Katie Horvath

CATEGORY, PROJECT, OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE MANAGER

• 15 years of Category Project Management Operational and Compliance expertise in planning, leading, and executing large-scale complex projects/ programs in retail, food service, food manufacturing & post-harvest supply chain.
• Demonstrated team player with the ability to work directly with key business partners and manage projects independently
• Consolidates project communication objectives to reduce overall project time by establishing cross-functioning team development skills to achieve success criteria
• Provide constant delivery of the right projects at the right time with the right resources & processes
• Skilled in Stage Gate Process, Lean Six –Sigma, P&Ls, Balance Sheets, COGs, GPs, ROAs, NPVs, IRRs, HACCP, FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food, PrimusGFS Audits & Organic Certification

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Retail Category Operations Agribusiness Lecture, Project Manager & ABM Club Advisor,  2014 – Current

Creates and manages financial operating retail category lesson plans for undergraduate students. Develops tracking measures to lead the integration of financial activities in the category planning and strategy process. Controls budgets, and profit and loss plans against sales and operating margin targets. Develop an annual operating plan for each retail category, including products, pricing, packaging, and distribution. Facilitated how to manage products through their lifecycle and using syndicate data and financial analysis to aid in recommendations of the strategic direction of the category. I evaluate, prioritize, and lead the students to critically analyze the best decision regarding new products and marketing opportunities based on financial viability and brand fit. Identifies and leads integrated programs in collaboration with other categories and marketing. Enhances the creative positioning strategy for categories based on competitive and marketplace assessment. Leverages understanding of the competitive marketplace to project potential threats to the category.

Composed students’ business knowledge base with Financial and Managerial Accounting. Implement accounting classification & understanding of all financial statements. Develop and implement effective teaching strategies used in business operations and the financial impact of functional decision-making. Utilize spreadsheets to record financial transactions and calculate data to be used in financial analysis. Delivered comprehensive lesson plans for the course in business administration while conducting real-life financial business assessments and benchmarks for examination purposes.

Built a hands-on learning program on how to run a modern agriculture manufacturing business with the integration of Good Manufacturing Practices, FDA, and CDFA rules and regulations to sell locally grown produce. The course emphasizes critical control points for food safety, field traceability, shelf life, and microbiological testing. Trained students on production labor techniques and current harvesting practices. Guided development of raw specification sheets as well as creating standard operating procedures (SOP & SSOP). Critical analysis is conducted on forecasting to fulfill orders and delivery. Project cost analysis and managerial accounting practices are used to determine the best leadership decisions.

Spearheaded intro/ exit strategies for Non-profit student farm store/ Farm comparing competitor pricing strategies and constructing an annual promotional calendar. Initiated project timelines for each project, identified potential schedule risk while reducing development timelines by using the Stage-Gate Process while conducting project “kick-off” meetings & conducting post-implementation reviews.

Country Oaks Bed And Biscuit Inn, LLC  

Single Member LLC/ CEO, 2018 -Current

Owns and operates a cage-free dog boarding and daycare facility. 

Nebraska Aronia Processors

Project, Operations & Compliance Manager, 2018 – 2020

Created custom food manufacturing facilities with the new FDA, and FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food’s safety programs and incorporated USDA, State, and local government licensing. Created and implemented processes, documentation, and food safety compliance requirements. Develop food safety policies and procedures for NSF certification, Chemical program, Pest Control program Hazard Analysis, Process Preventive Controls, Allergen Preventive Controls, Production Line Allergen Assessment, Sanitation Preventive Controls, Hygienic Zoning and Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Monitoring for Sanitation Preventive Control Verification, Supplier Verification Program for Preventive Controls, 3^rd party vendor supplier audit program, Receiving Log, Supplier Audit Verification, Corrective Action Records, Product recall program. Trained, and performed pre-PrimusGFS audits and mock recalls. Established all food manufacturing, supply chain, HACCP, operational efficiencies, cost accounting and logistics

Power Brands, LLC. 

Vice President of Project, Operations & Compliance Manager, 2017 – 2018

Created custom food manufacturing facilities with the new FDA, and FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food’s safety programs and incorporated USDA, State, and local government licensing. Created and implemented processes, documentation, and food safety compliance requirements. Develop food safety policies and procedures for NSF certification, Chemical program, Pest Control program Hazard Analysis, Process Preventive Controls, Allergen Preventive Controls, Production Line Allergen Assessment, Sanitation Preventive Controls, Hygienic Zoning and Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Monitoring for Sanitation Preventive Control Verification, Supplier Verification Program for Preventive Controls, 3^rd party vendor supplier audit program, Receiving Log, Supplier Audit Verification, Corrective Action Records, Product recall program. Trained, and performed pre-PrimusGFS audits and mock recalls. Established all food manufacturing, supply chain, HACCP, operational efficiencies, cost accounting and logistics

Country Oaks Bed & Biscuit Inn

Marketing Manager & Financial Advisor, 2011 – 2016

I re-positioned an exclusive dog boarding business to achieve a unique selling proposition. Identified new service opportunities to meet customer needs for innovation. Contribute & support comprehensive business planning /Service Marketing Plan for service lines. Set service annual objectives, strategies, tactics and measures. Strategic media marketing within a limited budget.

Excelline Food Products, LLC. 

Sales Operations & Project Manager, 2012 –2013

Lead market and competitive analyses, leveraging syndicated and proprietary data for Frozen meals. Managed licensee relationships and led the preparation for brand presentations. Delivered a comprehensive suite of sales materials and consumer communication. Wrote creative briefs while managing relationships with media planning, advertising & digital marketing agencies. Discovered new markets while providing GAP analysis to locate new opportunities. Identified promotional mix strategies that were successful in gaining market shares while delivering a comprehensive suite of sales materials and consumer communication.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets, Inc.

Category & Project Manager, 2009 – 2011

Developed private label & national brand strategies, and marketing plans with insight into channel-specific execution by developing pricing, shelving, Plan-o-gram/ merchandising, volume forecast, & marketing budget for all brands. Worked closely with the consumer insights/ innovation team on consumer research needs & new product initiatives. Spearheaded intro/ exit strategies while comparing competitor pricing strategies and constructing an annual promotional calendar. Initiated project timelines for each project, identified potential schedule risk while reducing development timelines by using the Stage-Gate Process while conducting project “kick-off” meetings & conducting post-implementation reviews. Provide constant delivery of the right projects at the right time with the right resources & processes.

Produce Marketing Association, Career Pathways Mentor Recipient, 2008

Heartland Farms, LLC., Sales Associate, 2006- 2007

University of La Verne

Master of Business and Administration, Management and Marketing  

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Bachelor of Science, Food Marketing & Agribusiness Management 

HACCP Manager

NSF International & HEHA Food Safety Training, 2018

Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance Preventive Controls for Human Food, 2017

ServSafe Food Handler, 2016

USDA Food Product Labeling, Knowledge Bank, 2010

Court of Master Sommelier, 2008

International Produce Association, 2022 - Current

National Grocers Association Education Foundation, 2019 - Current

Food Industry University Coalition, 2019- Current

The California Professional Pet Groomers Association, Inc., 2019- Current

The International Boarding & Pet Services Association, 2018 - Current 

Produce Marketing Association, 2008 - 2021

California Grocers Association, 2008 - Current 

Los Angeles County, 4-H, 1997 - 2004