Chris Bickett

About Chris Bickett

Dynamic and results-driven Executive Leader with a proven track record of steering $15M food manufacturing operation through periods of significant growth and transformation. Expertly balanced dual roles as President and COO, driving a 30% reduction in staffing costs while simultaneously increasing margins and market presence. Adept at scaling production through multi-million-dollar capital investments, securing elite SQF Level 1 food safety certifications, and spearheading national sales strategies with major U.S. retailers.\"

Experience

1. Chief Operating Officer

   Beer Nuts Brand Snacks

   Sep 2019 — Present · Bloomington/Normal, IL, US

   Dynamic and results-driven Executive Leader with a proven track record of steering $15M food manufacturing operation through periods of significant growth and transformation. Expertly balanced dual roles as Interim President and COO, driving a 30% reduction in staffing costs while simultaneously increasing margins and market presence. Adept at scaling production through multi-million-dollar capital investments, securing elite SQF Level 1 food safety certifications, and spearheading national sales strategies with major U.S. retailers.Core Accomplishments Executive Stewardship: Served as Interim President (12 months) and COO ( 6 y), providing comprehensive fiscal and strategic leadership across all departments.Operational Efficiency: Engineered a 30% workforce optimization strategy that enhanced bottom-line margins and expanded market footprint through improved process workflows.Infrastructure Modernization: Orchestrated a $5M capital expenditure project to source and integrate advanced manufacturing equipment, significantly increasing production capacity.Regulatory Excellence: Spearheaded the company’s transition to SQF Level 1 Certification, establishing rigorous food safety and quality standards recognized by global retailers.Market Expansion & Sales: Directly managed the sales team and cultivated strategic partnerships with major U.S. national retailers, driving the launch of three innovative new product lines.Key Skills Financial Leadership: P&L Management, Capital Budgeting (CAPEX), Financial Modeling.Operations & Quality: SQF Certification, Lean Manufacturing, High-Speed Processing.Strategic Growth: Product Development (R&D), National Account Management, Workforce Optimization.

Education

• Bradley University

  Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA, Business/Managerial Economics

Skills

• Business Strategy
• Sales
• Budget Process
• Program Management
• Management
• Team Building
• Product Development
• Critical Thinking
• Operations Management
• Strategic Technology Development
• Negotiation
• Business Development
• New Business Development
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Profit Maximization
• Employee Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Business Acquisition
• Market Share
• Manufacturing
• Sales Management
• Strategic Brand Positioning
• Sales Operations
• Market Share Growth
• Customer Service