With an economic output of $8.4 billion, manufacturing was the biggest contributor to the Lehigh Valley metro regions GDP in 2021 and employs more than 36,000 people in Lehigh and Northampton counties, making products ranging from Crayola crayons, Mack Trucks and Stuffed Puffs. Jessica brings with her years of HR leadership experience in the manufacturing and hospitality fields. Find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels. | Privacy Policy, Credit / Financing Programs for Businesses, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. Nobody knew what Zootoo was six months before. Factorys website notes its proximity to Newark and Philadelphia airports. This year, Thompsons team has unveiled a 75,000-square-foot production facility, dubbed Factory Manufacturing LLC, that will make products for a few of those growing companies. With my crew of eight, we went to 20 cities in two weeks in our Hawker. Shes a versatile photographer who can bring brands to life for ecommerce and social media. Probably. EDUCATION: El Paso Community College.PERSONAL: Age 57. What happened?When I was 32 I met Kristen, my future wife, in a Republic Airlines boarding line at Minneapolis Airport. Programming Languages (9 Technologies) ASP.NET Microsoft . From Ireland, the New Economy Gateway series brings together regional leaders to discuss, analyze and propose solutions to the global economys most pressing problems. Aeoon Technologies GmbH. The Lehigh Valley is rich with those things.. He has a BA in economics and European history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Donna has worked in consumer brands with Rich Thompson for over 17 years, first as executive assistant at Meow Mix, then as senior executive assistant at Freshpet, and now as director of office operations at Factory, where she works with the partners in managing the day-to-day activities of the company. Overnight on Wall Street is morning in Europe. Factorys in-house staff, in turn, provides services such as marketing, social media, product display and kitchen-testing of new products duties that Thompson said Mikeys would have to do itself or outsource. By the time Thompson left his post as CEO in 2016, the refrigerated pet food maker saw annual revenue jump since 2015 nearly 34 percent to $116 million. Just as Freshpet capitalized on devoted pet owners who want refrigerated, fresh food for their cats and dogs, Thompson is looking to do the same for other niche food and beverage companies whose products draw consumers seeking unique products. 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. Francine Marz, director of Northampton Community Colleges culinary arts program, hopes to develop a partnership with Factory. I changed this a couple of years ago when the FAA started tightening up. I had to be an entrepreneur.What is the origin of GO7Brands?We owned Meow Mix, the cat food company. Among its success stories is Stuffed Puffs, which makes chocolate- and caramel-infused marshmallows. To get Zootoo started, we decided to do extreme makeovers for pet shelters, like ABC does for houses. 14,152 records for Rich Thompson. 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. 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. During the tour at Factory, Thompson paused beneath a platform with multiple video screens behind him and a refurbished Bethlehem Steel crane above him. With his wealth of experience, and as founder and managing partner at Factory LLC, Thompson leads a one-of-a-kind investment company that, in addition to capital, provides strategic guidance to. Amanda spent the past decade cooking her way across the country. from Kutztown University. The company is a an innovation center for new food and beverage companies located at 315 Columbia St. in Bethlehem, Pa. Oct 2002 - Jan 20041 year 4 months. in fine arts with a concentration in photography from Kutztown University. Asad holds a bachelors degree in commerce with a major in accounting from the University of Mumbai, India. Our team is ready to find out what works best for you and execute accurately, efficiently, and with an unmatched level of expertise, quality, and customer service. Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications! In other words, Factory helps get more product out and put that product in more places, which translates to higher sales and net income. 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! The instructor said, "If you're going to fly airplanes, you're going to learn why they fly. The production facility at 157 N. Commerce Way in Hanover Township, Northampton County, is leased from J.G. Sign up for your daily digest of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Markets never sleep, and neither does Bloomberg News. Grand View Health opens new Emergency Department, Bethlehem venture capital firm gets $2.5M to invest in start-ups, Orthopedic device maker Tyber Medical expands Florida facility, East Stroudsburg holds inauguration of 14th president, Other recent hires in the the Lehigh Valley include Altitude Marketing, KidsPeace Foundation and Com[], Mayor Matt Tuerk announced this week that he has named Lucinda Wright to the newly created position.[]. Rays OF Rich Thompson's pact with baseball - ESPN The facility includes blending machines for powder-based beverages, machines that can package the powder in individual, serving-size sticks or bulk containers, and a production line that can produce energy/protein bars in various shapes with short changeover times. That summer we rebuilt a J-3 Cub and made one Aero Commander 500 out of two wrecked ones. The next thing Krajsa knew, he and other school officials were boarding Thompsons plane to meet representatives at Penn States main campus. John has over 15 years of experience in graphic design, creating on both the agency and client sides. You can grow a company faster with less capital and less mistakes.. 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. Factory LLC, located in South Bethlehem is a one-of-a kind, custom-built, 40,000 sq. ROAR President Bill Lange said the new facility is making the innovations that the company has developed while working with Factory LLC. Peter Polt, Executive Vice President at Petrucci, said the pandemic created challenges as the team worked through the uncertainty as to what qualified as an essential business (food processing ultimately was) and social distancing protocols. I can still get from point A to B in comfort.Doesn't it bother you to fly in a 27-year-old airplane?No. in Philosophy from Dickinson College. