Duke Dodder

Background

About Duke Dodder

Sales and Operations Manager with 24+ years in the agriculture industry. Comprehensive knowledge of the consumer products sector, including sales, procurement, packaging, marketing, and operations management. Experience closing high-volume sales with the biggest companies in the produce industry. Ability to procure product when others run out of options. Continuous Improvement mentality with a track record of reduced overtime and process improvement. Proven ability to rapidly double a book of business and expand existing accounts. Innovates new product types and uses, most notably the introduction of fingerling sweet potatoes. Manages a team with clear direction and communication, demonstrating how to do a task correctly rather than describing it. Builds lucrative, trust-based partnerships. Sets the example in terms of integrity, work ethic, and goal achievement. HIGHLIGHTS Innovated the sale of fingerling sweet potatoes, formerly a waste product, into the highest-priced sweet potato commodity. Sold 800k lbs. of fingerling sweet potatoes in the first year of product introduction. Earned “Top Sales Producer” with Grimmway Farms, with over $50M in annual sales and 60 accounts. Reduced risk of losing supplier status by introducing a company label for unbranded, bulk potatoes. Closed a deal with Heinz for 1.44M lbs. of sweet potatoes, yielding a $40k profit simply by sourcing a supplier. Negotiated optimal pricing on a major capital project to replace obsolete equipment. Reduced overtime by 50% in a 120-employee facility due to continuous improvement efforts.