Marcy has more than twenty years experience in supply chain, manufacturing, and continuous improvement. Richard Thompson has led three emerging companies to exits valued at $3 billion American Italian Pasta Company (which in 15 years grew from a start-up to the second largest pasta manufacturer in the world), Meow Mix and Freshpet. Sign-up for our weekly newsletter! Our Story - Factory LLC That was one of the main reasons that we wanted to get into it. Tim Pollak was CEO of a top-20 global ad agency and vice chairman of two top-5 agencies, Y&R and Dentsu. Stuffed Puffs is now fully operational and engineering is underway for the second production line. Factory Manufacturing Inc. will manufacture powdered drinks They're a great consumer-products team. Prior to joining Factory, she spent time interning for a local Lehigh Valley CPG startup before moving on to a business development role at Oracle. "Zoo" means all animals and "too" means you, too, can be helpful. 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Born in Coldwater, Kan. Married 25 years; three children, 23,22 and 19. You need to know what everyone is thinking about on a project. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. PREVIOUS POSITIONS: CEO and president of The Meow Mix Company, which he bought with JW Childs Associates from Nestle/Purina for $167 million in 2002. That, he said, creates a more convenient way for customers to drink ROAR. It is making powdered beverages for Roar, a sports drink company, and for Honey Stinger, which specializes in performance chews, energy waffles and protein bars. Team members write meeting notes on the glass office walls and white board partitions between desks. He moved to Lehigh Valley to build the business with an investment from Factory and Richard Thompson. In recent years, Thompson helped grow specialty pet food maker Freshpet from 80 to about 125 employees when it moved production from Richland Township to Northampton County, and later when it went from a privately held to a public company. A former CEO of Freshpet, Thompson had helped lead the move of Freshpet into Lehigh Valley in a production facility just across the street from where Factory Manufacturing LLC is now in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV. Can you take the heat of The Blast Furnace?, Said Marz: Its kind of a real life Shark Tank, but its in our backyard.. 1980 . Analee has a project management professional certification and a B.S. Nicolette is an experienced commercial photographer and editor who uses her editing and retouching skills to make our brand partners products shine in every piece of content our studio produces. The next thing Krajsa knew, he and other school officials were boarding Thompsons plane to meet representatives at Penn States main campus. Petrucci Co., was among the 5.2 million square feet of industrial space delivered so far this year in Lehigh and Northampton . Co-Manager. Rich Thompson, Managing Partner. ""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."". ft. facility that works with companies to build value. Meet Richard Thompson, Founder & CEO of Factory LLC - YouTube He also served in the Golani brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces from 2010 2012. Rich Thompson Professional Musician. 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. Eric has 15 years experience in all aspects of visual branding, including illustration, design, advertising, social media, and, especially, photography. 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.. Serving foodservice, in-store bakery, retail, and industrial markets. Marla is a strong leader and problem solver with deep operational, financial, and managerial experience in the food industry. APRIL GAMIZ / THE MORNING CALL, Rich Thompson, Managing Partner, helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Company, The Meow Mix Company and Freshpet. Rich Thompson, Factory LLC/The: Profile and Biography So they go to a pet store instead of adopting a pet. Budgeting, forecasting . "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. This was not a standard project, Polt said. rich plums and chocolates. All rights reserved. Look no further than Thompson/Center's new Compass bolt-action rifle for proof. Be careful what you spill! Business Jet Traveler is a publication of AIN Media Group, Inc., 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Use of this website is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy. in Communications and Marketing from Franklin University. I never worked for anybody. It's very reliable. Monroe County-based Weiler Abrasives has chosen Arjang AJ Roshan-Rouz as the next CEO. Michelle has over 15 years of accounting experience, specializing in accounts payable and general accounting. When you think about it, thats awesome, Thompson said. The building at Lehigh Valley Flex Center, owned and built by J.G. We have innovation partners here and a smart, talented workforce in the Lehigh Valley.. Anthony Salamone is a reporter covering general news in Northampton County. It's not like YouTube or Facebook, where you don't know what you've got. I build companies, Thompson said during a recent tour of the 40-foot-tall facility that opened in December. Richard Thompson - Managing Partner - Factory | ZoomInfo Pat has been involved with the development of thousands of new products, including over 800 items for the re-launch of Wild Oats Organic, which went from inception to $100M in 18 months. Leland has 10+ years experience in investment banking and private equity investing in the consumer and retail sectors. 