lehigh Valley was among the busiest industrial markets in the nation during the pandemic. | Privacy Policy, Credit / Financing Programs for Businesses, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. She currently serves on the board of directors for Lehigh Valley Roller Derby. With CPG start-ups, one home run can be a lifetime achievement. Just as Freshpet capitalized on devoted pet owners who want refrigerated, fresh food for their cats and dogs, Thompson is looking to do the same for other niche food and beverage companies whose products draw consumers seeking unique products. September 1, 2009. So Richard and Tim partnered with Keith Caldwell, a financial guru who previously managed $8 billion in assets with a leading international investment group. We also charter the airplane occasionally, so for me it's still kind of business.Have you ever considered jet cards or fractional shares?I've looked at all that stuff. But, on top of that, he said, the project itself was ground-breaking. The 165,000-square-foot Stuffed Puffs facility opened in January at the site of the former Guardian Life offices in Hanover Township, Northampton County. Tim Pollak was CEO of a top-20 global ad agency and vice chairman of two top-5 agencies, Y&R and Dentsu. Lead Manager. She spent the 20 years as facilities and space planning manager at Rodale Inc., where her responsibilities included property management, employee and vendor relations, space planning, and operations support. Two businesses have already moved into Factory: Mikeys, which sells gluten-free goods in 3,500 stores, and Honey Stinger, an energy-food company from Steamboat Springs, Colo. Programming Languages (9 Technologies) ASP.NET Microsoft . Most recently, she worked as a senior accountant for a global medical device organization, where her specialties included benefit plans and asset accounting. Insights from LVEDC staff, local business leaders, and innovators. Marcy has more than twenty years experience in supply chain, manufacturing, and continuous improvement. Thats in part, Cunningham said, because of the potential spin-out of more out-of-area companies finding out about Factory and relocating to the Valley. Yadira has ten years of experience in supply chain operations, project execution, inventory planning, and streamlining business processes. He moved to Lehigh Valley to build the business with an investment from Factory and Richard Thompson. Top Factory Motor Parts Integrations and Technologies. He earned his B.F.A. It also cuts down on plastics because customers can pour the powder into their re-usable bottles, reducing the need for single-use plastics. Homes in Southampton, N.Y.; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Los Cabos, Mexico. Find Rich Thompson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. On one of our first dates, I flew her in my [Cessna] P210 from Denver to Santa Fe to meet my mom. An artist whose talents include drawing, calligraphy, and photography, Janes passion is design. in Communications and Marketing from Franklin University. Rich Thompson Professional Musician. I had to be an entrepreneur.What is the origin of GO7Brands?We owned Meow Mix, the cat food company. 1980 Jim Thompson Factory. Jessica is a SHRM certified professional and holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration and minor in HR Management from Bloomsburg University. rich plums and chocolates. The building is equipped for the production and packaging of powdered drinks, supplements and energy/protein bars. Kristi is a true facilities management professional. Well be looking for some more operators, for sure.. Del Monte didn't want our office space or employees, so I kept most of the team, about 36 people, and the space, about 20,000 square feet. When Michael Krajsa, assistant business professor at Penn State Lehigh Valley, discussed Factory with Thompson, he advised Thompson to consider tapping into the university, which is noted for its food science and agricultural research. Health Care Trends & Updates Virtual Discussion, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Explore! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. One of them is Honey Stinger, which is getting into the hydration business, and Roar. Eric has 15 years experience in all aspects of visual branding, including illustration, design, advertising, social media, and, especially, photography. @richquincy.thompson. She helped me get rid of the 210. Sign up for your daily digest of the Greater Lehigh Valley. One of the men behind Stuffed Puffs, Freshpet, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), One of the men behind Stuffed Puffs, Freshpet has a new food operation in the Lehigh Valley, You never expect to send your son to work and never return home: Lehigh Valley ceremony remembers teen, firefighters, others who died on the job, L.V. He chose the Lehigh Valley as the best . His plan was to take an idea everyone in the industry said was impossible, develop the intellectual property, and then launch the business nationally right out of the gate, discouraging competition by fast followers.. The region has a particularly strong presence of food, beverage and pet food manufacturers including Just Born, Ocean Spray, Freshpet, and Coca Cola. Rich Thompson, founder and managing partner of Factory LLC, recently started a plant to makes powdered drinks, protein bars and other consumable products. View the profiles of people named Judith Thompson. People know I'm involved.What is the worst mistake a CEO can make?Not listening to your people. Rich Thompson's Phone Number and Email Last Update. Rich's inspires possibilities with high quality, wholesale food products and ingredients that can be found in commercial kitchens in all corners of the globe. Previously, Rich was the Board Member at Covenant House. 