Theresa Heitman

Breeding Process Analyst at Monsanto

Summary
Team-based, results-oriented leader with proven success in quality management, operations, production
management, supply chain management, customer service, logistics, and purchasing. ASQ Certified Six Sigma
Black Belt with expertise in Lean who focuses on continuous process improvement in all aspects of the
business. Project manager who drives deliverables to completion. Additional expertise includes:
Strategic Planning
Employee Development
Sales
Customer Relationship Management
Technology Solution Selection and Implementation
Supplier Management
Food Safety
Start-ups
Safety
Specialties
ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
Lean Practitioner
APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management
Experience
Breeding Process Analyst at Monsanto
January 2006 - Present (8 years 6 months)
Improve Monsanto's breeding processes through the use of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
Advisory Council at Iowa Quality Center
2005 - 2011 (6 years)
Product Analyst at Monsanto
January 2006 - 2009 (3 years)
Manage the Licensed Corn Product portfolio. Provide supporting business information and analysis for
product advancement decisions, maintain alignment with business goals within cost targets, coninually assess
product portfolio and provide projections for budget and LRP preparation, assess product value/positioning,
analyze hybrid inventory at customer level, forecast seedstock sales, provide integrated marketing needs to
facilitatie crop planning implementation and communicate with techinical sales representatives and customers
around supply management.
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Quality/Lean Six Sigma Leader at Victor Plastics, Inc.
August 2004 - June 2005 (11 months)
Lead the implementation of Lean Six Sigma principles, practices, and techniques to create a business culture
of continuous improvement and customer focus. Represent the company in matters of customer product
quality. Assure the quality system meet the requirements of ISO 9001:2000.
Production Control Manager at Victor Plastics, Inc
August 2004 - October 2004 (3 months)
Managed purchasing, customer service, production scheduling, and delivery processes for $42 million in
sales.
Improved inventory accuracy 10% on $4.3 million (1700 items) of inventory in 3 months.
Production Manager at Dare Devil Shells, LLC
February 2004 - July 2004 (6 months)
Responsible for daily operations including production, sanitation, and logistics and performance metrics.
Wrote and delivered employee orientation, safety, and food safety training programs.
Developed standard operating procedures for administrative, quality assurance, sanitation, and production
processes. Initialized implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Total Productive Maintenance.
Director, Supply Chain Solutions at GSTC Logistics, Inc
August 2001 - December 2003 (2 years 5 months)
Developed and managed a supply chain and logistics services business. Formed integrated partnerships with
manufacturers. Provided complete logistics outsourcing.
Improved supply chain and production operations, reduced total costs, and enhanced revenues for clients.
Provided project management and supply chain consulting services. Included organizational design,
operations analysis, business systems analysis and selection (ERP, MRP, WMS, TMS, CRM), warehouse
automation, streamlining order to payment processes, packaging cost reduction, distribution network design,
and inventory management.
Commercial Manager at Cargill, Inc.
January 1996 - June 2001 (5 years 6 months)
Created and sustained superior customer service. Re-engineered business processes for multiple business
functions. Met customer demand while optimizing the operational efficiency of multiple plants.
Managed production planning and scheduling, customer service, logistics, inventory, and accounting
functions.
Leadership, safety, food safety, and business improvement teams. Initiated improvement strategies for
multiple business units. Interfaced with all levels and business functions. Led cross-functional teams.
Selected ERP system. Facilitated development of technology solutions to increase customer satisfaction and
improve operations.
Merchandising Manager at Cargill, Inc.
January 1992 - January 1996 (4 years 1 month)
Supervised merchandising department operations including customer service, raw material delivery,
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commodity trading, and accounting functions.
Designed and implemented a supplier partnership performance process.
Managed contracts and traded commodity futures. Initiated development of a price-forecasting model.
Sold $54 million in corn gluten meal sales annually. Planned and implemented sales strategy. Managed
export sales.
Distribution Supervisor at Cargill, Inc.
January 1989 - January 1992 (3 years 1 month)
Supervised customer service, logistics, and $40 million annual freight payments.
Responsible for $4 million operations budget.
Analyzed data for freight negotiations.
Initiated cross-functional weekly team meetings.
Participated on a business systems team to merge 2 computer systems.
Transportation Specialist at Cargill, Inc.
January 1986 - January 1989 (3 years 1 month)
Scheduled truck loading to meet customer and production requirements.
Organized and implemented carrier meetings to improve supplier performance.
Key member of the business system development and implementation team to automate rating of freight bills
and optimize carrier dispatching.
Grain Merchant
Certifications
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
ASQ License 3128 March 2005 to June 2014
Certified in Production and Inventory Management
APICS June 2003
Honors and Awards
Global Plant Breeding Excellence Award for Innovation
Monsanto
June 2013
Languages
German
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Skills & Expertise
Continuous Improvement
Lean Manufacturing
Quality Management
Strategic Planning
Supply Chain Management
Logistics
Purchasing
Process Improvement
Operations Management
Change Management
Business Process Improvement
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Project Management
Manufacturing
Team Building
Leadership Development
Leadership
Organizational Development
Supply Chain
Coaching
Education
Iowa Quality Center
SSBB, Six Sigma Black Belt, 2003 - 2003
Activities and Societies: APICS (The Association for Operations Management); ASQ (American Society for
Quality); Iowa Quality Center
Iowa State University
BS, Agricultural Business, International Agriculture, 1979 - 1983
Activities and Societies: Ag Business Club, International Ag Club, Campus 4-H, Alpha Phi
Kirkwood Community College
Honors and Awards
Monsanto Corn Breeding Innovation Excellence Award, 2013; Monsanto Global Breeding Operational
Excellence Award, 2012; Cargill Team Gold Award; Cargill Cares Volunteer Award, 1999; YWCA Tribute to
Women in Business and Industry recognition; Chairmans Quality Award (Baldrige based facility award) 3
years
Interests
Process Improvement Methodologies, Change Management, 4-H
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Theresa Heitman
Breeding Process Analyst at Monsanto
Contact Theresa on LinkedIn
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