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. What happened?When I was 32 I met Kristen, my future wife, in a Republic Airlines boarding line at Minneapolis Airport. A look inside the Factory LLC, a new business incubator in south Bethlehem at a former Bethlehem Steel factory on Thursday, January 10, 2019. I got her upgraded to sit in first class next to me. The 40,000 square-foot innovation center offers services in everything from food safety, product development, supply chain, social media marketing, and packaging, design and engineering. He has served on the boards of eight manufacturing, marketing, and education companies, including American Italian Pasta, Meow Mix and Freshpet, spent 5 years as a CEO, and has done business in over 50 countries. Is Zootoo internally funded?Yes, by me and my partners. He earned his BA at Dartmouth and MBA at Columbia University. Rich has helped achieve three of them. But its not a manufacturing site. Finally back home in the Lehigh Valley, she helps prepare breakfast and lunch for the Factory team and our VIP guests. "I build companies," Thompson said during a recent tour of the 40-foot-tall facility that opened in December. Prior to joining the Factory staff, she won a branding contest sponsored by Factory and subsequently served as an intern in the graphic design department. 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. Prior to exploring his entrepreneurial side, he was the Vice President of Global SaaS, Operations & Technology for Scala, Inc., overseeing the continuous development of the Scala SaaS offerings and the development and implementation of Enterprise Technology Investment Strategy. He chose the region to open his second manufacturing plant to supply Walmart and other retailers across the country. Rich Thompson - President - MST Steel | ZoomInfo In other words, Factory helps get more product out and put that product in more places, which translates to higher sales and net income. His job responsibilities include managing the Factory team and investments across 12 companies and two manufacturing plants. 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. We've put in more than $8 million as startup capital.Do you plan to have advertising on the site?Yes, because we have a rich vertical [market] with pet lovers. Facebook. 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. Three months later we were married. Don Cunningham, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., said many small food companies face challenges of getting their products on store shelves. 1980 Jim Thompson Factory. Industries served range from Health Care, Digital Signage and Media, Food Banks, QSRs, Restaurants, Manufacturing, Software and Farming. Rich Thompson, founder and managing partner of Factory LLC, recently started a plant to makes powdered drinks, protein bars and other consumable products. Pat has a B.S. Ben has over seven years of experience in shopper marketing. Rich Thompson - Baseball-Reference.com He spoke more like a visionary than an entrepreneur. Linsey is also the host of The Ingredient Panel podcast, where a food scientist, a chef, and a food product developer discuss what's in your food, why it's in your food, and why that matters. Stuffed Puffs New Factory Opens in Hot Lehigh Valley Industrial Market 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. Our panel of experts will look at recent changes in health care [], The Forty Under 40 awards recognize Lehigh Valleys leaders who are under the age of 40 based on their professional accomplishments, commu[]. The top 20 point-earning shelters received prize money [though only one got the million-dollar makeover]. Experience is invaluable, as are the relationships built over years in the industry, and the resources that can make or break a new venture are often unaffordable. Trey worked at Discover Lehigh Valley, the destination marketing board for the Lehigh Valley. Rich & Thompson Funeral Home & Crematory Providing funeral home, burial, and cremation services for Burlington and NC. We found that 70 percent of the people in most communities don't know where their local shelter is. Shannon holds a B.A. This has nothing but upside potential for the region.. Designed around patented machinery and collaborative space, the project team also had to account for safety protocols such as no touch doors, digital thermometers and nursing station at the front entrance. Women of Influence identifies high-achieving women for their tremendous career accomplishments. But, on top of that, he said, the project itself was ground-breaking. John has over 15 years of experience in graphic design, creating on both the agency and client sides. Thompson said he is reaching out to area universities on collaborations, including