2007 Jim Thompson Europe. About five years ago, he attended an expo where he met Thompson, the retired Freshpet CEO who would soon launch the Factory in south Bethlehem. Analee has a project management professional certification and a B.S. 10/31/2005 to 07/31/2018. We have homes in Southampton [N.Y.]; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Los Cabos, Mexico; and we use the plane to fly there.What is your management style?Totally hands on.How do you do that in a big company like Meow Mix?You get involved. Amazing work by the Factory Manufacturing team getting our FIRST powder production finished and ready to ship ON TIME and ABOVE GOAL! Most recently, she was senior vice president and controller for the U.S. division of the Hain Celestial Group, where her responsibilities included integrating the back office functions of acquired businesses. Among those innovations are single-serve powder packets, which allow customers to mix flavored powder in their own glass of water or bottle. Monitor your investments 24 hours a day, around the clock from around the globe. So you have to be in a position where you can take advantage of the opportunity. With a stage at his feet, multiple video screens behind him, and a World War II-era overhead crane above, entrepreneur Richard Thompson has launched Factory in south Bethlehem, a business-innovation campus for small companies looking for growth. Megan handles social media engagement, posting, and reporting for Factorys brand partners. The transportation of the products to market will be cheaper because the packets weigh less than bottled beverages, requiring less fossil fuel. She earned a B.A. Asad holds a bachelors degree in commerce with a major in accounting from the University of Mumbai, India. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When youre a small company, you cant hire all that expertise, Cunningham said. The company is a an innovation center for new food and beverage companies located at 315 Columbia St. in Bethlehem, Pa. He's now the CEO of GO7Brands (pronounced "gee-oh-seven"), a consulting and financing firm that assists packaged-goods-focused companies; and the founder and largest shareholder of Zootoo.com, a Web site that he hopes will become as indispensable for pet lovers as Google is for Web searches.As Thompson demonstrates, entrepreneurs tend to approach management a bit differently than the classic corporate CEO. "I owned 100 acres on Caye Caulker. Her background in data research and analytics gives her a keen eye for spotting the latest social trends and knack for measuring results. Marla is a strong leader and problem solver with deep operational, financial, and managerial experience in the food industry. He chose the region to open his second manufacturing plant to supply Walmart and other retailers across the country. The company is a an innovation center for new food and beverage companies located at 315 Columbia St. in Bethlehem, Pa. Factory LLC, located in South Bethlehem is a one-of-a kind, custom-built, 40,000 sq. of food science from Penn State University. Nobody got COVID here that we know about, and we built this 165,000-square-foot facility.. unique traits of plants, animals and humans. I never worked for anybody. Speakers discussed the new globalization - or reglobalization and how it will be different. Shannon earned her B.A. His passion is visual storytelling, with a focus on creating visual content around locally sourced food and beverages. See Photos. With his extensive expertise in both supply and demand planning, Chad helps our brand partners hone their forecasting accuracy and supply chain efficiency. The Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program has elected its first female chair. We have an investment in a pasta business in North Dakota. Barbara grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE but her hometown is Allentown, PA. Kim earned a BFA from Pennsylvania State University and holds a Certificate in Digital Media from Moore College of Art. Advertisement. So I thought, being a pilot and understanding how planes work, we could take it apart and rebuild it, which we did. Pat provides comprehensive perspectives and solutions from concept to shelf, leveraging his experience in brand management, global sourcing, product development, and retail integration. Together they started Factory an operating company with funds to invest. Tyler graduated from Penn State Lehigh Valley with a degree in project and supply chain management. We wanted a footprint where we would be able to leverage our supply chain and also be in an environment where we can get really good people to be on our team, people who understand manufacturing, engineering and food processing, he said. We made a few dollars. A lot of these guys are working on a company called Freshpet, a new brand of dog food, which is in about 2,500 stores.Where did the idea for Zootoo come from?I just dream this [stuff] up. Markets never sleep, and neither does Bloomberg News. Thompson noted other parts of the country, places such as Austin, Texas, and Boulder, Colo., have built food and beverage innovation hubs, with entrepreneurs, university officials and others placing a heavier emphasis on teaching the skills to take ideas from a classroom and laboratory, and turn those ideas into marketable, profitable products. While Richard and Tim have had a lot of CPG successes, theyve also witnessed a lot of promising brands and products fail. Liz is an