Make an Impact with Us

Do you want to help reduce food waste and improve food quality? Join Fortifi.

We build automated food processing solutions that enrich the world. Our solutions help reduce food loss and waste, increase food production and make healthful food less expensive. We always look for better ways to exceed our customers’ expectations.

At Fortifi, we believe that companies can – and should – do good things for their communities and the world. Our Guiding Principles prioritize safety, teamwork, a customer-centric culture, continuous improvement and integrity. We value our diverse workforce and support their growth through transparency, and individual empowerment. And at Fortifi, every employee is an owner and benefits form the company success.

Join us to make a positive impact on the industry and our world.

View Open Jobs at Fortifi and Business Units

Loanna

Meet Our Employee Owners: Loanna Rivas

Director of Program Management, Bettcher

Loanna Rivas joined Tarheel Distributors in 2011 and worked her way up to Operations Manager. After Bettcher acquired Tarheel in 2019, she spent several years as Director of Operations and Strategic Sourcing at Greenline Poultry Parts. In 2023, she became Bettcher's Director of Program Management for mergers and acquisitions. "When Fortifi acquires new businesses for Protein Tools & Equipment, I'm deeply involved in activities for the transitions themselves and those for value creation," she said.

Loanna finds inspiration in guiding new companies as they acclimate to Fortifi's processes and mindset. "New acquisitions can face complex challenges, and I enjoy helping people navigate them. My guidance helps them solve problems and strengthen their businesses accordingly," she added.

Consistency and communication are keys to success in Loanna's role. "I coordinate cross-functional teams, manage risks and facilitate effective governance throughout these organizations," she said. "Consistent implementation of processes and best practices strengthens execution and maximizes value."

Her role gives her ample opportunities to help new PT&E business units thrive while they collaborate with other Fortifi companies. "I appreciate seeing the real impact of the work I do and the teams I bring together to solve tough problems," she said.

Anders

Meet Our Employee Owners: Anders Tønnesen

President of Sales, Frontmatec/Meat Solutions Europe

Anders Tønnesen joined Frontmatec in 2017 and has held multiple roles in European sales. Based in Zagreb, Croatia, for his current role, he leads primary and secondary equipment sales in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. He also supports North American sales of primary equipment.

Anders enjoys the challenges of matching customers with optimal solutions and leading the sales team to success. "Relationships are the foundation of every sales success," he said. "That includes our relationships with customers as well as the collaborative relationships within our sales teams."

The breadth of Anders' sales responsibilities includes planning and driving daily managements, as well as managing the sales funnel and associated activities. "I enjoy helping guide our team and finding new ways to support their efforts," he said. "We're all focused on achieving the right results for customer satisfaction."

Every aspect of Anders' work revolves around making successful connections between the company's leading products and the industry's leading processors. "A successful sale is a successful connection between products and people," he said, "and that's what makes my job as interesting as it is fulfilling."

Rasmus

Portrait of Regional Sales Manager Cody Sikora

Meet Our Employee Owners: Rasmus Schmidt

Marketing Manager, Frontmatec Europe

Rasmus Schmidt joined Frontmatec in 2013 as Marketing Coordinator. Based in Odense, Denmark, he now leads the company's marketing activities, from strategic planning through hands-on execution. "I coordinate closely with colleagues around the globe to align regional marketing with international strategies, support sales with targeted materials, and drive initiatives that strengthen customer engagement and brand awareness," he said.

Collaboration brings both the challenges and the rewards of his position. "As a company, we work together across teams and countries, through a variety of projects, and what we do influences how customers perceive and connect with Frontmatec," he pointed out.

Rasmus' responsibilities and access have expanded throughout more than a decade of service and promotions. "Today, my role covers brand positioning, campaign development, trade show management and content creation for digital and print channels," he said.

His work gives him ample opportunities to feel inspired and to convey product benefits in compelling ways. "I enjoy transforming complex technical solutions into clear, engaging messages that resonate with customers," he said. "I’m inspired by the opportunity to combine creativity with strategic thinking to deliver measurable results."