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Its a business accelerator for food, beverage and pet companies looking to scale up. Shannon earned her B.A. Petrucci Co., was among the 5.2 million square feet of industrial space delivered so far this year in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Over the past 10 years she has contributed to a variety of creative teams- developing, designing, and coordinating the production of home goods, largely in the kitchen category. 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. Jessica is a SHRM certified professional and holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration and minor in HR Management from Bloomsburg University. Here he shows off the innovation kitchen. Fidelity Advisor Stock Selector Small Cap Fund - Class I. Under the arrangement, Tierney is able to work on his business plan and continue to manufacture Mikeys products in two locations in Texas and Michigan. Stuffed Puffs is now fully operational and engineering is underway for the second production line. Motoko Rich - The New York Times From manufacturing operations to distribution systems, Freshpet had to create the process through trial and error, and Thompson decided to help Tierney do the same. Team - Factory LLC He chose the region to open his second manufacturing plant to supply Walmart and other retailers across the country. APRIL GAMIZ / THE MORNING CALL. Fidelity Advisor Stock Selector Small Cap Fund - Class M. Petrucci Co.s Triple Net Investments. 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. ET, Site and contents are 2023 Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. See Rich Thompson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. 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. September 1, 2009. 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. in finance and accounting from Boston College and holds an MBA in general management. Prior to joining the Factory team. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Official MapQuest website, find driving directions, maps, live traffic updates and road conditions. 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. 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. Her personal work ranges from photojournalism to abstract art. Suppliers of highly customized equipment had trouble getting into the country, sending Tierney into a deep dive of immigration procedures while trying to build and run a young business during a historic economic downturn. Fund Manager | Fidelity Institutional So many CEOs don't listen and think they know the answer and tell people what to do when they don't really know the problem.How do you get past your core team?You just go talk to people, have lunch with them. POSITION: Founder of Zootoo.com and CEO of GO7Brands. Local officials, economic development representatives and others are excited about Thompsons project. - Rich Thompson, Managing Partner. 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. 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). Rich Thompson is Managing Partner/Founder at Factory LLC/The. 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 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. Look no further than Thompson/Center's new Compass bolt-action rifle for proof. Video: Feature-Rich Thompson/Center Compass Rifle - Gun Digest 2023 BridgeTower Media. A Lehigh Valley native, she has the primary responsibility for the appearance and sanitation of the Factory facility. Rich Thompson Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-1 , 210lb (185cm, 95kg) Born: July 1, 1984 (Age: 38-281d) in Hornsby, Australia au More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 63 54 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. The first production line made single-serve packets of powder for ROAR, a beverage company growing through Factory LLC. 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. The Women of Influence honorees are selected[], We take a look at the latest developments in Health Care across the region. 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. Three months later we were married. . Giu 11, 2022 | how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. On one of our first dates, I flew her in my [Cessna] P210 from Denver to Santa Fe to meet my mom. Focused on continuous improvement projects, she boosted efficiencies by incorporating descriptive and real-time analytics into business intelligence tools, which resulted in significant cost savings. While at Penn State, he also worked for Happy Valley Vineyard and Winery, where he was tasked with adding potassium metabisulfite to wine, tested the wine for hydrogen sulfide, and performed backsweetening, a process of adding sugar to wine before bottling. But Thompson said he likes crazy ideas. Official MapQuest - Maps, Driving Directions, Live Traffic But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. He also served in the Golani brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces from 2010 2012. The plant in the suburbs is an outgrowth of Factory LLC, which was started five years ago in south Bethlehem in a former Bethlehem Steel building. She has a passion for words and people, and has woven together a career that has allowed her to work on marketing campaigns and public relations while always keeping the consumer top of mind. The region has a particularly strong presence of food, beverage and pet food manufacturers including Just Born, Ocean Spray, Freshpet, and Coca Cola. That sector made up about 18% of the Valleys private sector output, while the national average for manufacturing was 12%. "He has also been in the oil and gas business in North Dakota, founded the American Italian Pasta Company ("the largest pasta company in North America") and bought and sold Meow Mix, earning himself a tidy sum. 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. Budgeting, forecasting . No one knows better than the person who is touching that problem or opportunity.How does the U.S. economy look to you?It looks crappy. "I owned 100 acres on Caye Caulker. Contact. Now I pay the normal charter rate and what I'm doing is funding part of the maintenance on the plane myself. 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. July 11, 2009. 