Cassandra R.
CEO @The Gumbo Gourmet
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WORK HISTORY
CEO @The Gumbo Gourmet
Atlanta, GA, US
Business Model TransformationRedesigned The Gumbo Gourmet from a consumer restaurant to a B2B wholesale food manufacturer, consolidating operations into a commissary production model and establishing scalable workflows for national distribution.Product Commercialization & Market PenetrationCommercialized the Gumbo Starter Roux Base and expanded into food-service, hospitality, and corporate channels, laying the foundation for becoming a premier U.S. supplier of gumbo flavor systems.Revenue Growth & Profitability ExpansionIncreased revenue by 12% through November 2025 compared to full-year 2024 performance. Streamlined operations to retain 48% of revenue as profit in 2025, creating the capital capacity for reinvestment in technology and marketing infrastructure.Media Acceleration & Digital ConversionDrove an increase in media impressions beginning in Q4 2025 through targeted marketing initiatives, resulting in increased purchases and a 0.91% digital conversion rate.Operational Efficiency & Financial ManagementBuilt and managed financial models, KPIs, and performance dashboards to optimize production efficiency, strengthen margins, and guide strategic decisions across manufacturing and B2B channels.Customer Acquisition & B2B Growth LeadershipExpanded institutional relationships through consistent product quality, responsive service, and tailored solutions for corporate, hospitality, and event-driven clients.Technology & Systems DevelopmentInitiated development of a comprehensive tech stack and marketing platform to support future scale, improve order management, and enhance channel performance.Cross-Functional & Remote LeadershipOversaw production, e-commerce, logistics, and customer support using cloud-based systems; managed hybrid teams to maintain operational continuity and service delivery.
EDUCATION
Columbia College Chicago
BA, Marketing Communications-Advertising Concentration
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Master's Degree, Intellectual Property Management & Markets
Illinois Tech Stuart School of Business
MS, Marketing Communications/E-Commerce concentration
ABOUT CASSANDRA R.
I help companies build authentic Cajun culinary-based experiences- supported by scalable food manufacturing for enterprise and institutional partners.I am the CEO and Founder of The Gumbo Gourmet, a B2B food company delivering authentic Cajun flavor systems and curated corporate food experiences for enterprise, institutional, and wholesale clients.In 2025, I led a strategic transition from a consumer-facing brand to a scalable B2B manufacturing and services model, focused on margin discipline and operational efficiency. As a result, 2025 revenue exceeded 2024 by 15%, while operational restructuring enabled 38% profit retention.Today, The Gumbo Gourmet operates across two aligned growth channels:• Specialty Food Manufacturing – Gumbo Starter Roux Base and scalable gumbo base solutions for foodservice, hospitality, and B2B partners • Corporate Experiences – turnkey Cajun catering, employee appreciation events, interactive culinary activations, and branded gifting for companies and institutionsWith this foundation in place, the company is investing in technology infrastructure, marketing systems, and national B2B distribution to support continued expansion.I am a graduate of the Goldman Sachs Cohort 8 – Black in Business: One Million Black Women (BiB:OMBW) Program, where I strengthened the strategic and financial frameworks guiding the company’s growth. I am also a certified F&B operator through the PROOF F&B Cohort. Focus Areas• B2B food manufacturing and wholesale distribution • Corporate catering and employee experience programs • Operational design, financial performance, and margin growth • Institutional and enterprise partnerships
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