Lawrence J. Blanford has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company since May 2007, taking on the position previously held by its founder, Bob Stiller. Larry's experience leading high-growth companies, as well as his knowledge of consumer products, appliance manufacturing and international markets, are all assets at this time in the Company's growth. Larry embraces the Company's culture, passion, and entrepreneurial nature as well as its commitment to corporate social responsibility.
From May 2005 to October 2006, Mr. Blanford held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Royal Group Technologies Ltd., a Canadian building products and home improvements company. From January 2004 to May 2005, Mr. Blanford was Founder and President of Strategic Value Consulting, LLC, a consultancy. Prior to that, Mr. Blanford held various management positions with Royal Philips Electronics (North America), Maytag Corporation, Johns Manville Corporation, PPG Industries and The Procter & Gamble Company. Mr. Blanford's qualifications to serve on your Board include his experience with leading consumer products organizations in different industries, his strategic vision for growth, his commitment to corporate social responsibility, and his ability to achieve organizational goals marshalling resources around a compelling strategic imperative for quality results.
Larry holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Gérard Geoffrion is currently President GMCR's Canadian business unit. He joined the Company in December 2010 through the acquisition of Van Houtte and was previously Van Houtte's President and CEO.
Gérard joined Van Houtte in 1995 and held a number of positions during his tenure including Executive Vice President and CFO and Vice President, Corporate Development. Prior to Van Houtte, Gérard was Director of Development and eventually Vice President, Research and Planning at Unigesco, a holding company specializing in distribution, retailing and food. Earlier he joined CÉGIR consultants and was Director of Development for Nouveler, a holding company specializing in new energies and energy conservation. He started his professional career at Québec Cartier, a mining company, in the industrial engineering department.
Gérard holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Sherbrooke. He serves on the boards of renowned organ builder Casavant Frères Inc. and The Pacific Path Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development, implementation and promotion of programs related to conflict resolution and psychosocial problem prevention.
Stephen L. Gibbs
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Stephen L. Gibbs has served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. since August 2011. In this role he is responsible for leading the Company's accounting operations including financial reporting, accounting, tax, financial systems, policies and controls.
Prior to joining GMCR, Steve served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for Scientific Games Corporation from April 2006 to August 2011 and Vice President of Finance for Scientific Games Racing from April 2005 to March 2006. He served as Manager of Accounting Research for The Coca-Cola Company from September 2004 to March 2005 and as Controller for TRX, Inc. from May 2004 to August 2004. Prior to that time, Steve served nine years in public accounting with the firms of Arthur Andersen LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Howard Malovany
Vice President, Corporate General Counsel and Secretary
Howard joined the Company in February 2009 as Vice President, Corporate General Counsel and Secretary, succeeding Fran Rathke as the Company's Secretary and becoming the Company's first enterprise-wide General Counsel. Howard brings considerable experience in leading a public company law department, advising senior management and partnering with a public company's board of directors.
Previously, Howard was Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a global manufacturer and distributor of chewing gum and confectionery products, as well as a member of Wrigley's Executive Leadership Team. Howard was also Wrigley's first General Counsel and oversaw the growth of that law department during his tenure, instilling a "business partnership" culture for the in-house lawyers. Prior to Wrigley, Howard served in senior positions in the law departments of two other public companies Outboard Marine Corporation and NCR Corporation.
Howard holds a B.A. Degree from The Ohio State University, an M.B.A. degree from the University of Dayton, and a J.D. degree from the University of Toledo School of Law.
Scott McCreary is president of GMCR's Specialty Coffee Business Unit. Prior to that, he served as its Chief Operating Officer beginning in September, 2004. From 1993 until joining GMCR, Scott was employed by Unilever North America and its subsidiaries. He served as the Senior Director of Operations at Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., where he was successful in leading collaborative efforts to identify and implement initiatives to streamline the work and increase profitability.
Scott has more than 25 years of strategic operational and business development experience within the consumer packaged foods industry, with a proven track record of improving capacity utilization, operating efficiencies, quality and profitability. His experience also includes positions with Kraft General Foods, M&M Mars and Pillsbury, in operations, new product development, and research and development. Scott holds an MBA in marketing from the University of Minnesota, and a BS in engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
Fran has served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters since October 2003, and as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company since April 2003. Fran worked as a financial consultant with various food manufacturers and food retailers from July 2001 to April 2003, including the position of Interim Chief Financial Officer for Wild Oats Markets, Inc., from July 2001 to December 2001. Fran served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary for Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., from April 1989 to August 2000. From September 1982 to March 1989, Fran practiced public accounting and auditing with Coopers & Lybrand LLC, and earned her CPA (inactive). She graduated cum laude with a BS in business administration (accounting) from the University of Vermont School of Business.
Stephen J. Sabol
Vice President of Development
Stephen has served as the Chairman of the Board of Keurig Inc. since June of 2006 and concurrently serves as Vice President of Development of Green Mountain since October 2001. In this capacity Mr. Sabol facilitates the coordination of the Keurig subsidiary with the GMCR parent corporation as well as seeks out new business opportunities for the company.
Steve was Vice President of Sales of the Company from September 1996 to September 2001. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Branded Sales of the Company from August 1992 to September 1996. From September 1986 to August 1992, Steve was the General Manager of Roasters responsible for overall performance of the wholesale division in Maine and New Hampshire. Steve has throughout his career passionately promoted initiatives within coffee growing countries through his affiliation with Heifer International and other non-profit organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Vermont.
Steve's favorite coffee is Guatemala Finca Dos Marias. He enjoys this coffee for its wonderful flavor but also over the years he's been privileged to know the family that owns this farm and really connect with their humanitarian and environmental values and ideals. It puts so much more meaning into his cup of coffee.
Michelle Stacy was appointed President of Keurig in October, 2008. Michelle brings to Keurig more than 20 years experience as a senior executive in marketing and global business management with The Gillette Company, and more recently Procter & Gamble (P&G).
During her career, Ms. Stacy has been responsible for building several world class brands and businesses, and she has managed the integration of several acquisitions. Immediately prior to joining Keurig Michelle served as Managing Partner of Archpoint Consulting, a professional services firm providing hands-on marketing, sales, operational and financial counsel and expertise to its clients.
At P&G Ms. Stacy was Vice President, General Manager of Global Professional Oral Care where she was responsible for the Global Professional activities for the Crest and Oral-B brands, managing over 700 people in over 70 countries. While at Gillette, she held the position of Vice President, Global Business Management for Oral-B, and earlier for the Parker and Waterman Brands. Additionally, she held positions at Parker Brothers, Clairol and Richardson-Vicks. Michelle holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Kellogg School at Northwestern University.