Our Team

About the Team…

President and Chief Executive Officer

Chris Jaromin

Chris Jaromin brings nearly 30 years of dynamic leadership to Urban Farmer, with a distinguished record of driving operational excellence, accelerating growth, and leading strategic transformations across top-tier organizations. He offers deep expertise in supply chain optimization, lean manufacturing, production planning, and strategic sourcing—each contributing to improved customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Chris has successfully managed P&L responsibilities for budgets exceeding $200 million, consistently delivering results through strategic planning, financial discipline, and cost management. His ability to lead cross-functional teams, implement cultural change, and drive continuous improvement has positioned him as a transformative force in every organization he has served.

Throughout his career, Chris has held senior roles at companies such as Feel Good Foods, TNT Crust, Zesty Paws, and WellPet, where he achieved measurable improvements in performance and cost savings. Known for his innovative thinking and solution-oriented mindset, Chris excels at solving complex business challenges with creativity and clarity.

Chris is a proud veteran of the United States Navy. He holds an Executive MBA from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Rochester.

 

Chief Financial Officer

Konstantin Semenov

Konstantin Semenov joined Urban Farmer in 2024 as Chief Financial Officer, bringing with him a wealth of experience in financial leadership across both public and private equity-owned manufacturing businesses. In his role, Konstantin oversees all financial operations, including strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. His focus is on optimizing financial processes, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting Urban Farmer’s continued growth and mission to deliver high-quality, better-for-you foods.

Prior to joining Urban Farmer, Konstantin served as CFO at RM Lucas, where he led a successful financial turnaround—implementing robust cash and purchasing controls, improving contribution margins, and reducing inventory levels. He also held the CFO role at Onduline North America, where he managed banking relationships, led strategic and financial planning efforts, and helped execute a successful business exit. Earlier in his career, Konstantin held key finance roles including Plant Controller at Owens Corning, Controller at Unity Vibration, and Financial Analyst at Lowry Manufacturing.

Konstantin’s career spans nearly two decades in the manufacturing sector, primarily within the building materials industry. Most recently, he played an instrumental role in returning a Chicago-based coatings and sealants manufacturer to profitability through disciplined financial management and strategic execution.

He holds a CPA designation and advanced degrees in business and applied economics.

Chief Commercial Officer

Bill Iggins

Bill Iggins brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in building high-performing commercial teams and executing successful go-to-market strategies across a range of industries and channels. As Chief Commercial Officer at Urban Farmer, Bill leads all aspects of the company’s commercial strategy, including Sales, Marketing, and Product Commercialization. His focus is on accelerating revenue growth, expanding market presence, and optimizing performance across retail, foodservice, club, and e-commerce channels.

Prior to joining Urban Farmer, Bill served as Chief Commercial Officer at Weaver Popcorn, where he led transformative commercial initiatives and drove significant business growth. He has held senior leadership roles at Radienz Living, Eagle Family Foods, Schwan’s Consumer Brands, Trilliant Foods, and Snyder’s-Lance, with expertise spanning branded and private label sales, food service, digital marketing, and multi-channel distribution.

Bill is known for his KPI-driven leadership style, deep understanding of consumer dynamics, and ability to align commercial functions with broader organizational goals. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Northern Illinois University and brings with him a strong foundation in performance management and customer engagement.

Chief Food Safety Officer

April Bishop

April Bishop brings over 20 years of deep expertise in food safety and quality management, with a strong record of leadership across the food manufacturing industry. As Chief Food Safety Officer at Urban Farmer, April leads the company’s food safety and quality programs, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and driving continuous improvement across all operations.

Most recently, April served as Senior Director of Food Safety at TreeHouse Foods, where she led food safety programs across 27 manufacturing facilities in North America. She managed a team of 14 subject matter experts in microbiology, sanitation, and FDA compliance, overseeing implementation of key standards including FSMA, HACCP, and GFSI. Her leadership was instrumental in integrating and harmonizing food safety programs during multiple acquisitions.

