RITCHIE MARKETING - Key Persons
"Joining Ritchie Marketing in 2023, Ashley realized early on her talents shined in foodservice and choose to pursue an education in Hospitality at Ivy Tech. Graduating with honors in 2007, in total Ashley has worked in foodservice for 22 years and in total of 17 years in Foodservice Sales.
Ashley currently resides centrally located in Columbus, Indiana with her new family, dog Roxy and fiancé Andy ,in their newly built home! Also looking forward to a wedding in the future. Ashley enjoys traveling adventures, anything outdoors, helping people, and doing fun things with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Branden has been in the food service industry for over 20 years. He has worked his way up through restaurants from dishwasher to Manager, and as a food broker. He always enjoyed cooking and the back of the house where he could use his talent in creating new recipes or specials for the week. He attended Michigan State University where he studied Business Management.
"Brenda has worked in the foodservice industry for 20+ years. She started her career working in the grocery industry. Over the years she worked her way to the management side of the business for 10+ years.
Brenda has been part of the broker network and a regional manager for the last 15 years. "I enjoy the teamwork, creativity and assisting my operators to help grow their business."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Brent joined Ritchie Marketing in 2018 and works on our Gordon Food Service Team. Brent's territory includes Commercial accounts in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Traverse City. Non-Commercial hospitals in Grand Rapids, as well as the Fruits, Vegetable and Dairy Category at Gordon Food Service corporate.
Brent has an extensive background in all food service channels, as he has worked for a manufacturer (Campbells Soup), a Distributor (Gordon Food Service), as well as brokers (The Core Group and now Ritchie Marketing). "
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Bridget is a Michigan native and graduated from Grand Rapids West Catholic. She then went on to aquire her bachelors degree for Northwood University with Business Administration and All American and MVP of Womens Basketball at Aquinas College."
Job Titles:
- Sales Manager, Northern Ohio
"Joining Ritchie Marketing in early 2015, Cathy has worked in restaurants all through school as a server & bartender. She started her sales career in 1994 as the Midwest Account Manager for Harley-Davidson Dealer Systems. After twelve fun years she decided to leave the "Harley-Davidson & Technology way of life" behind and revisit where it all started; food service! She has spent the past eighteen years in Restaurant Management, Food Service Distribution Sales, and Food Service Brokerage.
She is a lifelong resident of North-East Ohio, currently residing in the snow Capitol! She enjoys spending time doing projects on her house, working out and most of all time spent with her family, watching her Children & Grandchildren all grow up too quickly!"
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Chuck joined the Ritchie Marketing team in 2010. He lives in Shelby Township, Michigan and has two grown children, Taylor his daughter and his son Jordon. In his free time he volunteers at church, rides his bike, fishes, tries to golf, as well as being an avid fan of the Michigan Wolverines and Detroit Tigers.
"Dale has been with Ritchie Marketing for the past 40+ years. Dale started working for his brother Tom Ritchie back in the 1980's and enjoys working Tom's son Jon Ritchie as we move forward into the future.
"Dan Halling Jr, known in many circles as ‘Junior' has been in the food service business since he was 16, starting in country clubs and hotels before finally settling into the food service sales aspect in 1987. Dan is married with two children and one grandchild. He spends his free time with his family attending sporting events, concerts and comedy acts.
"Dan has spent the last 30 years working in kitchens, primarily in West Michigan. Since 2000, he has been a Chef. He currently lives in Grand Rapids his wife Ashley, and their three boys. They also have 3 fur children Basil our Dog, and Drake & Ren our cats. They are an active family, Dan coach Boys Soccer and helps with Karate.
In his free time, he enjoys camping and road trip vacations with his family and friends. His hobbies include snowboarding, fly fishing, shooting skeet & trap league, hunting with Basil, and of course cooking.
"Darrin joined Ritchie Marketing in March of 2024 and has been in the brokerage business for 25 years. Graduated from Johnson & Whales University with a culinary arts degree in 1990 and working in various positions throughout the foodservice industry.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
Deb enjoys watching football, playing golf, boating, and spending time outdoors. Deb currently resides in Prospect Kentucky and has 2 sons and 2 grandchildren"
"DeeDee has worked in the food industry for 35 years. She Co-Owned and Co- Managed a very successful Restaurant in University Park Mall in Mishawaka In. She has been in the Food Broker business the last 16 years. She is always willing to help in the food business.