Pete

Meet Our Employee Owners: Pete Newstead

Senior Design Engineer, Wyma

Pete Newstead joined Wyma in 2001 as a Design Engineer and has contributed to many projects. Now, as Senior Design Engineer, he relishes his role's holistic engagement, from initial rough draft through finished product – and beyond. "I love the hands-on feel of the entire process of creating things," Pete said. "It's also exciting to hear customer feedback about how their equipment performs."

Engineering runs in Pete's family. His grandfather lectured at the very university Pete later attended, and Pete now appreciates opportunities to mentor others. "I'm involved in the initial creation phase and then move into a more supportive role," he noted. "Mentoring is liberating. Everyone has different needs, whether they’re new to the industry or new to Wyma."

One of the proudest moments of Pete's career arrived when he was assigned the complete redesign of an existing Wyma product that included a lift roll sizer and a chain system with a series of rollers used mainly for carrots and potatoes. Despite improvements, the team wanted an even-better outcome – and Pete's redesign delivered. Not only did he solve the immediate challenges, but his design remains in use today with no significant changes.

Pete appreciates his Wyma colleagues as much as his work. "Everyone is dedicated and puts in an effective team effort," he said. "We're all truly engaged in our projects. It’s accepting and collaborative, with a healthy work/life balance that keeps things sustainable."

Kierstin

Meet Our Employee Owners: Kierstin Holland

Marketing Manager, Nothum Food Processing Systems – Further Processing

Kierstin joined Nothum in 2015 and became Marketing Manager in 2021. In her current role, she manages a broad range of marketing responsibilities, encompassing both analytical evaluation and the execution of strategic marketing objectives and plans. Kierstin’s role gives her opportunities to help food processors modernize their operations. "Nothum has always led the way in technology and innovation in the batter, breading, and frying industry," she said. "I want to communicate that message to the rest of the world."

Her view of the industry takes its cues from Nothum's modern technologies and leading position in its segment of the food processing industry. "I want to help bring the food industry up to speed through the technologies we've developed and the products we implement as part of Fortifi," she said.

Kierstin holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Management from Missouri State University. Her education has thoroughly equipped her to excel in various facets of her role, including aligning business goals with marketing objectives, developing and executing marketing plans, leveraging analytics to guide and assess initiatives, and promoting the Nothum brand across multiple marketing platforms. Additionally, she organizes trade shows and company events.

Kierstin is proud of how she's grown in her marketing role, and she is excited to see what new challenges come her way. "I'm fortunate to work for a company that truly values what we all contribute to it," she said. "That's as true of Nothum as it is of Fortifi."

Connor

Meet Our Employee Owners: Connor Guyton

Marketing Manager - Bettcher Industries

Connor Guyton joined Bettcher in 2024 as a Technical Content Developer and ascended to the role of Bettcher's Marketing Manager in 2025. Based in North Carolina, she holds responsibility for consistent messaging across every continent – except Antarctica – and in eight languages. "My job provides me with consistent variety," she said, "but always within a great team."

Connor has worked in the meat industry for eight years in professional communication roles and enjoys expanding her horizons. "I love marketing because it always presents something new to learn," she said. "I'm in charge of advertising, public relations and sales enablement, which makes every working day unique."

For sheer variety, Connor points to a recent week in which "I finalized and managed the launch of a new website, conducted a miniature product shoot on my kitchen table, updated brochures, sent out ads, finalized new branded promotional products and planned a sales meeting." Every aspect of her job supports the company's products with thoughtful, cohesive communication that conveys benefits and meets brand standards.

As much as her varied responsibilities make her job enjoyable, the teams with whom she collaborates take first place in the inspiration department. "The great teams I get to work with every day – at Bettcher and throughout Fortifi – keep me on my toes in the best possible way," she said. "Teamwork keeps me engaged and planning for the future."

Alexandre

Meet Our Employee Owners: Alexandre Lemieux

Global Vice President - Products, Frontmatec Saint-Anselme (Canada)

Alexandre Lemieux has been involved with project management and product development for over two decades. His tenure at Frontmatec began in 2003 as a Project Manager and Software Engineer for R&D product development, including the Automatic Belly Trimmer and Automatic Rib Puller. In 2019, he advanced to Product Director for Frontmatec Americas and now, he has risen to Global Vice President - Products.