Prior to TreeHouse, April held several leadership roles at ConAgra Foods, including Director of Food Safety and Quality. She successfully implemented rigorous quality and food safety systems across a broad portfolio of frozen and dry products. Her responsibilities included leading HACCP teams, managing allergen control programs, and ensuring regulatory compliance across multiple product lines.

April is known for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to food safety and product quality.

Vice President of Human Resources

Tara Moynihan

Tara Moynihan is a highly qualified Human Resources professional with years of experience supporting food manufacturing businesses, and specifically in the pizza category.  Most recently, she was the Director of Human Resources at Richelieu Foods where she managed people operations across 3 corporate offices and 5 manufacturing facilities.  

Tara holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Management from University of Minnesota. She also has certifications in Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Talent Management Practitioner (TMP), Strategic HR Leadership (SHRL), Workers Compensation Professional (WCP), OSHA 30, ISO 9001, and PCQI.

Tara is passionate about building high-performance teams that execute with excellence and operate within the confines of company core principles. She believes in strengthening the workforce with a commitment to equitable, innovative, and resilient solutions.

Vice President of Research & Development

Yanling Yin

Yanling Yin brings with her a wealth of experience from CPG, Food Service, and Ingredient Technology companies in the food industry. Most recently, she served as Director of Bakery Application at Corbion, where she successfully led initiatives resulting in significant advancements in new ingredient technology development and cost savings. Prior to that, Yanling worked at Yum! Brands as a Sr. Manager of Global Food Innovation, where she led new product and technology development initiatives and played a crucial role in supplier capability development and international market expansion. Before her time at Yum! Brands, Yanling was a Sr. Scientist at Sara Lee Corporation leading in developing and launching new products and processes. She began her career as a Sr. Principal Scientist at Griffith Foods where she developed a wide range of food products for domestic and international markets, generating significant revenue for the company.

Yanling is passionate about bringing out the best in people.  She holds a MS and PhD degrees in Grain Science & Industry from Kansas State University.

Vice President of Finance

Thomas Farmer

Thomas (“Tom”) Farmer brings a distinguished career in financial leadership across the manufacturing, automotive, and industrial sectors. As Vice President of Finance at Urban Farmer, Tom is responsible for overseeing financial strategy, risk management, and supporting the company’s continued growth in the competitive better-for-you food industry.

Tom joins Urban Farmer with a wealth of experience driving operational excellence, business transformation, and long-term value creation. Most recently, he served as Chief Financial Officer at ECP Inc., a leading automotive coatings manufacturer. Prior to that, he held CFO roles at MPI Products, a manufacturer of precision powertrain components, and at Metra, the commuter rail system serving the greater Chicago area.

With a strong background in financial strategy, digital transformation, and operational efficiency, Tom is well-positioned to support Urban Farmer’s mission and help propel the organization toward its strategic goals.

Director of Logistics

Adam Widger

Adam Widger brings more than 15 years of hands-on experience in logistics and supply chain management to Urban Farmer. As Director of Logistics, Adam leads the strategic planning and execution of our warehousing, transportation, and distribution operations, ensuring efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and service excellence across all channels.

Before joining Urban Farmer, Adam served as Director of Logistics at Great Kitchens, where he oversaw multi-site operations across Chicagoland and Boston. He successfully managed a $14 million budget, delivering significant cost savings while enhancing overall operational performance.

Adam’s prior experience includes leadership roles at Meats by Linz, where he implemented key performance indicators and optimized international logistics, achieving a 97% on-time delivery rate. He also held a pivotal role at XPO Logistics as Freight Operations Manager, where his leadership contributed to a 40% revenue increase through strategic planning and team development.

Adam is known for his results-driven approach, strong operational acumen, and ability to lead high-performing logistics teams in fast-paced environments.

