Brad Burkenpas
About Brad Burkenpas
Brad Burkenpas serves as the Senior Director of Manufacturing at Chobani, where he has worked since 2021. He has extensive experience in the food manufacturing industry, having held various leadership roles at companies such as The Dannon Company and ACH Food Companies, Inc.
Current Role at Chobani
Brad Burkenpas serves as the Senior Director of Manufacturing at Chobani, a position he has held since 2021. He operates in the Dayton, Ohio Area, where he oversees manufacturing processes and leads teams to enhance production efficiency. His leadership style emphasizes servant leadership, fostering a collaborative environment within the organization.
Previous Experience at The Dannon Company
Prior to his role at Chobani, Burkenpas worked at The Dannon Company as Production Director from 2008 to 2015 in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area. During his tenure, he managed the vertical startup of multiple new production lines across two plants, which resulted in significant improvements in production capacity and quality while also reducing costs.
Career Path and Roles
Burkenpas has held various positions in the food manufacturing sector. He was the Plant Manager at ACH Food Companies, Inc. from 2019 to 2021 in the Greater Chicago Area. Before that, he served as Director of Operations at Lawler's Desserts from 2017 to 2019 in the Houston, Texas Area. His earlier experience includes being General Manager at Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP from 2015 to 2017 in Reno, Nevada, and working as a Manufacturing Quality Engineer at Cooper Crouse-Hinds from 2005 to 2008.
Education and Professional Development
Brad Burkenpas earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, completing his studies from 2000 to 2005. He later pursued an MBA in Management, Innovation, and Change at Wright State University, graduating in 2012. Additionally, he participated in the Leadership Development Program at the Center For Creative Leadership in 2014, which lasted for 11 months.
Leadership Initiatives
Burkenpas has championed initiatives aimed at enhancing employee engagement and communication. One notable program he led is 'You Talk, We Listen,' which was designed to address employee feedback and implement actionable changes. He also played a key role in designing, building, and staffing a new plant for a rapidly growing ready-to-eat snack company.