MILKCO - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Marketing / Sales Coordinator
Belinda joined Milkco as an Order Clerk in 2000. In 2004 Belinda moved to the Accounting Department and in 2013 was promoted to Sales/Marketing Coordinator.
Bryan joined the Milkco team in 1987 in the Production Department. During his tenure, Bryan has worked as an Order Selector, Palletizer Operator, Production Foreman, and Production Supervisor, Production Manager, and in October 2022 Bryan was promoted Operations Manager. He has successfully grown with the company and has 35+ years of experience here at Milkco Inc.
David was promoted to President in October 2022, after serving as Operation Manager at Milkco for three years. David spent the previous five years as Plant Manager of a fluid milk, cottage cheese, and sour cream operation. Prior to that, he held management positions at several plants across the US focusing on Quality, Safety, and Continuous Improvement. David graduated from Clemson University in 2005 with a degree in Food Science
George joined Milkco in 1984 as an order selector in shipping. He started his Blow Mold training in August of 1984. He worked in Maintenance for 10 years as a foreman then as a supervisor. In 1998 he moved to a Blow Mold Manager where he still holds this position today.
Greg joined Milkco in 1988 as a Order Selector. Greg was promoted Shipping Foreman in 1989, Shipping Supervisor in 1995 and Shipping Manager in 1998.
Job Titles:
- Area Sales Representative
Harvey joined Milkco in 2017. Harvey's entire life has had a dairy influence, including a family owned milk distributorship, followed by 30+ years of sales and distribution experience with local and regional dairy operations in the Carolina's. Harvey's current role at Milkco is to support the wholesale and operator execution of Milkco's program offerings for retail grocery and food service in NC, SC, and VA.
Jack joined Milkco in 1986 as a Maintenance Specialist. Jack has held the Maintenance Foreman, Maintenance Manager, and Plant engineer positions. In 2001 Jack assumed the IT Manager responsibilities in addition to the Plant Engineer's position.
Job Titles:
- Foodservice Sales MD, NC, SC, VA
John Gaither brings 32 years of experience in foodservice sales and marketing, with 26 years of that time spent specifically in beverage sales. He is a seasoned professional with a learned skill in helping customers find solutions and opportunities for their business. John is a 1982 University of Georgia graduate.
A highly motivated experienced professional with skills in procurement, project management, quality and relationship-management, Josh continually focuses on maintaining supply chain to support production activities. Having earned his Master's in Business Administration from Western Carolina University, he has been actively involved in supply chain integration and process improvement to increase business efficiencies for 10 years. Josh is a native of Jackson County and happy to be living in Western North Carolina, where he enjoys hiking, fishing and mountain biking in the beautiful surrounding areas
Kevin has 34 years experience in the dairy industry. After serving in the United States Air Force Kevin worked as a product control manager for 28 years. In 2010 Kevin joined the Milkco team as Accounting Manager and is still in this position.
Kevin Phillips has enjoyed a 38 year career in Food Service. He began with Milkco in 1998 and in 1999 was named Director of Food Service Sales.
Nancy earned a Bachelor's Degree from UNC-A. She joined Milkco in 1993. Nancy has held the positions of Clerk/Typist, HR Assistant, and HR Coordinator/Loss Control Coordinator before being promoted to the position of Human Resource Manager/Safety Manager in 2005.
Patrick has worked in the dairy industry since 1987. Starting as a lab technician he was promoted to lab director after earning his (Pa.) Lab Directors License and then became Quality Assurance Manager. After working 25 years with his hometown milk and ice cream processor, he joined Milkco Inc. in 2012.
Milkco's first president Ralph Gardner had a vision for the company's future which included focusing on the warehouse/distribution business. This new concept would not be primarily delivery routes. Milkco's bold decision required shipping in corrugated boxes instead of the industry standard milk crates. The wisdom of this innovation allowed expansion into additional markets. Innovation has become a way of life at Milkco. Numerous operational changes and technological advances have made Milkco a "unique" operation.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Coordinator
Reta joined Milkco in 2000 as a Computer Operator. In 2013 Reta was promoted to her current position of Customer Service Coordinator.
Richard joined Milkco in 1992 and is Milkco's General Sales Manager. With over 30+ years experience in the dairy industry, his expertise includes sales, marketing, and customer program management. During his tenure at Milkco, he has enjoyed successfully developing customer partnerships for the retail grocery segment, major wholesale food distributors, the convenience store industry, and the food service channel. Richard also manages many facets of Milkco's beverage product line offerings, and Milkco's co-pack and brand licensed bottling programs. Richard earned a BSBA from Gardner-Webb in 1985.
Rusty has over 35 years in the foodservice industry. He has worked as an operator, distributor sales manager, broker sales and manufacturers sales management mostly in the S.E. Rusty is an active member of the American Culinary Federation, United Culinary Chefs Association, International Food Service Executive Association, American Legion and the American Numismatic Association. He is a Certified Sou Chef, Certified Serv Safe Instructor/Proctor, Certified Food Manager and a Numismatic Scholar.
Ryan graduated from NC State with a degree in Food Science in 2017. Immediately after graduating Ryan started in the dairy industry at a plant that produced ice cream, sour cream, and fluid milk products. While there Ryan held the roles of Management Trainee, Production Supervisor, and Production Manager. Ryan joined Milkco in September 2022 as Production Manager.