using students as paid interns and for food focus groups, who conduct food tests in space inside Factory. You'll be a better pilot if you know how everything works on a plane." Another run is being made for Honey Stinger, another Factory brand partner that makes performance chews, energy waffles and protein bars. The 16 acres of grounds on the Hoosic River in North Adams, Massachusetts, encompass a [] Rich Products Corporation | Global Food Supplier Serving Foodservice In her last role, she helped build and lead a new photography studio in PA for Henry Schein, a medical products company. Read More . Elias is an experienced IT manager and network administrator. East Coast Powders Manufacturer | Factory Manufacturing Amazing work by the Factory Manufacturing team getting our FIRST powder production finished and ready to ship ON TIME and ABOVE GOAL! ET, Site and contents are 2023 Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. Rich Thompson - Founder - Podium X | LinkedIn If you do a good job in empowering people to take ownership, you find that you get the best ideas from the people that do the work each and every day, Tierney said. Rich Thompson is the President at MST Steel based in Warren, Michigan. 10/31/2005 to 07/31/2018. Official MapQuest - Maps, Driving Directions, Live Traffic He enjoys cooking homestyle favorites and experimenting with new culinary trends equally, which means there are always plenty of delicious lunch options for the Factory team and our guests! Aeoon Technologies GmbH. Founder Rich Thompson considered multiple locations around the country, but ultimately decided there was a particular need for a facility like this on the East Coast. Why did you buy a Hawker 700, a model that has been out of production since 1984?Because there's a big price difference between it and the Hawker 800. Andra is a financial professional with 12 years of experience in general accounting, budgeting, treasury, financial planning, and banking. Mikeys and Stuffed Puffs brands were among the Factorys early investments. Rich Thompson Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com How did you get involved in aviation?I worked at the local airport while I was in high school. I use the airplane to fly there. Fund Manager | Fidelity Institutional Overall, he's stolen 442 bases in the minors. But when most start-ups get done hiring teams, funding infrastructure and cost-of-goods, and squirreling away working capital, there is often not much left to build the brand, support distribution and drive velocity. Overnight on Wall Street is morning in Europe. And I can put 500 people in here and have my Shark Tank event, Thompson said, referencing the reality TV show in which budding entrepreneurs get the chance to bring their business dreams to fruition. All rights reserved. One result: Penn State Lehigh Valley has office space inside Factory (actually, like other occupants, its in a converted shipping container that has been painted red and customized) for the schools LaunchBox a business-accelerator program aimed at connecting early-stage entrepreneurs with advisers, funding and more. Previously, Rich was the Board Member at Covenant House. When you get something with a stand-up bathroom, I'll fly with you again." Prior Factory, Leland worked at AUA Private Equity Partners, Wild Oats and Guggenheim Securities where he completed transactions in food and beverage, restaurants and e-Commerce. SUMMARY Career WAR 0.9 W 3 L 4 ERA 4.21 G 82 GS 0 SV 0 IP 104.2 SO 105 WHIP 1.357 Rich Thompson Overview We made a few dollars. Most hydration plants are in California, Salt Lake City and in the South. But she is equally adept at opining on human food. Its a reason why the Lehigh Valleys manufacturing had an economic output of $8.4 billion, making it the largest contributor to the regions $47 billion gross domestic product, which measures total market value of the goods and services produced in a region over a year. FourFourTwo brings you the story of Neymars journey from the streets of Praia Grande to the Barcelona frontline. Everybody is running for the hills. The project underscores the importance of manufacturing in the Lehigh Valley. These arent startups: Honey Stinger traces its beginnings to 1954, according to its website. In the microcosm of this one factory-campus, it is possible to trace the arc of industrialization and post-industrialization of New England, and indeed the world. Tyler graduated from Penn State Lehigh Valley with a degree in project and supply chain management. Richard Thompson Factory-LLC.com Thompson helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Company, The Meow Mix Company and Freshpet. Meet Your East Coast Powders Manufacturer. 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. 