In the past year, Thompson said, the challenge was preparing for the coming recession and being sure we did not have to lay off any team members and at the same time staffing up our new Hydration plant. Most recently, he was director of North American distribution, logistics and customer service for Godiva Chocolatier where he was responsible for overseeing multiple third-party distribution networks consisting of multi-channel fulfillment, including retail, wholesale, CPG and ecommerce. Previously, Richard was a Chief Executive Officer and Top Catat Zootoo and also held positions at Freshpet, The Meow Mix, Google, American Italian Pasta. Michael is a Software Solutions expert who carries an arduously earned amount of wisdom and broad scope of experience in NetSuite Software and business solutions. 2007 Jim Thompson Europe. We continue to see strong interest from manufacturers who want to take advantage of the regions location and talent.. The project reflects Lehigh Valleys continuing growth in food and beverage manufacturing, including Bowery Farming, the largest vertical farm in the nation, is expanding into Bethlehem. Another run is being made for Honey Stinger, another Factory brand partner that makes performance chews, energy waffles and protein bars. All rights reserved. The Women of Influence honorees are selected[], We take a look at the latest developments in Health Care across the region. FISCHER CUSTOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing Torrance, California Explore! We launched in October 2007 and it's now the leading online community for pet lovers.Why did you decide to do a Web site for pet lovers?There are 200 million pet owners and lovers in this country. He is currently working to complete his Certified Management Accountant License from the Institute of Management Accountants. As an experienced designer with a passion for product development, Kim has found a thrill in project coordinating and building rapport between customers, teams, and vendors alike. In other words, Factory helps get more product out and put that product in more places, which translates to higher sales and net income. - Rich Thompson, Managing Partner. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. She keeps invoices flowing and the books reconciled for Factory and our brand partners. With his extensive expertise in both supply and demand planning, Chad helps our brand partners hone their forecasting accuracy and supply chain efficiency. I didn't get a college degree, so I can't be a lawyer or a doctor. of food science from Penn State University. 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. Marla is a strong leader and problem solver with deep operational, financial, and managerial experience in the food industry. Copyright 2023 Factory, LLC | All Rights Reserved. Managing partner of Factory LLC, Rich Thompson helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Co., The Meow Mix Co. and Freshpet, according to his online bio. Clinician. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Rich Thompson - President - MST Steel | ZoomInfo We didnt go away. Pat has a B.S. The innovation at Factory Manufacturing LLC is another example of the Lehigh Valleys manufacturing strength, said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC). In 2019, Thompson launched his own human resources solutions company, Xtra Point Group. From Ireland, the New Economy Gateway series brings together regional leaders to discuss, analyze and propose solutions to the global economys most pressing problems. So I thought, being a pilot and understanding how planes work, we could take it apart and rebuild it, which we did. Prior to joining Factory full-time, Megan served as an intern with the social media and digital marketing team. Meet Your East Coast Powders Manufacturer. 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. in Communications and Marketing from Franklin University. Heathers background is in residential and commercial facility care. 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. Ben earned his bachelors degree in business administration from Susquehanna University. In January 2007, Jim Thompson Europe GmbH was incorporated. Dylan interned with Factorys research and development department before joining the team full-time in 2020. Rick Thompson Partner Menlo Park, California, United States View 5+ vialicensing.com signiavc.com mallsoft.com adify.com hawaii.rr.com vids.com netscape.com yahoo.com 5+ 650-400-XXXX 253-631-XXXX 253-569-XXXX 650-614-XXXX 253-921-XXXX 415-913-XXXX Richard Thompson Founder and Managing Partner Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States View 5 FourFourTwo brings you the story of Neymars journey from the streets of Praia Grande to the Barcelona frontline. So Richard and Tim partnered with Keith Caldwell, a financial guru who previously managed $8 billion in assets with a leading international investment group. He has worked with a variety of CPG companies including Nestl Waters North America, Heineken, Unilever, and Mars Wrigley. Among those innovations are single-serve powder packets, which allow customers to mix flavored powder in their own glass of water or bottle. Jim earned his bachelors degree in packaging engineering from Michigan State University. 