Meet Our Executive Team
JUSTIN MILLER
With over a decade at Darlington Snacks, Justin develops new, high-quality products, while staying current on regulations and innovative ingredients. In this role, he most enjoys the freedom to develop new recipes while working with a team that keeps the company on the leading edge of market trends and flavors. He started at Darlington in R&D with extensive restaurant industry experience – working in 28 different kitchens, consulting for restaurant startups, and teaching at The International Culinary Institute in Indianapolis. Beyond work, Justin loves to spend time with his family, camping and exploring.
PHIL HOCKEMEYER
First overseeing the marketing and sales of Darlington Farms in 1983, then purchasing the brand and its distributors in 1995, Phil has played an essential role in the company’s success over the last 30 years. He’s grown the company from the ground up through his hands-on leadership approach. By building and maintaining relationships with our business partners, Phil established our strong market presence in both healthcare and schools. As a true entrepreneur, he’s constantly developing innovative product ideas to enhance our offerings and stay at the forefront of industry trends.
SCOTT ROUSEY, RD, LD
With over eight years at Darlington Snacks and 25 years as a registered dietitian, Scott has expertise in both long-term care facilities and school foodservice. He leads our sales and marketing efforts throughout the country and excels at knowing our customers, maintaining successful partnerships and keeping our products top of mind. He’s inspired by his co-workers, stating that they’re some of the best minds in foodservice. Beyond his work life, Scott is an avid gardener, cook and gamer.
BRAD SCHWEISS
As plant manager for Darlington Manufacturing in Joplin, Mo., for the last three years, Brad is inspired by the success and growth of his team as they continue to find ways to more efficiently produce safe and wholesome products for our customers. After spending most of his career working for family-owned companies, he truly appreciates the entrepreneurial spirit at Darlington Snacks. He brings to the company nearly 39 years of manufacturing management experience and over 26 years in the food industry. Outside of work, Brad is a scuba divemaster. He also enjoys shooting sports, working on his golf game, spending time with family, volunteering at his church and working on home projects.
ED CYMAN
With over 23 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, Ed brings a wealth of cross-functional knowledge in engineering, operations and finance / accounting. Before joining Darlington Snacks, Ed worked in the HVAC, automotive and most notably the CPG – food and beverage industry for over 18 years. Ed has the ability to not only report the results but he also understands the processes behind them. Aside from the outstanding products that we produce, it was the people and culture that attracted him to Darlington Snacks. Ed is a graduate of Marquette University (Industrial Engineering) and outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and participating in outdoor activities such as boating, fishing and snowboarding.
Meet Our Management Team
MEGAN RECTOR
With seven years working at Darlington Snacks, Megan is currently the customer support manager, in charge of overseeing orders from start to finish and managing customer communication. In this fast-paced, solution-seeking role, she coordinates customer satisfaction with our production team. She enjoys the engagement and communication across all corners of the company, and with our brokers and distributors. She has three decades of customer service experience, including many years in the service industry. Megan is also an avid reader and likes hanging out and playing in the sunshine with her kid.
DIANA GRIFFITH
Diana has been purchasing manager for Darlington Manufacturing for three years, with over 10 years of experience in purchasing, as well as manufacturing and supply chain. In her current role, she’s in charge of sourcing, contracting, pricing and purchasing all direct/indirect material for our Joplin operations. What she enjoys most at work is that every day is different – she always has the opportunity to learn something new as part of a growing company. Beyond the office, Diana enjoys both gardening and crocheting.
HEATH BROWNING
Heath has over 15 years of culinary experience, spending many of those years overseeing kitchens in the collegiate sector. Heath is committed to innovation.Keeping his finger on the pulse with students, he has been able to stay on the cutting edge and bring those new solutions “to the table.” He studied at the Culinary Institute at the Art Institute of Indianapolis where he was constantly developing new, inventive treats. Heath is committed to testing the limits of where Darlington Snacks can take the next generation of food. When he isn’t pushing limits in the kitchen, he typically spends time with his family. He is an avid fan of Star Wars, gaming, and old cars, especially his 1941 Chevy.
JEREMY KNISLEY
Jeremy oversees the daily operations of all inbound and outbound loads at our Joplin, Mo., facility. He has contributed to the overall improvements of our logistics, improving cost, quality and service, and appreciates how his co-workers help to grow the company by driving a “Zero Loss Culture.” Prior to Darlington Snacks, Jeremy worked for General Mills for 21 years, where he held a variety of key roles such as raw material planner, production planner, demand planner and logistics planning manager. Beyond work, Jeremy spends time with his family, rides his Harley and is a tournament bass fisher.