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. Her background in data research and analytics gives her a keen eye for spotting the latest social trends and knack for measuring results. Eventually, the company could be sold, with its owners and Thompson and his investors reaping a profit. Liz graduated from Moravian College with a B.A. rich thompson factory. We're doing some projects in New York. Here's his story. His job responsibilities include managing the Factory team and investments across 12 companies and two manufacturing plants. POSITION: Founder of Zootoo.com and CEO of GO7Brands. As a design-focused problem solver, John, a Lafayette graduate, leans on his background with B.S./B.A. Shannon has over 10 years experience in ecommerce, online merchandising, and website management at major retailers, including Party City, Lord & Taylor, and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Sold Meow Mix to the Cypress Group in 2003 for $435 million, remaining as CEO after reinvesting in Cypress. Accomplished manufacturing entrepreneur Rich Thompson and his team of seasoned pros have spent the last five years luring innovative food, beverage and pet food (Think Freshpet) companies to the Lehigh Valley and helping them to scale up at a business innovation center named Factory LLC in south Bethlehem. Kristi is a true facilities management professional. They raised $250 million, began assembling a team of seasoned consumer products veterans across all operating disciplines, and bought a building on the old Bethlehem Steel campus in Pennsylvania, which they re-habbed into an innovation and scale-up resource facility. At Factory, Mike assists our brand partners in establishing operational procedures using business analytics to streamline their processes and deliver cost savings to the bottom line. Founder Michael Tierney has been pioneering the proprietary process for a decade. She enjoys digging into the data that our brand partners rely on to set their marketing strategies. She helps Factorys brand partners develop and refine their ecommerce strategies, handling everything from launching and managing ecommerce sites through forecasting and reporting. The production facility at 157 N. Commerce Way in Hanover Township, Northampton County, is leased from J.G. Richard was a big part of it, said Tierney, whose companys frozen baked goods, pizza pockets and more are sold online and at supermarkets, including several locally. Prior to joining Factory, Ben led the grocery channel shopper marketing team at TWINOAKS, a shopper influence agency, for its client Beiersdorf, a company whose brands include NIVEA, Aquaphor, and Eucerin. Factory Manufacturing LLC Launches New Production Facility Shes a versatile photographer who can bring brands to life for ecommerce and social media. I like to do what you see here, because nobody has done it before, said Thompson, claiming Factory is a one-of-a-kind operation in North America in terms of its specific business concept. About Us - Jim Thompson Fabrics Sold Meow Mix to the Cypress Group in 2003 for $435 million, remaining as CEO after reinvesting in Cypress. 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. In renovated Bethlehem Steel mill, Richard Thompson launches 'Factory APRIL GAMIZ / THE MORNING CALL, Rich Thompson, Managing Partner, helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Company, The Meow Mix Company and Freshpet. You buy low and sell high. Rich Thompson roster status changed by Los Angeles Angels. Yadira holds a degree in computer information technology with a concentration in application development from Northampton Community College and is currently in the process of earning a bachelors degree from Muhlenberg College. Kyla brings over six years of experience in managing retail and e-commerce operations. Pat provides comprehensive perspectives and solutions from concept to shelf, leveraging his experience in brand management, global sourcing, product development, and retail integration. Here's a list of some of the top trending technologies and APIs used by Factory Motor Parts. To launch his effort, Thompson received public help in the form of state tax credits worth $200,000, according to Alicia Miller Karner, Bethlehems community and economic development director. Andra holds an MBA from DeSales University. Specializing in idea-to-shelf product development, with expertise in nutrition and formulation, she has helped bring over 300 new products to market in retail and foodservice. The company is a an innovation center for new food and beverage companies located at 315 Columbia St. in Bethlehem, Pa. As Freshpets CEO, he tapped into the twin trends of healthier food for the family and the humanization of pets as he led a company which produced the first refrigerated pet foods. in graphic design, with a minor in mass communication, from Lehigh University, has experience as a designer in the food industry with Zavino Hospitality Group in Philadelphia, and was a senior designer at Fusion, a student-run design agency at Lehigh that does work for local businesses. Oct 2002 - Jan 20041 year 4 months. Our Lehigh Valley, PA-based and GMP-audited facilities are equipped with top-of-the-line automated equipment for blending, dispensing, and packaging powders. Profile. Thats a good distribution waypoint.. | Privacy Policy, Credit / Financing Programs for Businesses. North America. There will be a lot of innovation and new flavors coming out because of this facility.. Explore! That sector made up about 18% of the Valleys private sector output, while the national average for manufacturing was 12%.