Director of Quality & Food Safety

Bertha Sorfleet

Bertha Sorfleet brings over 30 years of dedicated experience in the food manufacturing industry, with deep expertise in Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA). As Director of Quality & Food Safety at Urban Farmer, Bertha leads initiatives to strengthen food safety culture, elevate quality standards, and ensure compliance with industry regulations across all operations.

Bertha’s extensive background includes leadership roles such as Quality Assurance Manager at Greenridge Naturals, and Director of Quality Assurance at both Richelieu Foods and Berner Food and Beverage. In these roles, she successfully managed comprehensive food safety and quality programs, including HACCP, SQF certification, and regulatory compliance.

Renowned for her critical thinking, attention to detail, and hands-on leadership, Bertha is committed to continuous improvement and operational excellence. She is a certified Safe Quality Food (SQF) practitioner and holds advanced certifications in Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), advanced HACCP, and crisis management.

Bertha’s unwavering focus on food safety and quality ensures that Urban Farmer continues to deliver safe, high-quality products to customers and consumers alike.

Director of Safety & Sanitation

Alfredo Vargas

Alfredo Vargas proudly serves as the Director of Safety and Sanitation at Urban Farmer, where he leverages his extensive experience to ensure the highest standards of safety and sanitation. A dedicated professional, Alfredo is an Army veteran who served 20 years as a military policeman. Following his distinguished military career, he transitioned to the food manufacturing industry, where he has spent over 14 years honing his expertise.

Born and raised in Chicago, Alfredo has a natural love for pizza, making his role at Urban Farmer, a manufacturer of delicious gluten-free pizza, a perfect fit. His passion for safety, both for people and food, drives his commitment to excellence in his field. Alfredo applies the lessons learned in his military career to his roles in food manufacturing with a focus on leadership, mentorship, and the development of employees.

Alfredo takes pride in being a consummate professional and a team player. He holds himself to the highest ethical standards and expects the same from internal and external partners. His leadership and dedication make him a valuable asset to the Urban Farmer team.

Director of Manufacturing

Manuel Ruiz

Manny Ruiz brings more than 20 years of experience in food manufacturing, with a strong track record of delivering operational results through safety, quality, and continuous improvement. As Director of Manufacturing at Urban Farmer, Manny leads plant operations with a focus on performance excellence, team development, and process optimization.

Most recently, Manny served as Continuous Improvement Technical Leader at Richelieu Foods, where he led the vertical start-up of a new production line and implemented process controls that resulted in zero material loss on pizza toppings. During his tenure as Manufacturing Manager at Richelieu’s largest facility, he played a key role in improving manufacturing efficiency from 60% to 80% through data-driven problem-solving and team collaboration.

Prior to Richelieu, Manny held leadership roles in bakery operations at Aryzta and East Balt, further deepening his expertise in dough systems and large-scale food production. He is a certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt and is currently pursuing his Green Belt certification.

Manny is widely respected for his ability to engage teams, solve complex problems, and drive operational consistency. His passion for coaching and standardizing processes continues to build a strong foundation for sustained success.

Director of Maintenance & Reliability

Jeff Piekarczyk

Jeff Piekarczyk brings over 20 years of proven leadership in maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement within the food manufacturing industry. As Director of Maintenance & Reliability at Urban Farmer, Jeff is responsible for driving equipment performance, asset management, and plant reliability to support safe, efficient, and scalable operations.

Jeff spent more than 15 years at Cargill, where he advanced from a Boiler House Operator to Maintenance and Reliability Manager. In that role, he successfully managed thousands of assets, achieving world-class reliability standards across operations. Most recently, he served as Maintenance Manager at Richelieu Foods’ Wheeling, Illinois facility, while also acting as a key resource supporting maintenance strategies across all Richelieu manufacturing sites.

Jeff holds numerous industry-recognized certifications, including Reliability Leader Certification, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Lean Manufacturing Principles, OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER, Root Cause Analysis Mapping, and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), among others.

Known for his technical expertise and hands-on leadership style, Jeff is passionate about building strong maintenance teams, eliminating downtime, and ensuring the highest standards of safety and equipment performance.

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