accomplished graphic designer with a particular talent for branding, typography, and illustration. honors in graphic and interactive design from Moravian College. What makes Factory MF stand out is that every aspect of design was meticulously thought through and non-conventionally engineered to reach the safety, quality, and operational thresholds needed as a flexible and expanding powder and bar manufacturing facility, said Kevin Brown, operations and maintenance manager. She holds a B.A. This guy, Krajsa said of Thompson, knows what he is doing, and he moves at lightning speed.. Budgeting, forecasting . A look inside the Factory LLC, a new business incubator in south Bethlehem at a former Bethlehem Steel factory on Thursday, January 10, 2019. Fidelity Advisor Stock Selector Small Cap Fund - Class I. "He has also been in the oil and gas business in North Dakota, founded the American Italian Pasta Company ("the largest pasta company in North America") and bought and sold Meow Mix, earning himself a tidy sum. Shes worked in food trucks in North Carolina, baked pastries in Colorado, and cooked up dinners at the Grand Canyon. "I've never had a job my whole life that I didn't create," he told me as we talked in his finely refurbished Hawker 700A on the Jet Aviation ramp at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport.Thompson left El Paso [Texas] Community College after two years in the early 1970s seeking adventure. One of Factorys first brand partners summed it up this way: Factory gives a $2 million company the resources of a $200 million company. That can make all the difference. The building at Lehigh Valley Flex Center, owned and built by J.G. But our Shark Tank events are going to be called The Blast Furnace. Can you come into The Blast Furnace. By the time Thompson left his post as CEO in 2016, the refrigerated pet food maker saw annual revenue jump since 2015 nearly 34 percent to $116 million. He rolled out Podium X in mid-February. Cory is the project manager for all graphic and packaging design projects at Factory. I'm waiting for the market to dictate when I do that. As a design-focused problem solver, John, a Lafayette graduate, leans on his background with B.S./B.A. In 2019, Thompson launched his own human resources solutions company, Xtra Point Group. He spent a decade in the kitchens of area country clubs before joining Kutztown University to oversee dining and then making his way to Factory. Profile. We have the combination of decades of experience, expertise, and state-of-the-art equipment with the added benefit of in-house R&D experience provided by Allen Flavors. His job responsibilities include managing the Factory team and investments across 12 companies and two manufacturing plants. Giu 11, 2022 | how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe. Just north of Route 22 in Lehigh Valley, along a mile stretch that includes medical equipment, plastic bottle and pet food manufacturers, a new factory for a company called Stuffed Puffs looms with a smiling marshmallow painted across the otherwise innocuous faade. Rich Thompson played for the Indianapolis Indians in 2005 and 2006. Nearly five years ago, Thompson and his team launched Factory LLC in Bethlehem, a business innovation center for food, beverage and pet companies looking to scale up. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Copyright 2023. He said he was laughed out of the meetings and told to get a real job. I didn't get a college degree, so I can't be a lawyer or a doctor. Is that correct?Everything I own is for sale. Nicole worked in product photography for several years, first at Saks Fifth Avenue and then at Cigars International, before joining Factory. She has a passion for words and people, and has woven together a career that has allowed her to work on marketing campaigns and public relations while always keeping the consumer top of mind. There is also a pool of $250 million in private-equity funds available to buy stakes in the companies. in fine arts with a concentration in photography from Kutztown University. We're doing some projects in New York. The facility includes blending machines for powder-based beverages, machines that can package the powder in individual, serving-size sticks or bulk containers, and a production line that can produce energy/protein bars in various shapes with short changeover times. The Lehigh Valley is an ideal location within driving distance of a third of the U.S. population. North America. Prior to joining Factory, Keith worked for eight years with Fortress Investment Group, where he was a portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day operations of a real estate portfolio in the U.S. and Europe. in finance and accounting from Boston College and holds an MBA in general management. Michaels entrepreneurship combined with Richard Thompson and Factorys innovation center for food and beverage has created the latest Lehigh Valley-made product to land on the nations supermarket shelves.. I get the best value for what I'm doing, plus I get the write-offs I'm looking for.Do you still fly?I keep up my medical. Way to go team!, Copyright 2023 Factory, LLC | All Rights Reserved. Serving foodservice, in-store bakery, retail, and industrial markets. We didnt hide. Workers Memorial 32nd Anniversary ceremony | PHOTOS, Baby alligator found at Allentown wastewater treatment plant, Bryan Kohbergers former school district wont talk. I changed this a couple of years ago when the FAA started tightening up. Read More at:. ROAR President Bill Lange said the new facility is making the innovations that the company has developed while working with Factory LLC.