TAYLOR WILLIAMS
As the Strategic Marketing Manager, Taylor is focused on supporting the BDMs, while also leading internal marketing initiatives with our Human Resources team. He also works with our Research and Development team to launch new products and manage projects. He is overseeing our website, GDSN, social media, email campaigns, and donations to local organizations. The combination of creativity and data analytics brought him to marketing, and the rest is history. He has over 4 years of experience in marketing and is excited to continue learning. Outside of work, he also enjoys sports, playing music, and spending time with family.
DAKOTA KUHEL
First joining Darlington in 2016 as a production operator, Dakota demonstrated an initiative mindset. She was given additional duties to assist with the launch of the new manufacturing facility and soon started working as a liaison for the IT manager. She continued her trajectory into the IT field with ongoing training and hands-on experience. Today, Dakota manages all IT-related projects, contacts, software, and devices for all physical locations and our remote sales team. In her off hours, she enjoys playing board games such as Splendor and Catan, reading, and spending time with her kitty cat.
JENNIFER LEE
Jennifer has been with Darlington Snacks since 2021 starting as Plant Controller and moving into the role of Director of Finance in October, 2022. She is responsible for accounts payable & receivable, general accounting and FP&A. Jennifer has her Bachelors and Masters of Accounting degrees from Missouri Southern State University and has 10+ years of Manufacturing Accounting / Finance experience. Jennifer values the diversity that Darlington Snacks offers and the ability to grow her career with a company that is expanding it’s footprint in the market. Outside of Darlington she enjoys volunteering as a church bus driver and spending time with her friends and family.
Meet Our Sales Team
SCOTT ROUSEY, RD, LD
With over eight years at Darlington Snacks and 25 years as a registered dietitian, Scott has expertise in both long-term care facilities and school foodservice. He leads our sales and marketing efforts throughout the country and excels at knowing our customers, maintaining successful partnerships and keeping our products top of mind. He’s inspired by his co-workers, stating that they’re some of the best minds in foodservice. Beyond his work life, Scott is an avid gardener, cook and gamer.
JEFF UDELHOVEN
Jeff has managed the Midwest and Pacific Northwest regions for the last five years. In this role, he travels and provides a portfolio of quality products to individuals, primarily in the K-12 and healthcare essential markets. Jeff has always had a passion for foodservice, with a degree in culinary arts/foodservice management and a variety of professional experiences with restaurants, catering/vending operations and distribution sales. He also served on the board of the lowa SNA for 15 years. Beyond work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, Jayne, and their daughters, Elizabeth and Jessica.
MIKE GRADY
With over 10 years of experience working at Darlington Snacks, Mike is responsible for the sales management of brokers and sales to customers in the Northeast to Great Lakes regions. He most enjoys providing product solutions for our customers, and working with individuals in various segments we serve. Before joining the Darlington Snacks team, Mike worked in sales in both medical devices/disposables and nutritional foodservice. Outside of sales, Mike enjoys sports and the outdoors.
TARA THATCHER
Tara is responsible for sales in the West territory and bottom-line profitability for Darlington Snacks. She enjoys working for a company that’s dedicated to developing healthier and innovative snack solutions, and has strong relationships with brokers, distributors and end users. Prior to joining the team, she worked for a national broker and in sales and merchandising for retail, independents, e-commerce and grocery. In her spare time, Tara frequents the beach and enjoys spending time with her dog and five nieces and nephews. She is passionate about wellness and helping with relief for the homeless.
CHRIS AYLESWORTH
As the Business Development Manager for Texas, Chris is focused on finding new business opportunities by building new relationships and strengthen old ones. Her prior experience includes over 18 years in the foodservice industry, mostly in the school segment, as well as in restaurants, distribution and broker sales. In joining our team, Chris is excited to offer wholesome snacks that meet the needs of customers and offer great tasting options for students. In her spare time, she loves spending time cruising around in her boat, backyard grilling, and being with her two favorite people: her 3-year-old grandson and 7-month-old granddaughter.
JASON KITCHENS
For over five years, Jason has been the business development manager for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, stretching from Oklahoma to Maryland. His favorite aspect of the job is traveling across the country to meet new customers, understand their needs and offer solutions that work for them. Before joining Darlington Snacks, Jason worked for over 9 years for an independent distributor purchasing cooperative. Along with being a huge Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Southern Eagles fan, he’s been married for over 15 years and has two children – Jamison and Allie.