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. October 16, 2009. More >. Dylan is a graduate of Penn States food science program, where he did research on the quantities of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables. Most recently, she worked as a content manager at Lafayette College, helping to tell the stories of a legacy institution in the Lehigh Valley. He rolled out Podium X in mid-February. In his previous role as a senior packaging engineer for Godiva Chocolatier, he created packaging for approximately 150 new SKUs annually and spearheaded a packaging standardization project that saved $2 million in materials costs year-over-year. Top Factory Motor Parts Integrations and Technologies. Motoko Rich - The New York Times Theres a lot of money available to entrepreneurs, and a lot of people willing to give or sell them advice. You need to know what everyone is thinking about on a project. While Richard and Tim have had a lot of CPG successes, theyve also witnessed a lot of promising brands and products fail. Petrucci Co., was among the 5.2 million square feet of industrial space delivered so far this year in Lehigh and Northampton . Eric has 15 years experience in all aspects of visual branding, including illustration, design, advertising, social media, and, especially, photography. Located in a converted Bethlehem Steel building, Factory includes a team of experienced operators with $250 million of investable capital who acquire meaningful equity stakes in client companies and partner with them to grow. Here's his story. Mikeys and Stuffed Puffs brands were among the Factorys early investments. 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. 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. 14,152 records for Rich Thompson. Homes in Southampton, N.Y.; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Los Cabos, Mexico. So we certainly feel that having a hydration plant on the East Coast gives us a big advantage at least for the retailers up and down the East Coast., Thompson said the Valley was a natural place for such a venture because you can reach 40% of the U.S. population within eight hours. Managing Partner at Factory Richard Thompson is a Managing Partner at Factory based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A chef by training, she puts a culinary spin on nutritional formulation. Stuffed Puffs opened its second facility in Hanover Township, Northampton County, in January 2021. 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. Factorys website notes its proximity to Newark and Philadelphia airports. Health Care Trends & Updates Virtual Discussion, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Mike Tierney, who founded Mikeys in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2014, said he moved his headquarters and two employees to the Lehigh Valley from Arizona to join Factory, bolstered by Thompsons enthusiasm and Factorys $5 million investment in his company. Rich Thompson - Baseball-Reference.com We have innovation partners here and a smart, talented workforce in the Lehigh Valley.. The first production line made single-serve packets of powder for ROAR, a beverage company growing through Factory LLC. in Communications from Kutztown University and M.S. 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[]. I looked at his track record of success. Insights from LVEDC staff, local business leaders, and innovators. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Linsey is a graduate of New England Culinary Institute, earned her B.A. Phone: 610-266-6775 Fax: 610-266-7623 Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Kutztown University. Official MapQuest website, find driving directions, maps, live traffic updates and road conditions. East Coast Powders Manufacturer | Factory Manufacturing 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. (Photo/Marco Calderon). But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Advertisement. Fidelity Advisor Stock Selector Small Cap Fund - Class I. All rights reserved. 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. Is that correct?Everything I own is for sale. Therefore, the community knows where to go to adopt a pet, which brings the shelter and the community together.How did you do that?When you open the [Zootoo] site the first time, it asks for your ZIP code, shows you the shelters near you and asks you to select one-or you can enter the name of any shelter you'd like. These arent startups: Honey Stinger traces its beginnings to 1954, according to its website. 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. 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During the tour at Factory, Thompson paused beneath a platform with multiple video screens behind him and a refurbished Bethlehem Steel crane above him. ft. facility that works with companies to build value. She said Factory also applied for consideration under Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance, a tax-abatement program that would mean a cut in property taxes of roughly 50 percent during the next 10 years, if there is an increase in assessment. But our Shark Tank events are going to be called The Blast Furnace. Can you come into The Blast Furnace. Businesses recently named a series of hires in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Composer UPCOMING SHOWS More shows > May 5th, Trio East live @ the Little Theatre Cafe, 7-9pm no cover. The 16 acres of grounds on the Hoosic River in North Adams, Massachusetts, encompass a [] ""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."". He chose the Lehigh Valley as the best . Our friendly and professional staff is at your service - 24/7. The company is a an innovation center for new food and beverage companies located at 315 Columbia St. in Bethlehem, Pa.