Job Titles:
- Illinois & Wisconsin Sales Manager
- Sales Manager, Illinois & Wisconsin
"Following high school Diane started a career in Hospitality Management. As an Event Planner she coordinated National Food Shows which started her 20+ year career in the Foodservice Industry as a Manufacture Representative.
She has two Golden Doodles named Buddy and Dusty and enjoys spending time hosting friends and family. "
"Doug is excited to be a part Ritchie Marketing and has been in the foodservice industry for 20+ years. He started his foodservice career serving, bartending, and managing restaurants. He then moved to foodservice distribution. He has been a regional manufacturer representative and plans to retire as a broker representative.
"Emily is one of Ron's daughters who raised her to be
another HUGE University of Michigan sports fan. She has two
"Gregg joined Ritchie Marketing in February of 2022. As a lifelong professional foodservice veteran, Gregg spent the majority of his career in the foodservice distribution sector. This past decade has been spent on broker side of the business.
An Indiana University School of Business graduate, Gregg enjoys watching college sports, playing golf, racquetball and bass fishing with his wife Cheryl. They currently reside in Fishers Indiana and have 4 grandchildren. "Solving problems and offering solutions" is how he best describes his job to someone outside of our industry."
"Haley is the oldest daughter of Jon and Karla. She graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2015 with her degree in Psychology and English Literature and is currently pursuing her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling a Western Michigan University.
She and Andrew married in 2016 and have two little boys: Aiden is 4 years old and has Down Syndrome and Owen is 10 months old. Haley joined the Ritchie Marketing team in 2017. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and going for walks with her family and Australian shepherd, Jax. She is an avid Texas Longhorns fan and enjoys watching the games in the fall with her family."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"30+ Years in the Foodservice Industry. A former Executive Chef, Restaurant owner and Caterer. Jason has been with Ritchie Marketing since 2017. Food has always been his passion, Jason is always happy to help his clients find the products they need while giving manufacturers the creative culinary channel they demand.
Jason works closely with the Gordon Food Service Team Allegheny Valley Division, out of the Cleveland Ohio Ritchie Marketing office, and is always looking to help his Foodservice partners solve their problems with the extensive line of manufacturers he represents at Ritchie Marketing.
"Jed has over 40 years experience in all facets of the food service industry beginning in her family's restaurant and covering Hotel & Restaurant Management, Distributor Sales, VP of Distributor Sales, Brokerage Business Development Management, and Broker Account Executive.
She joined the RMI team in Nov. of 2017 and handles Independent Distributors and Key Accounts in the Cleveland Market."
"Jeff Was the 6th born of 7 children. Jeff was always playing sports with his three older brothers, from boxing, baseball, basketball, and football, He continued to play baseball at Washtenaw community college.
After attending college Jeff decided to follow his passion for food. Working as a Chef, Restaurant manager and eventually owning multiple concept restaurants, from large seafood concepts to comedy and night clubs.
Jeff has two children. A son and daughter. After years of raising his daughter on his own he needed to have more family time without leaving an industry he loved. This led to a newfound passion, still being able to help restaurateurs build their businesses working as a food broker.
"I am going on my 6th year with Ritchie Marketing. Prior to that I worked for Sara Lee Foodservice in different capacities ,originally as the specialist in the Protein Category and then into the full line of Sara Lee. The rest of my career from the beginning was mostly all with Con Agra and its affiliates. Since joining RMI it is a pleasure to work with some of the Industries most experienced staff.
Job Titles:
- Indiana Sales Manager
- Sales Manager, Indiana
"Jeff has been in the brokerage business for 30 years with his father Ron. Jeff has a business degree in Business Management from IUPUI.
"Jennifer has a Business degree from the University of South Florida and has worked at Ritchie Marketing for 15 years.
