Bernard Susai
About Bernard Susai
Bernard Susai is a seasoned engineering professional with over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. He currently serves as the Sr. Director, Head of Engineering at Beyond Meat, having previously held leadership roles at companies such as Curation Foods and The Kraft Heinz Company.
Work at Beyond Meat
Bernard Susai serves as the Sr. Director, Head of Engineering at Beyond Meat since 2022. In this role, he oversees engineering initiatives and strategies that contribute to the company's mission of providing plant-based meat alternatives. His leadership focuses on enhancing engineering processes and ensuring operational efficiency within the organization.
Previous Experience in Food and Beverage Industry
Bernard Susai has over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, having held various engineering and managerial positions. He worked at The Kraft Heinz Company as an Equipment Development Engineer and later as a Program Manager. His tenure at Curation Foods as Director, Head of Engineering involved managing engineering and capital investments for a $500MM+ food manufacturing business. He also held roles at The J.M. Smucker Company, The Clorox Company, FRITO LAY, and Nestlé Purina North America.
Education and Expertise
Bernard Susai earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, cum laude, from Howard University. He is currently studying Business and Social Skills at Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business since 2017. His educational background supports his expertise in engineering, operations, and project management, with a focus on continuous improvement methodologies.
Leadership and Project Management Skills
Bernard Susai has developed executive leadership skills through various cross-functional roles in engineering, operations, R&D, and strategy. He is experienced in managing multi-million dollar capital improvement projects, plant consolidations, and the design and start-up of new food manufacturing facilities. He promotes systematic approaches and tools for continuous improvements in project management.
Team Building and Coaching
Bernard Susai is recognized for his ability to build and coach high-performance teams in operations and engineering. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and performance enhancement, contributing to the overall success of the organizations he has worked with throughout his career.