Company Press Release
John Vena, Inc. recently announced the addition of two new roles. Joseph Gallagher, Jr. joins the team as Chief Financial Officer and Nora Schmidt has come on board as Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager.
Joe Gallagher joins the management team at John Vena, Inc. with more than 30 years of experience in accounting and strategic financial planning. During the last six years he has served as a controller, most recently at Textron Aviation, an industry-leading aircraft manufacturer. Previously, Joe spent nearly a decade with Penske Logistics, where he served as Senior Financial Analyst and Finance Project Manager.
Joe will be working with the management team at John Vena, Inc. to strengthen financial reporting initiatives and monitor KPIs during a period of extended growth and expansion of services. He is looking forward to aligning the company’s financial plans with its targeted growth goals: “It’s exciting to work with a family-owned company that has such a rich history. There is still significant room for growth here, and I’m excited to help access the opportunities.”
A native Delawarean, Joe is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and graduate of Goldey Beacom College in Wilmington.
Nora Schmidt is a quality control and quality assurance professional with experience in the food/beverage and chemical industries. Her work has focused on audit-readiness and development of successful food safety programs, including HACCP plans, inspection programs, and environmental monitoring procedures.
Nora is thrilled to be returning to the food industry after a stint in the chemical industry. She will be partnering with our production and facilities team to ensure John Vena, Inc. remains on the forefront of food safety science and protocol as innovation continues to improve available resources and evolve standards.
Nora holds a BS in Biochemistry from Rowan University and an MS in Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University. She lives in South Philadelphia.
“With our packing and production facilities growing and increased logistics capabilities on the horizon, the timing is right to welcome Joe and Nora to the team,” says John Vena, third-generation President of John Vena, Inc. “Quality control and financial leadership are key in this industry. They have always been central to our business model and we’re making investments in our team accordingly. I’m very excited to see their contributions in action.”
About John Vena, Inc.
Established in 1919, John Vena, Inc. is a fourth generation family-owned and -operated specialty produce wholesaler providing a full suite of services including sourcing, custom packing, ripening, program support, marketing, and merchandizing. John Vena, Inc. handles a wide range of specialty items including for foodservice and retail, including fresh herbs, greenhouse vegetables, tropical fruits, ethnic-specific products, foraged and wild products, microgreens, edible flowers, and baby vegetables.
CONTACT: Emily Kohlhas, ekohlhas@johnvenaproduce.com, 215-336-0766, www.johnvenaproduce.com
