Michele Flisnik

Represent Schwan’s Food Service pizza and Asian portfolio in K12, college and university, healthcare, business and industry, recreation, senior living, daycare and convenience. Develop strategic partnerships with Distribution to drive sales and profit while leveraging large operators including Wrigley Field, Northwestern University, Rush University Medical Center and Chicago Public Schools to help secure new and existing SKUs.

• Responsible for $18M in sales and have exceeded plan the last five years
• Achieved 8% Distributor growth at Sysco Chicago and 12% at Gordon Food Service in 2025 by adding SKUs through customer demand, presenting priorities at District Sales Meetings, and working with the District Sales Managers to facilitate priorities
• Awarded Regional Sales Manager of the year in 2024
• Grew Chicago Public Schools business by $750K in 2024 by adding seven SKU’s and new menu placements for their non-contracted business
• Conduct top operator presentations, prepare product and execute displays increasing Schwan’s visibility to Chefs, Food Service Directors, General Managers in all channels
• Provide forecasting and clear, actionable reporting on account performance, risks and opportunities to executive leadership to ensure production runs smoothly

Successfully lead a broker team of five people including Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri driving sales in the K12 segment. Increased student participation in K12 schools utilizing a bid-to-win and commodity forward strategy.

• Big Cheese Award – 2019 – Best utilization of commodity cheese diversions
• Active Member of ILSNA Industry Board 2016 - 2018
• Managed $12M of K12 business and consistently exceeded plan
• Successful key account menu additions that each resulted in over $250k annually included Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Archdiocese, Elgin, Rockford, Green Bay Public Schools, Madison Metro, Wichita, and Olathe School District
• Developed and maintained trust to grow business with NIIPC co-op, Organic Life, Arbor Management, Aramark, WINSIP, CESA, and OPAA! Management Group by presenting at meetings, participating in events and offering sponsorship

Responsible for product management of protein powders and RTD beverages within the Sports Nutrition Supplement industry and CPG companies. Managed projects from inception to completion; qualified leads, reviewed RFQ’s, determined customer specifications, discussed packaging needs, prepared pricing and ensured all production requirement were met.

• Increased gross margin over 12% of $6M territory

Negotiated annual distributor and operator agreements and expanded new product distribution to US Foods and Sysco. Trained and engaged the distributor sales teams on Frito-Lay, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, and Gatorade products.

• Responsible for the growth, management and development of PepsiCo brands representing $12M annually through Broadline and Independent Distributors within the Las Vegas market
• Increased distributor sales volume by over 15% in 2011 and 11% in 2009
• Secured new specialty Distributor, Casino Snacks, to solve Frito-Lay retail needs at the casino gift shops resulting in $1M annual increase in sales
• Managed large gaming operators including Caesars Entertainment, MGM, Boyd Gaming and Bally’s Interactive to secure new item placement as well as maintain and grow existing FQTC placements

Partnered with Pepsi peers to execute the Power of One concept in multiple segments including lodging, casinos, restaurants, healthcare, business and industry, and college and university. Recognized high volume driving customers and created programming to leverage opportunities for additional growth and portfolio expansion.

• Increased street operator sales volume by over $400K annually
• Consistently ranked top 10 of 112 Customer Development Managers in the country
• Acted as point person and casino expert for 14 counterparts in the West Region