SSI FOODS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Vice President of Manufacturing
In 2019, Ben joined SSI Foods LLC as a Co-Founder of this new company. Currently, he is leading the project to build a new 90,000 square feet state-of-the-art beef patty facility in Amarillo, Texas. As Sr. Vice President of Operations, Ben brings his diversified leadership and experiences to the company.
Ben was the Co-Founder of CTI Foods and retired in 2017 after serving for 14 years as the Executive Vice President of Operations. He offers over 35 years of operations, purchasing, margin management, and project management experience in the meat and food processing industries. He is a hands-on and financially focused executive with a broad range of entrepreneurial business experiences. Ben was also an owner and key member of the CTI Foods' Executive Team that grew company annual sales from $300 Million to 1.5 Billion in less than 4 years.
Prior to Co-Founding CTI Foods, Ben was Vice President of Operations at SSI / S&S Foods from 1986 - 2003. He was instrumental in establishing world-class manufacturing facilities that propelled the company from a regional commodity beef processor into a nationally recognized value-added protein processor while producing a wide range of products for national chain account restaurants and food distributors.
Ben is a well-respected veteran of the food industry. He is an innovative manufacturing executive focused on building sustainable and profitable businesses, while ensuring employee safety and food safety are cornerstone to the organization. His market insights and purchasing aptitude have created millions of dollars in value to businesses over the years.
Ben was born and raised in Homedale, Idaho, where he currently resides with his wife Lori. Together they oversee The Badiola Companies, a family-owned business that operates a number of consumer goods, dining, and entertainment establishments in addition to a farming and ranching operation. They enjoy numerous outdoor activities while spending time with their family and six grandchildren. Ben is also a competitive team roper and an Owyhee County Rodeo Board Member.
Job Titles:
- Sales
- Vice President of Sales & Administration
Keith Dunning is a seasoned sales professional in the food services industry. Prior to his retirement in September 2019, he was vice president of sales for CTI Foods, LLC. For 31 years, he worked for CTI Foods, starting with a small facility in Wilder, Idaho, and participated as part of the senior management team to help build the company contributing in areas of sales, customer service, human resources, safety, and logistics. By the end of his career at CTI, Keith was responsible for key account management.
Keith received his Bachelor of Business degree in 2000 from Boise State University (graduating with his daughter), earning Magna Cum Laude honors. He went on to earn a Master of Organizational Leadership degree from George Fox University in 2002.
As a Boise, Idaho native, Kirk graduated from Boise State University in 1978 with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. He founded SSI Foods in 1984 - a Wilder, Idaho company - along with the late J.R. Simplot. In 1998, Kirk went on to start S & S Foods of Los Angeles, California, as a joint venture partnership with the J.R. Simplot company. In 2003, he led a partnership with Texas businessmen to form CTI Foods Holding Company, which acquired the assets of SSI Foods and S & S Foods. The next year, he built Chefco Foods in Arlington, Texas, and CTI Foods of Saginaw, Texas - a bean dehydration plant in 2006. In 2010, before selling CTI foods to a private equity company, Kirk relocated Chefco Foods in Arlington to Saginaw, with a state of the art, culinary driven facility, that was over 200,000 square feet.
Job Titles:
- Vice President Quality & Food Safety
Richard Shiraishi is a consummate professional in the food industry, who provides extensive knowledge and experience specializing in food safety and quality. As a graduate of California State University at Long Beach with a degree in Microbiology and a minor in Chemistry, he offers more than 30 years of robust, unique food industry knowledge and experience.
Richard's understanding of microbiology, manufacturing, supplier management, food safety, and quality, provides a well-rounded perspective of experiences. As an advocate in the food safety arena, he is determined to deliver favorable outcomes to your brand's opportunities.