Board of Directors
Mr. Freeman has served as Executive Chairman of RGF, LLC since October 2020, and has served as Executive Chairman, and Chairperson of the board of directors of RGF, Inc. since June 2, 2021. Mr. Freeman also served as Chief Executive Officer of RGF, LLC from September 2017 to October 2020. Mr. Freeman has over 20 years of experience in the frozen foods industry. Since 2015, Mr. Freeman has served as Chairman of High Road Ice Cream, Inc. and, since 2010, as Managing Partner at Slingshot Consumer LLC (“Slingshot”), a private equity fund focused on emerging food manufacturing companies. Prior to joining us, Mr. Freeman was an executive at AdvancePierre Foods from 2015 to 2017, and part of the senior leadership team when AdvancePierre Foods completed its initial public offering in 2016. Mr. Freeman also served on the mergers and acquisitions team at AdvancePierre Foods. Mr. Freeman resigned from AdvancePierre Foods after its sale to Tyson Foods in 2017. From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Freeman served as Chief Executive Officer at Better Bakery Co. LLC. From 2005 to 2009, he served as Chief Executive Officer at MCOOLZ, LLC, a dairy and juice processing manufacturer and marketer. Prior to working at MCOOLZ, LLC, Mr. Freeman served as President at Snackworks LLC from 2000 to 2005, which was acquired by J&J Snack Foods (Nasdaq: JJSF) in 2005. Mr. Freeman holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor from Loyola Marymount University.
We believe Mr. Freeman’s history with the Company, AdvancePierre Foods, and Snackworks LLC, in addition to his extensive leadership experience in the frozen foods industry, strategic expertise, and knowledge, qualify him to serve as Chairperson of our board of directors.
Since January 2020, Mr. Chappelle has served as a Board Member and Advisor of Green Fees LLC and, from July 2018 to December 2020, served as Chairman of the Board of Flagstone Foods. Prior to joining us, Mr. Chappelle served in several roles at Tyson Foods, including as Chief Corporate Services Officer from April 2019 to January 2020, General Manager of Emerging Proteins from January 2019 to January 2020, Chief Operating Officer of Prepared Foods from January 2018 to December 2018, and Chief Integration Officer from July 2017 to December 2017. Mr. Chappelle also served as Chief Operating Officer of AdvancePierre Foods from 2014 to 2017, Chief Operating Officer of Vi-Jon in 2013, Chief Operating Officer of Solo Cup Company from 2009 to 2012, and held several positions at Sara Lee Foods, including as Senior Vice President Chief Supply Chain Officer and Senior Corporate Officer from 2008 to 2009, and Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Senior Corporate Officer from 2005 to 2008. Prior to his role at Sara Lee Foods, Mr. Chappelle served as Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Corporate Officer of HJ Heinz from 2002 to 2005, and Group Vice President, Information Systems of ABB Switzerland Ltd. from 2000 to 2002.
Mr. Chappelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Westfield State College, and a Master of Science in Applied Management from Lesley College.
We believe Mr. Chappelle’s experience as former officer of Tyson Foods, and previous service as Chief Operating Officer of AdvancePierre Foods, as well as his extensive leadership skills, industry experience and knowledge, qualify him to serve on our board of directors.
Mr. de Cardenas currently serves as a member of Nielsen-Massey Vanilla’s board of directors, a member of Nielsen-Massey Vanilla’s compensation committee, and a member of Cacique, Inc.’s board of directors. Since 2009, Mr. de Cardenas has served as Chief Executive Officer of Cacique, Inc., a brand in the Mexican-style cheese, cream and sausage category. Prior to that time, Mr. de Cardenas was the Chief Executive Officer of Reynaldo’s Foods from 2006 to 2009, a branded meat and dessert company. Mr. de Cardenas holds a Master of Business Administration and Management from the University of Chicago.
We believe that Mr. de Cardenas’ experience as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Cacique, Inc., as well as his extensive industry experience and knowledge, qualify him to serve on our board of directors.
Mr. Nelson currently serves as a member of Local Bounti Corporation’s board of directors. Prior to joining us, Mr. Nelson served in various roles as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of Beyond Meat, Inc. (Nasdaq: BYND) from May 2017 to May 2021 after briefly serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Biolase, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOL), a medical device company, from March 2017 to May 2017. Mr. Nelson served as Beyond Meat, Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer from February 2016 to March 2017, and solely as its Chief Financial Officer from December 2015 to February 2016. Prior to joining Beyond Meat, Inc., Mr. Nelson was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Farmer Bros. Co. (Nasdaq: FARM), a manufacturer, wholesaler, and distributor of coffee, tea, spices, and culinary products, from April 2013 to November 2015. Prior to that, he served as Chief Accounting Officer (April 2010 to April 2013), Vice President, Corporate Controller (June 2008 to April 2010), and Vice President and Global Manager (June 2006 to May 2008) at Newport Corporation, a former publicly traded global supplier of advanced technology products and systems. He also served as Finance Director at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), a biotechnology product development company, from 2002 to 2004, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager, Plant Controller, and Senior Financial Analyst of Business Development at C. R. Bard, Inc. from 1998 to 2002, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Western Energy Services, Inc. from 1993 to 1997, and Financial Management Program Manager of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) from 1990 to 1993. Mr. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialty in Finance from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Isenberg School of Management, and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College, Franklin W. Olin Graduate School of Business.
We believe that Mr. Nelson’s experience as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer, and Secretary of Beyond Meat, Inc., as well as his experience as member of Local Bounti Corporation’s board of directors, qualify him to serve on our board of directors.
Mr. Hussman served for over 35 years in varying roles of increasing responsibility within the meat industry, including 19 years in the Sysco Corporation (“Sysco”) family of brands. The last position Mr. Hussman held prior to his retirement was President of the Specialty Meat Division, where he oversaw 22 manufacturing facilities that generated $2 billion in annual revenue. In addition to this role, his positions held included Executive Chairman of West Coast Specialty Meat Group as well as President of Newport Meat Company both before and after its acquisition by Sysco. Prior to joining Newport Meat Company, Mr. Hussman served as the Assistant Director of the Certified Angus Beef Program. Mr. Hussman currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland 4-H Foundation, a non-profit focused on youth leadership development. Mr. Hussman has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Virginia Tech University; a diploma in Agricultural Production and Marketing from Lincoln University, New Zealand; and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University.
We believe that Mr. Hussman’s leadership history within the Sysco Corporation Family of Brands, as well as his extensive Meat industry experience and knowledge, qualify him to serve on our board of directors.