1. 3
J
8/24/16
To whom it may concern,
I have had the pleasure of working with Rod Mendez for the past year in my role
as Director of Manufacturing at Hope Foods. As the Associate Director of
Manufacturing, Rod reported directly to me on all aspects of plant operations,
and I considered him my right hand man and closest collaborative partner.
Rod was primarily responsible for implementing Lean manufacturing practices
on the plant floor. He trained the crew in Lean principles, developed SOPs and
operator certification programs, developed standard work practices at all
stations, and motivated the team towards success. As a result, our plant's
efficiency steadily improved and we realized a 40% headcount reduction over
the course of 10 months at constant volume.
While Rod's planning and analytical skills are excellent, the foundation of his
success is his ability to build relationships. Rod had strong support and loyalty
from the floor, the respect of all of his peers, and the full trust of company senior
leadership. His partnerships bridged the gap between the production floor and
the front office and helped us truly be one company.
Over the course of my career, rarely have I felt so aligned with another individual
on direction and vision. Rod took full ownership of what was when he arrived a
chaotic production floor and provided organization and stability from day one.
Many have commented that the plant "seems much calmer" now, and that
difference in tone is attributable fully to Rod and his leadership.
I really enjoyed working with Rod and I highly recommend him for any role he
chooses to pursue. If you have any questions about Rod, I would be happy to
provide more detail and can be reached at 408-595-6616 or
john.leonas@hopefoods.com.
Respectfully,
John Leonas
Director of Manufacturing
Hope Foods

2. SPREAD GOODTHINGS
To Whom it May Concern:
Immediately uponworking atHope Foods, RodMendez hit the ground running. It
was clear he knew howto create a culture of accountability withhis line workers
and front line managers. Very quicklywe saw a significant uptick inproductivity as
he empowered people to control their own destiny on the floor. He taught them the
rules of engagement and gave themthe tools toimprove their ownprocesses.
There was never a sense thatRod didn'thave things under control. This was such a
difference for us. I could be absolutely confident thatwhatever issue arose Rod
would be there to take care ofit.
He took full responsibility for the success of the SQF program, which resultedin a 98
on anunannounced audit! It was clear hebelieved that quality was everyone's job,
and ultimately, operations had to bear theburden.
He participated in several Kaizen events while at Hope Foods, demonstrating and
applyinghis LEAN skills to improve manyprocesses, even ones outsidehis scope of
responsibility.
Not onlydid his leadership and skills bringso much benefitto Hope Foods,his
personality and demeanor made working withhim a real joy! He was alwaysupbeat
and positive,no matter the situation. He never blamed,but instead took
responsibility tohelp those who neededit.
I would recommend Rod for any job wherehe gets tolead and is tasked with
improving performance. If a company needs tofeel someone contributingto their
bottom line, RodMendez is the man for the job.
Ian Beert
VP Operations
Hope Foods
720-548-7581