Ellen Taberski

Vice President | Food Safety & Quality Leadership | Multi-Site & Contract Manufacturing | Food & Beverage

Rochester, New York, United States

About

I currently serve as Vice President within a multi-brand manufacturing organization, leading enterprise functions spanning contract manufacturing, operational governance, and performance visibility across a large beverage production network. My career foundation is in food safety and quality leadership, and that perspective continues to shape how I approach complex manufacturing environments. I have worked across company-owned plants, contract manufacturing partners, and global supplier networks, helping organizations strengthen oversight, stabilize operations, and ensure regulatory and execution readiness. Over time, my work has expanded beyond traditional quality leadership into broader enterprise governance. I partner closely with operations, finance, and commercial teams to ensure that manufacturing capability, food safety risk, and operational readiness are built into decision-making early rather than addressed reactively. As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, I approach challenges through systems thinking, building practical operating models that reduce risk, improve execution, and create clarity across teams. I am most energized by environments that require disciplined execution, cross-functional leadership, and strong operating systems to sustain performance across complex manufacturing networks.

Experience

  • FIFCO USA (Full-time · 10 yrs)
    • Vice President, Strategic Growth & Analytics
      Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

      Lead enterprise functions spanning Contract Manufacturing, Revenue Growth Management, Commercial Planning, Commercial Solutions & Analytics, and Enterprise Performance. Serve as an enterprise decision leader integrating risk, performance, and economics into executive planning and governance, with particular focus on contract manufacturing and regulated operations. Scope includes cross-functional planning, performance management, analytics enablement, and long-range scenario development, as well as building teams and systems that support disciplined execution and accountable decision-making.

    • Director, Contract Manufacturing
      Dec 2022 - Sep 2025 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Led end-to-end operations for our contract manufacturing business, from customer acquisition and onboarding to daily execution and long-term growth strategy. I managed contract negotiations, pricing models, and production partnerships across beer, flavored malt beverages, spirit-based RTDs, and non-alcoholic beverages. Partnered cross-functionally with supply chain, finance, planning, legal, and quality leadership to govern performance, compliance, and profitability across internal and external manufacturing partners.

    • Director of Corporate Quality, North America
      Aug 2016 - Dec 2022 · 6 yrs 5 mos

      Directed quality, product development, and quality partnerships across three FIFCO-owned manufacturing plants and two Canadian co-manufacturing sites. Established corporate quality systems and product development processes that improved consistency, compliance, and speed-to-market. Partnered with innovation, operations, and supply chain to drive product integrity, reduce variability, and launch new products with precision and confidence while ensuring safe, quality products for our customers.

  • Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety at Baldwin Richardson Foods
    Mar 2011 - Jul 2016 · 5 yrs 5 mos

    Led enterprise food safety and quality across multiple manufacturing sites within a complex B2B portfolio serving national QSR and retail customers (low-water-activity sweet goods, acidified foods, sauces, and dipping sauces). Owned regulatory compliance, GFSI audit readiness, and global supplier quality, conducting global auditing across Asia, Europe, and North America. Stabilized challenged operations, strengthened audit performance, and built sustainable quality systems while developing strong plant-level leaders.

  • Quality Manager at Maco Bag
    Feb 2008 - Mar 2011 · 3 yrs 2 mos

    Built the company’s food safety and quality governance framework from the ground up, establishing core systems, policies, and process controls to support regulated food and medical packaging operations. Led certification efforts and ongoing compliance, securing and maintaining ISO 9001 and Oregon Tilth Organic certification while serving as audit lead for all third-party and customer audits. Developed sustainable quality processes that strengthened traceability, documentation control, and operational discipline across the organization.

  • Senior Food Specialist at Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services
    2007 - 2008 · 1 yr

  • Lactalis American Group (4 yrs 1 mo)
    • Quality Manager
      2006 - 2007 · 1 yr

    • Assistant Quality Manager
      2005 - 2006 · 1 yr

    • Corporate Quality Customer Complaint Coordinator
      2003 - 2005 · 2 yrs