MARK C. PORTER
6002 Feather Wind Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76135 ▪ Tel: 440-364-1827 ▪ mc_porter@sbcglobal.net
http://www.webprofile.info/mporter/
VICE PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS / MANUFACTURING GENERAL MANAGER
Food & Beverage Manufacturing / Non-durable Consumer Goods / Pharmaceuticals
Dynamic, high-performance executive with more than 15 years of experience impacting organizational
profitability and operational productivity through skillful management of people and processes. Implement strong
leadership, relationship building, problem solving, strategic planning, and a diverse background in operations and
engineering to deliver top quality products repeatedly. Personal strengths include excellent work ethic,
persistence, organization, and flexibility. Achieve goals and objectives through passion, commitment, and
expertise in:
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Operations Management
Driving Cultural Change
Strategic Alliances
P&L Accountability
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Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma
Continuous Process Improvement
Cross-functional Leadership
Organizational Change Management
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Leadership / Management
Recruiting & Retention
Crisis Management
Staff Development
CAREER PROGRESSION
Agrana Fruit US, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas
2004 - Present
Global supplier of fruit-based ingredients for yogurt, ice cream, frozen dessert, and novelty manufacturers.
Plant Manager
Contribute to profitability through P&L performance management of fifth largest manufacturing plant in group of 18 facilities.
Key leader setting strategic goals, driving daily production, and ensuring quality products for $55M annual sales budget.
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Championed use of Lean Manufacturing, SMED analysis, time-motion studies, and 5S & Visual Factory that
produced a continuous process improvement culture resulting in a 10% increase in plant capacity.
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Initiated organizational change in collaboration with senior leadership. Realigned the operational
departments improving internal communications, reducing material handling errors and contributing to a 35%
reduction in raw material inventory levels.
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Implemented supervisory training and development and led a cross-functional team to revise compensation
program and employee evaluations that contributed to a steady reduction in turnover from 75% to 30% (and
still dropping) during a time of low local unemployment.
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Instrumental in reducing raw material shrinkage 15% and overall conversion cost 9%.
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Achieved a 52% reduction in rework by forming, training, and empowering cross-functional teams to
troubleshoot and resolve numerous quality issues at the #1 plant in the U.S.
GreenLine Foods, Inc., Bowling Green, Ohio
2002 - 2004
Growers and processors of fresh-trimmed green beans, wax beans, and snow peas to wholesalers, distributors, and retail
establishments throughout the United States and Canada.
Director of Operations
Recruited to manage production, quality, maintenance, warehousing, and shipping for this multi-site food processor. Led
200+ employees through seven direct reports with a strong focus on facilities expansion and continuous process
improvements.
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Orchestrated full-scale operational development and launch of private label product for national grocery
chain that exceeded expectations by 125% in first 90 days, ultimately resulting in recognition by Kroger as
the Produce Supplier of the Year.
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Architected $5M redesign of entire production facility and added new visual sorting equipment to achieve a
300% capacity increase and a 50% reduction in labor cost with capabilities for future expansion and growth.
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Contributed to increased profitability through design and implementation of new packaging strategy to
increase shelf life to 14 days using PE/PP laminated packaging in vertical form fill-and-seal machines.
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Accelerated planned construction and accomplished launch of new facility in Las Vegas, Nevada in only 10
months to meet the new product demand on the West Coast.
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Produced a $472K annual savings through design and implementation of new technical and operational
capabilities throughout the plant.
MARK C. PORTER
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H.E. Butt Grocery Company, San Antonio, Texas
1998 - 2002
Regional retail grocery chain with 285 stores, 10 manufacturing sites, a complete distribution network, and an internally
managed construction division with annual sales of $11B+.
Plant Manager, Houston Milk Plant
2000 - 2002
Promoted to orchestrate turnaround of underperforming facility through expert management of five direct reports and a 75member staff in a 110,000 gallon/day private label milk, juice, and water production facility with four blow molders producing
75+ million bottles.
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Authored turnaround plan including employee retention, supervisory training and development, quality
standards, production performance, and mechanical systems reliability and maintenance. Doubled plant
profit in two years, reduced turnover from 95% to 18%, reduced mechanical downtime 75% in first six
months, and increased productivity 13% in first year.
Contributed to higher productivity and profit levels by planning and executing $2M in capital upgrades.
Used Lean / Six Sigma tools to fine-tune blow mold machines and operators’ productivity which reduced
resin loss to <1% and produced a $465K annual savings.
Plant Engineer, San Antonio Ice Cream Plant
1999 - 2000
Ensured product quality and optimum productivity through leadership of one Maintenance Supervisor, 17 Mechanics, and
92 Hourly Operators in a one million pound/week ice cream production operation. Managed capital budgeting, planning,
execution, and production equipment maintenance.
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Successfully completed $2.5M capital upgrade initiative three months ahead of schedule, including a major
overhaul of the ice cream production floor and addition of two new stick novelty production lines.
 Implemented MP2 as the primary preventative maintenance program which reduced downtime 25% in six
months.
Manager of Mechanical Integration, San Antonio
1998 - 1999
In charge of all refrigeration, electrical, plumbing and HVAC installations for entire retail chain including all new and existing
construction projects. Provided leadership directly to five General Foremen and indirectly to 30 technicians and contractors.
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Collaborated with Marketing and Store Operations to facilitate the $2M/year project series for the FDA
refrigeration upgrade process.
Credited with mentoring two foremen to help increase their business knowledge, communication skills,
leadership, and self-confidence that resulted in their promotion into salaried supervisory positions.
MILITARY SERVICE
UNITED STATES NAVY, NUCLEAR POWER SUBMARINE FORCE
1990 - 1998
Operations Officer, Pentagon
1995 – 1998
 Initiated improvements in planning sensitive submarine operations in collaboration with the CIA, NSA, State
Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Navy Department. Cut planning lead-time from nine to five
months.
 Created and implemented an operations database at the Pentagon that saves 400 work-hours per year by
eliminating repetitive document searches.
Ship’s Communications Officer, USS Maryland,
1993 – 1995
Machinery Division Officer, USS Maryland
1993
 Recognized for completion of at-sea repair of critical seawater cooling system normally performed in drydock 12 hours ahead of schedule, allowing sub to remain at-sea fully operational.
Radiological Controls Officer, USS Maryland
1992 – 1993
Nuclear Training
1991 - 1992
Naval Recruiting Officer, Abilene, Texas
1990
EDUCATION
BSChE, Chemical Engineering, UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, Norman, Oklahoma (With Special Distinction)
MS, Nuclear Engineering, U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Program
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Six Sigma, San Antonio, Texas
HACCP, Las Vegas, Nevada