The gym, lo[]. Factory specializes in "scaling up" businesses, according to the Kansas-born. in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Read More . He takes the drivers seat, and he has the resources available at your fingertips.. I had to be an entrepreneur.What is the origin of GO7Brands?We owned Meow Mix, the cat food company. RHP Rich Thompson assigned to Toros del Este. But she is equally adept at opining on human food. Pennsylvania equity firm invests in Honey Stinger Stuffed Puffs is part of a long tradition in the Lehigh Valley of innovation and the production of brand name products, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Don Cunningham said. She holds a bachelors degree in accounting and finance. We should have up to 45 people at some point. Trey worked at Discover Lehigh Valley, the destination marketing board for the Lehigh Valley. 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. But Thompson said he likes crazy ideas. Nicole earned a B.A. Motoko Rich is Tokyo bureau chief for The New York Times, where she covers Japanese politics, society, gender and the arts, as well as news and features on the Korean peninsula. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A look inside the Factory LLC, a new business incubator in south Bethlehem at a former Bethlehem Steel factory on Thursday, January 10, 2019. How did you get involved in aviation?I worked at the local airport while I was in high school. Its something you want to be around, a private equity group with all the resources that allow a company to have the resources of a $100-million company. It scares everyone else. 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. Rich Thompson, Factory LLC/The: Profile and Biography But Pleasant Valley turned over records for Idaho case, which was started five years ago in south Bethlehem, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. Team - Factory LLC That's what a good entrepreneur does. Industries served range from Health Care, Digital Signage and Media, Food Banks, QSRs, Restaurants, Manufacturing, Software and Farming. Factory specializes in scaling up businesses, according to the Kansas-born Thompson, who during his career led other food companies, including American Italian Pasta and Meow Mix. Giu 11, 2022 | how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe. When you get something with a stand-up bathroom, I'll fly with you again." Meet Richard Thompson, Founder & CEO of Factory LLC - YouTube That, he said, creates a more convenient way for customers to drink ROAR. We found that 70 percent of the people in most communities don't know where their local shelter is. Oct 2018 - Present4 years 5 months. 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. The new building, in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV, is equipped to produce and package powdered drinks, supplements and energy/protein bars. An artist whose talents include drawing, calligraphy, and photography, Janes passion is design. He has deep operational experience across multiple disciplines, having helped build each of these organizations, including marketing and sales, manufacturing, supply chain and distribution, and innovation infrastructure, and he has supervised the design and construction of seven manufacturing facilities. We've put bids out on a few. The facility also includes the research and development expertise provided by Allen Flavors, which works with middle market, entrepreneurial and multinational food and beverage brands with flavors. Team members write meeting notes on the glass office walls and white board partitions between desks. Insights from LVEDC staff, local business leaders, and innovators. In renovated Bethlehem Steel mill, Richard, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), In renovated Bethlehem Steel mill, Richard Thompson launches Factory to grow companies with capital and acumen, What a green future could look like for the Lehigh Valley, Retail Watch: A (frozen) taste of New York comes to the Lehigh Valley for the first time, Boscovs says it will take leftover Bed Bath & Beyond coupons, A familiar name opens new coffee and sweets shop. Rich Thompson is the Executive Vice President, Asset Management at Arcis Golf. Were talking to some fairly big contractors and theres not a lot of hydration plants on the East Coast, he said. Visual Basic .NET Microsoft . He has operational experience across multiple disciplines, including marketing and sales, manufacturing, supply chain and distribution and innovation infrastructure. We're doing some projects in New York. 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. Francine Marz, director of Northampton Community Colleges culinary arts program, hopes to develop a partnership with Factory. We have about 12 to start with, just for the first shift and we plan on adding a second shift and third shift if everything goes well, Thompson said. 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. Jessica is a SHRM certified professional and holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration and minor in HR Management from Bloomsburg University. 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. Founder Michael Tierney has been pioneering the proprietary process for a decade. 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. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Judith Thompson and others you may know. But, on top of that, he said, the project itself was ground-breaking. Rich Thompson played for the Indianapolis Indians in 2005 and 2006. in Philosophy from Dickinson College. Those design revisions make the Stuffed Puffs building among the first class of pandemic-era industrial facilities. Eventually, the scaled-up company could be sold, with its owners, Thompson and his investors earning a profit. When youre a small company, you cant hire all that expertise, Cunningham said. Previously, Rich was the Board Member at Covenant House. He chose the region to open his second manufacturing plant to supply Walmart and other retailers across the country. To be eligible for Factory, Thompson said owners must show annual sales between $2 million and $20 million and allow Factory to take a majority interest in their businesses. On one of our first dates, I flew her in my [Cessna] P210 from Denver to Santa Fe to meet my mom. In previous roles at FLSmidth Inc., where she was promoted several times, she was responsible for managing supplier relationships, negotiating package agreements, and ensuring on-time delivery of equipment and supplies.