She is an avid golfer and enjoys hiking, kayaking and leading woman's bible study groups. She and her husband Jack like spending time with family and friends around the grill or fire pit. "
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Jody was a Success Owner and V.P of Food Manufacturing and Distribution Companies, in the first part of his career. Jody was a dedicated GFS broker for 10+ years in TN and Broker of the year for Central states for 8+ years. He also worked as a Food and Beverage Executive for the Renaissance/Ritz Carlton for 15+ Years. He is an active member in many organizations and currently sits as a board member for the American Culinary Federation in Middle TN and a council Member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Job Titles:
- Sales Manager, Eastern Michigan
"John has been in the food service industry for 20+ years. John started his culinary career while he was attending Albion College getting his bachelor's degree in Sports Medicine. With his background as a chef and in distributer sales John has an inside perspective of the distributer and restaurant dynamic which helps him relate to his customers. Being a resource for his customers is John's goal.
"Jon is a life-long resident of west Michigan. He is a graduate of Davenport College in Grand Rapids. Jon started his career with Ritchie Marketing working part time in the warehouse while in high school. During college he worked full time for his father, Tom Ritchie, as the warehouse manager and a sales rep. After college he continued his sales career and got into sales management, ultimately buying out the other partners of Ritchie Marketing in 2006.
"Keith has been working in the food service industry for just over 32 years, starting out as an apprentice and eventually working up to the position of Chef. Born and raised in Indiana his entire career has focused on the various hotels, country clubs and privately owned restaurants as well as health care/assisted living facilities in and around the Indianapolis area.
Keith is married and has 3 children and four wonderful granddaughters. In his spare time he and his wife Kim love to hike and both are into photography."
"Ken has been in the food brokerage industry for over 30 years both on the Retail and Foodservice sides of the business. Ken also spent a couple years working for food service distribution before coming to work for Ritchie Marketing in 2004. He has held various positions in the industry including Sales Manager and Account Executive.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Kevin has been working in the retail industry for 17 years including 4 years of food service industry. Currently resides in Northwest Chicago.
When not working he is spending time with his wife and two-year-old son. He also enjoys cooking, baking and is an avid sports fan."
"Lisa has worked in the Retail / Foodservice Industry for 20 years. She has called on various segments such as Retail, Foodservice, C-Stores, and Multi-Unit accounts.
Lisa enjoys boating and has a Captain's license. She spends her weekends with Friends and Family."
Job Titles:
- Sales Manager, Southern Ohio and Kentucky
"Lynn joined the Ritchie Marketing Team in 2010. She has been in the food brokerage business for the last fourteen years. Prior to entering the food industry she owned her own interior design business.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Mark joined our team in 2014 and has now been in the broker business for 20+ years. Previously, Mark worked in the restaurant industry for 12 years with National Chains with both Front of the House and Back of the House experience. He graduated from the University of Rio Grande in Southeast OH and credits his jobs while in college with his chosen career path.
In his spare time, he is a huge Ohio State Buckeye fan, weekend golf warrior, attend muscle car shows , watching his nieces and nephews grow into young men and women, and a general fan of good people and good food!
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Mark is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin as well as a Packers and Brewers fan, He has been in the food business at both retail and foodservice since 1982. Mark continues to look forward working with and creating solutions for customers.
In his spare time Mark enjoys reading, spending time with his family, camping and woodworking. Mark and his wife have two grown sons and six grandchildren."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Mike's greatest joy is spending time with his beloved wife Penny, his three adult children Victoria, Michael, and Camden, along with their four delightful grandchildren.
His hobbies paint a picture of a man who loves the great outdoors and the thrill of competition. Mike is an avid golfer. And a love of fishing. As a die-hard fan of the best college football team on the planet, he proudly shouts, "GO Green! "whenever possible
"Miguel was born and raised in The Dominican Republic and moved to the states as an exchange student. He has worked in the food industry for 25 years, as a Chef and in Food Sales.
He has three wonderful kids, one son and two daughters. In his spare time he loves cooking, is an avid baseball fan and enjoys traveling."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"I have been in the food brokerage business for over 20 years. I started as a sophomore in college at the University of Cincinnati. It was my Co-Op job and I have never left. I really enjoy taking products into an operator and showing how they can be utilized and improve their menu. I love taking our manufacturers products and developing menu ideas for customers.
My real joy in life is watching my children grow up and play sports. Whether it be watching my oldest playing volleyball, my son playing baseball, and every other sport imaginable, to my youngest cheering her heart. I still enjoy playing softball and volleyball whenever I have a free chance. I love to cheer on my University of Cincinnati Bearcats and all my local home teams."
