Helping you succeed…Creating brand identity and awareness; building diner traffic and frequency; market and trend information. Marketing consultation and advice.

Professional Background
Jim began his professional career ‘working the street’ in both retail and foodservice sales along the U.S. East Coast. Prior work experience includes McGinniss Brokerage, Hanover Brands Inc. and Hormel Foods. He joined Food Services of America in 1995 as a staff member of FSA University in Seattle’s corporate offices. Jim moved to the Marketing role at the Portland Branch in 1998. He holds an undergraduate degree in Food Marketing from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, and a graduate degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

Responsibilities
The Marketing Specialist is responsible for providing ideas and tools to help the customer succeed. This position includes market analysis, public relations, and customer reward programs.  Responsibilities include food shows, promotions, and customer appreciation events. Other activities include sales training and working directly with the sales force to present FSA’s marketing programs.

Marketing Administrator — Pamela Lewis

503.980.2517

pamela_lewis@fsafood.com    

Helping you succeed… Marketing direction, event coordination, creative design - flyers and point of sale, menu analysis, public relations, and Rose Garden Suite Coordinator.

Professional Background

In 1978 Pamela was hired by MJB Coffee Company Hotel & Restaurant Division as an Office Assistant.  In January of 1986 she went to work for Miller Cascade as the Beverage Coordinator / Coffee Buyer.  As the Beverage Coordinator, Pamela kept track of coffee machines and coordinated service calls and maintained all beverage forms.  Her job also included ordering coffee for the warehouse.

Miller Cascade changed the company’s name to Food Services of America. Pamela decided to move into the area of Customer Service department taking customers food orders on Telxons. Later she became the Customer Service Supervisor.

She worked in the Sales Department as an Administrative Assistant and has also held the frontline as the Receptionist. Pamela also worked in Healthcare Department maintaining contracts and bids for the healthcare customers. With 21 years in the industry Pamela has worn many hats.  Now, she wears her favorite hat in Marketing.

Responsibilities

In the Marketing Department her duties consist of public relations, event contracts, and facility research for offsite events.  She is a valued Dining Out In The Northwest and SNOR team member, and she assists in the coordination for sales meetings, food shows and training workshops, customer appreciation events. Pamela is also responsible for making reservations for hotel accommodations, and she is the Coordinator for Food Services of America’s Rose Garden Suite.

Produce — Ben Bocci
503.980.2589
ben_bocci@fsafood.com

Helping you succeed…Helping customers make more profit by including fresh produce. Ben conducts produce training – including storage, handling, and preparation; menu planning, and information updates on quality and availability.  Ben promotes both conventional and organic produce at all levels of the food service industry.

Professional Background
Third generation in the Produce field - Ben’s grandfather immigrated from Italy to Milwaukie, Oregon in 1898 and started a vegetable farm. Ben started his produce career in 1967 with Tradewell stores and spent the next 14 years running a retail produce operation. He next spent 5 years selling wholesale produce and the last 15 years with FSA as the Produce Specialist.

Responsibilities
Ben is charged with keeping the sales force up to date on markets, product availability and quality levels. He trains the sales force in Produce sales and conducts customer seminars and training and leads warehouse tours. Ben also spends time with sales associates in ride-withs and customer visits. He focuses on menu planning and cost factoring and works at all company levels with all associates - warehouse, drivers, corporate, and other branches.

Protein — Rick Ficek
503.980.2541
rick_ficek@fsafood.com

Helping you succeed… Consulting with you on all beef, pork and chicken needs! I can show you ways to bring in a higher quality product that will keep diners coming back again and again!

Professional Background
Rick started in the beef industry in 1972. Working for 25 years for the same USDA beef plant, he started scraping the beef fat off the floors in their cooler, which lead to learning all the jobs in the meat plant. From there he went into the delivery side of the business and then onto Sales. He then became Vice President of the plant. Rick has been with Food Service of America for 9 years, heading up the protein side of our business. He is fortunate to have gained knowledge in regards to items such as ham, turkey, bacon, and further processed meats to give him a well rounded protein background. Rick was also a key player in developing the Misty Isle Beef line.

Responsibilities
Rick oversees all aspects of Center of the Plate activity at the Portland Branch. This includes forecasting, purchasing, rotating and aging stock. Rick orders the commodity beef and chicken items. He also works in the field with the sales associates during customer calls to assist customers in purchasing the appropriate center of the plate items for their restaurant needs. This includes beef, pork, chicken and the turkey items. He also provides direct sales support to our sales associates and customers.

Sales Trainer — Mark Brackett

503.980.2588

mark_brackett@fsafood.com