2007 Jim Thompson Europe. Nicole worked in product photography for several years, first at Saks Fifth Avenue and then at Cigars International, before joining Factory. Insights from LVEDC staff, local business leaders, and innovators. Richard Thompson - Managing Partner - Factory | ZoomInfo A look inside the Factory LLC, a new business incubator in south Bethlehem at a former Bethlehem Steel factory on Thursday, January 10, 2019. In her last role, she helped build and lead a new photography studio in PA for Henry Schein, a medical products company. I think thats lost in so many manufacturing facilities.. We continue to see strong interest from manufacturers who want to take advantage of the regions location and talent.. Always have the best team members possible to build your business and give them the tools/training to do it!, Thomas Williams, CFP, CPA CEO, Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor Domani Wealth As a senior wealth adviso[], Jeane Vidoni President and CEO Penn Community Bank As president and CEO of Penn Community Bank, Vidoni l[]. One aspect makes Factory distinct: A pool of $250 million in private-equity funds available to buy stakes in the companies, said Thompson, 67, who lives in Upper Saucon Township. Managing Partner at Factory Richard Thompson is a Managing Partner at Factory based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I got her upgraded to sit in first class next to me. You buy low and sell high. 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. We've put bids out on a few. Youre driving a used car, and [Thompsons] like, Were going to show up in a bus, Marz said. 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 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. 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. 10/31/2005 to 07/31/2018. Read More . Drummer. It will manufacture products for smaller companies affiliated with Factory LLC and is open to making them for unaffiliated companies. We sold it to Del Monte in 2006. Think of it more as Factory U an innovation campus for small companies that are looking to grow, according to Thompson. 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. His plan was to take an idea everyone in the industry said was impossible, develop the intellectual property, and then launch the business nationally right out of the gate, discouraging competition by fast followers.. of food science from Penn State University. 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. 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. Another run is being made for Honey Stinger, another Factory brand partner that makes performance chews, energy waffles and protein bars. Pat provides comprehensive perspectives and solutions from concept to shelf, leveraging his experience in brand management, global sourcing, product development, and retail integration. There is also a pool of $250 million in private-equity funds available to buy stakes in the companies. But its not a manufacturing site. Nobody got COVID here that we know about, and we built this 165,000-square-foot facility.. in applied science and technical leadership from Bloomsburg University. 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. Theres a lot of money available to entrepreneurs, and a lot of people willing to give or sell them advice. This was not a standard project, Polt said. We didnt go away. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The airplane is managed by Maine Aviation and all the flights are Part 135, even the ones I do. How much do you fly in a year?About 400 hours, 80 percent business. Trey worked at Discover Lehigh Valley, the destination marketing board for the Lehigh Valley. I'm sitting in meetings, listening to people and giving feedback. 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. But if someone comes in with a high enough price-who knows?Speaking of entrepreneurs, how did you become one?I was born an entrepreneur. 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. All shelters are underfunded and understaffed. Rich Thompson - President - MST Steel | ZoomInfo 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. Fractionals are perfect for a corporation that doesn't want to own an airplane, or people who don't know anything about airplanes. Troy, NY Steel Krafts Building Materials and Supplies, Inc.. Will I someday trade up to an 800? Copyright 2023 Factory, LLC | All Rights Reserved. - Responsible for starting up a North America Operation with full P/L ownership. She holds a B.A. 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. Leading $30MM operation comprised of 16 branches and 50+ personnel in central United States, 50% of which realized profit growth in 2003. The building at Lehigh Valley Flex Center, owned and built by J.G. The new building, in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV, is equipped to produce and package powdered drinks, supplements and energy/protein bars. The mural is a bit of whimsy that belies the super-secret technology within the building: machines that put the chocolate inside the marshmallow. Facebook gives people the power. Thompson announced the project in September 2017, after he left Freshpet, buying the mill at 315 Columbia St. for $1.87 million. Judith Thompson Profiles | Facebook The high concentration of food and beverage companies in Lehigh Valley has helped propel the region to the nations 52nd largest manufacturing economy. Everybody is running for the hills. You'll be a better pilot if you know how everything works on a plane." The company is a an innovation center for new food and beverage companies located at 315 Columbia St. in Bethlehem, Pa. Every time you do most anything on Zootoo, that shelter gets points. Twitter. That, he said, creates a more convenient way for customers to drink ROAR. She enjoys digging into the data that our brand partners rely on to set their marketing strategies. Read More Contact Richard Thompson's Phone Number and Email Last Update Our Lehigh Valley, PA-based and GMP-audited facilities are equipped with top-of-the-line automated equipment for blending, dispensing, and packaging powders. 1980 . 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. Jim has a deep knowledge of all things packaging: development, commercialization, materials, sustainability, and production efficiency. Elias earned his B.S. May 3rd, Trio Generations @ Faircraft BrauHaus Fairport NY, 7-9pm no cover. A look inside the Factory LLC, a new business incubator in south Bethlehem at a former Bethlehem Steel factory on Thursday, January 10, 2019.
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