"I've worked in the food service industry as an operator for the last 12 years. I've held several different positions in the industry starting as a manager, a culinary specialist and as a general manager.
"Rob joined Ritchie Marketing in early 2020 and has been in the foodservice industry since 1984. He started his foodservice career at the distributor level and continued as a broker rep and has spent the past 20 plus years as a manufacture representative.
"Rob has recently joined Ritchie Marketing as our new President. He grew up in the restaurant business with his father. Rob went to Purdue University for his undergraduate degree in Management & Finance. He earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.
He has worked in the foodservice industry in restaurants, as a sales rep, food broker, and foodservice distributor business developer. He has also owned and operated multiple restaurants and a microbrewery.
"Roger joined the Ritchie Marketing team in July of 2015. He has been in the food service industry for 40 years. The past fifteen years he has been in food service sales.
He is married to Lois and have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren.
"Ron grew up in Comstock Park, Michigan and graduated from Cornerstone University where he also played on the baseball team. He began his foodservice experience in 1980 working at a local Grand Rapids restaurant chain, then after graduating moved on to work for a food manufacture then to Ritchie Marketing in 1994.
Ron is married, has 3 children and 1 grandchild, and resides in Rockford, MI. He is an avid sports fan with the University of Michigan football being his favorite (Go Blue!!!). Ron also enjoys a good cup of coffee, working in his yard and loves to read about history, especially US history and fiction books."
"Shawn is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and has been in the food & beverage industry since 1992. Since moving to Wisconsin in 2000, he has worked in the operator and distributor side of the industry.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Steve comes to Ritchie Marketing Inc. with over 30 years of experience as a chef at some of metro Detroit's most well-known restaurants. He is a graduate of Dearborn Divine Child H.S. and Schoolcraft College's prestigious Culinary Arts program. Steve has a passion for food and a vast amount of experience that has afforded him the opportunity to do teaching and consulting in addition to appearing many times on local tv showcasing his culinary expertise. He is an avid fan of college football, especially the Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!!
Steve is happily married and has 2 big fur babies."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Tom has been in the food service industry for nearly 40 years, doing everything from washing dishes to working on the line to management to broker. Tom has been a broker for the last 19 years having a variety of responsibilities. A Northern Michigan University graduate with a degree in Marketing. He is an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions, and the University of Michigan
"Tom has a degree in Hospitality Management from Grand Valley State University and has worked in the foodservice industry for 7 years, including restaurant-resort management and sales. He spent 10 years as a National Sales Manager in the golf & sports turf industry prior to his return to foodservice.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Tony joined the RMI team in May of 2012 as a graduate of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Tony has spent over 39 years in the food service business as a Restaurant Owner/Operator, Manufacturer's Sales Representative, District Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, and National Accounts Sales Manager.
"Tony began his Foodservice experience working in his families Deli and Pizzeria in Kenosha WI, from there he moved into Foodservice sales where he spent 23 years in sales and sales management most of it with Performance Foodservice.
Tony has 3 fantastic children ages 13,15 and 17. He enjoys spending his free time traveling with them around the country for there various sports."
"Tony has 38 plus years in the food service industry, he started working at the age of 13 in his family-owned Pizza & Ice Cream Shop. After graduation, he joined a local restaurant chain in the Pittsburgh area where he had the opportunity to work in many roles within the organization from Operations, Marketing, Training, R & D and Procurement.
His passion is "Food" from going to the market to select the right ingredients, to preparing as labor of love, but most importantly eating and sharing his culinary creations with family and friends. If he isn't in the kitchen, his other "Happy Place "is in the yard where he enjoys gardening and manicuring the landscaping around the house. He resides in Sewickley with his two sons Dante and Dylen."
"Tony has enjoyed success in the Food and Beverage Industry. New to the Ritchie Marketing Team Tony looks forward to using his previous experience in the market to bring solutions to his customers.
Tony is married, has two children and enjoys attending his boys' activities."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Specialist
"Wayne has been in foodservice for over 20+ years. He lives in Altoona, PA with his wife, Amy, and a son, Tyler. In his free time enjoys fishing weekend Bass tournaments with his son , archery Hunting , and being outside with the family dogs