Leadership

As the President and CEO of Mennel, Ford is leading the company’s overall strategy while maintaining the culture and long-term business plan. He joined Mennel in 2005 as Assistant Plant Manager in Dowagiac and has held several leadership roles across the organization, including Plant Manager, Assistant to the President, and President. Ford brings decades of experience within Mennel to guide the company’s growth and direction. Beyond work, Ford enjoys spending time with his family.

As CFO of Mennel, Kurt oversees the company’s financial position, IT leadership, and insurance programs. Kurt joined the company in 2015, bringing 20 plus years of manufacturing experience. Kurt is motivated by working cross-functionally to solve problems and drive the business forward. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and playing competitive tennis and pickleball.

David’s role as COO involves leading safe and efficient operations across Mennel’s milling, bakery mix, and grain divisions. Dave began his career in the industry early, working summers at Mennel as a teenager, and went on to gain experience with General Mills and Lesaffre/Red Star Yeast before returning to Mennel in 2008. Dave finds motivation in delivering results alongside a team that shares his passion for the company’s success. When not working, Dave finds time to go bass fishing and cheer on the Iowa Wrestling team.

Jay oversees wheat origination, corn and soybean merchandising, and commodity price risk management as Senior Director of Commodity Risk Management at Mennel. Jay began his career with the company in 2011 at the Nevada Grain location before moving to Corporate, where he has taken on increasing responsibility in origination and merchandising. Jay enjoys the variety in his role, often working with both farmers and flour customers in the same day, connecting both ends of the process. Beyond the office, Jay makes time for family, exercise, and reading.

As VP of Supply Chain, Thad leads the procurement of raw ingredients and packaging materials that support Mennel’s finished goods. Thad also provides data and insights to help streamline decision-making across the organization. Thad joined Mennel in 2017 and has spent his entire career in food manufacturing, with experience spanning milling, bakery mix, and operations. Thad is motivated by being part of a growing team and finds it especially rewarding to see Mennel products on shelves and in restaurants feeding the world. In his spare time, Thad enjoys being outdoors playing golf, hunting, and working in the yard.

As VP of Logistics, Rob oversees transportation across Mennel’s network, including the Class 8 Truck Repair team, managing freight and rail relationships to support customer delivery. Rob began his career with Mennel as an intern in 1997 and returned nearly 20 years later to join the transportation team full time. Rob values the opportunity to work across nearly every area of the business, helping keep operations running smoothly. Outside of Mennel, he enjoys boating and fishing on Lake Erie with his family.

Scott leads Food Safety & Regulatory, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, and Sustainability at Mennel. Scott holds a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry with postdoctoral training in Molecular Biology and joined Mennel in 2018 after leading global innovation programs at Procter & Gamble. Dr. Osborne continues to collaborate with university faculty to advance the science of milling and baking and is motivated by exploring the unknown while growing his team’s capabilities. Away from work, Scott is an avid golfer.

Autumn serves on Mennel’s senior leadership team as the Director of Human Resources. In this role, she collaborates with facility operations and plant teams to align workforce planning, labor relations, and talent development with production needs, safety goals, and long-term growth. She joined Mennel in 2014 and brings a proactive approach to supporting employees and strengthening processes across the organization. When she’s not working, Autumn enjoys volunteering and spending time at the lake.

As Director of Sourcing and Procurement, Melissa ensures that Mennel has the right materials and services at the right cost and risk profile to support safe, reliable, and profitable operations. Melissa has been with Mennel for almost a decade and brings to her role nearly 20 years of experience working at General Mills in processing, logistics, and operations. She is energized by the challenge of the company’s continued growth and enjoys working with her team to solve complex problems and deliver results. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys traveling and experiencing new places, which gives her a fresh perspective and balance.

Leading the sales team at Mennel, Heidi ensures that customers’ needs are met while positioning the company for continued growth and success. She began her career as an office assistant at the Fostoria Mill in 2002 and has advanced through multiple roles within the sales organization to her current leadership position. Heidi values the opportunity to collaborate across teams to solve customer challenges and drive results. When Heidi is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family.

In her role as Controller, Lori oversees Mennel’s financial reporting, daily accounting operations, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. Since joining the company as a Senior Accountant in 1997, she has held progressive leadership roles, becoming Assistant Controller in 2007 and Controller in 2012. Lori is motivated by providing information that drives decision-making and helping to identify risks and opportunities across the business. Beyond work, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, camping, and attending sporting events.

In his role as General Counsel, Zach is responsible for protecting Mennel and enabling the business to move forward with confidence. Zach has practiced law since 2012 and has focused exclusively on corporate law since 2018, joining Mennel in 2024. A Northwest Ohio native, Zach is motivated by the region’s work ethic and straightforwardness as he helps protect Mennel’s legacy and positions the company for the future. Outside of Mennel, Zach prioritizes raising his three boys with his wife and golfing.