"Innovation is all about market growth and customer retention," Alexandre said. "I appreciate this opportunity to lead strategic product planning and take part in developing our future product portfolio."

With a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a master's degree in electrical engineering, both from Université Laval, Alexandre focused his graduate studies on artificial vision. "This technology is essential to much of our future development," he added, "and I'm excited to see where we can go with it in terms of all our business segments."

His enthusiasm for his new role is matched with his commitment to the future of food processing. "At the end of day, what is the most important for our customers is reliable equipment that improves operator/food safety, generates the highest quality meat products while optimizing yield. And this is what we always have in mind in our development." Alexandre said. His new position taps into the full spectrum of his experience, training and insights.

Shima Oveysi

Meet Our Employee Owners: Shima Oveysi

MHM Automation PMO Coordinator and Project Scheduler, Chilling and Freezing

Shima Oveysi joined MHM in June 2023 as a Project Coordinator on the Chilling and Freezing Projects Team. In her current role as PMO Coordinator and Project Scheduler, her responsibilities include project schedule development and maintenance, resource planning, progress tracking and reporting, and clear team communication. "Essentially, I help create visibility, structure and alignment to support successful delivery," Shima said.

A project management course during her university studies in industrial engineering sparked Shima's interest. "I was drawn to the combination of structure, strategy and coordination," she noted. This early interest led her to pursue additional certifications, including the Project Management Institute Project Management Professional® (PMI-PMP) certification, which shaped her focus on project controls and planning.

Standardization of PMO processes has provided one of the highlights of Shima's work at MHM. She noted that "It’s incredibly rewarding to see this enhance visibility, improve team alignment and support more informed decision-making."

Shima values Fortifi and MHM's focus on teamwork and safety standards. "It's exciting and fulfilling to work in a collaborative, innovative environment that prioritizes employee safety as well as compliance," she said.

McKenzie

Meet Our Employee Owners: Mckenzie-Lee Martin

R&D Coordinator, Frontmatec Saint-Anselme Innovation Center

Mckenzie-Lee Martin's career in the R&D Department at Frontmatec's Saint-Anselme Innovation Center in Quebec, Canada, began in 2010. Since 2020, he's served as R&D Coordinator.

"I coordinate operations on the R&D side, along with R&D-related production," Mckenzie-Lee said. "I'm in charge of everything related to production and subcontracting, following up, and ensuring the quality of rendering. I make sure the teams have the equipment they need to complete their projects."

As the bridge between R&D and production, he leads the support team. "The creative aspect of my job inspires me the most," he added, "and when the project is complete, seeing the customer's satisfaction is very motivating."

His relationships with colleagues are rewarding, too. "When the atmosphere is fun, it makes you want to come to work," Mckenzie pointed out. "I really enjoy my job." He also likes the fact that his efforts help increase efficiency in the food processing industry and eliminate food waste. "We're solving important problems through what we do, and that means a lot," he said.

Cody

Meet Our Employee Owners: Cody Sikora

Regional Sales Manager (Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, California), Greenline

Cody Sikora joined Greenline as a member of the outside sales team in 2022. He manages existing accounts and drives new sales in a four-state territory. His success relies on his ability to build and maintain strong customer relationships.

"I value working with a team," Cody said, "but I especially enjoy the individual control I have over my territory/sales account. I have the freedom to make decisions that can have the greatest impact for my customers."

Cody appreciates opportunities to build on his hands-on experience in poultry processing. "Working in an individual chicken plant helped me understand more of what my customers need and do – but now, I get to see parts of the country that I never would have seen back then."

He welcomes the camaraderie and team mentality at Greenline. "The team in Gainesville and the other outside sales managers have shared their knowledge to help me be more successful. Though I'm based in Mississippi, I've never felt isolated." He notes that the company engages employees with events and with monthly owners' meetings. "These events, along with business/company updates, help employees develop a sense of ownership and pride in what we're doing."

View Open Jobs at Fortifi and Business Units