May 3, 2023 | 2:00 PM ET 

Before being sold to wholesalers, processed and frozen meat is often stored for extended periods of time, tying up valuable capital that could otherwise be allocated toward strategic initiatives.  

Traditional loans or asset-based lines of credit may seem like the solution to captive cash, but they are costly and complicated. We understand that lack of capital, often due to inventory build-ups, can be the companies' biggest obstacle. Large sums of capital tied up in inventory for long periods incur costs through: 

  • Inbound transportation  
  • Storage and handling fees  
  • Advance rates  

Join us as we explore a cash flow solution that frees up capital tied up in inventory, allowing businesses to reallocate it toward strategic continuous improvement initiatives that may have been identified during the Protein PACT. 
 

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsor

The meat industry is uniting for the future by committing to the Protein PACT, which provides robust metrics for continuous improvement in food safety, among other operational areas. 

Jamie Wally
Jamie Wally
WOW Logistics
VP of Business Development
Jamie Wally drives business growth to enhance business continuity in new areas. He develops and nurtures strategic relationships to drive sales, expand markets, and accomplish financial objectives.

Wally also researches business development strategies and collaborates with marketing and sales to implement them. He leads new market research and utilizes his wide network of contacts to report future industry and market actions.

Wally has been with WOW Logistics since 1999. He started as an Account Manager and has since held multiple positions, including Sales Manager, Director of Sales, and Vice President of Sales before taking on his current role of Vice President of Business Development. During his time at WOW Logistics, Wally has gained extensive knowledge in the industries that WOW Logistics does business with to drive sales and position WOW as a leader in food-grade third-party logistics (3PL) operations.

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Todd Southerland
Florida Beef Inc
Executive Vice President, Growth and Sustainability
Todd serves as the Executive Vice President for Florida Beef, Inc., where he leads the Company’s focus on strategic growth and sustainability. Headquartered in Alma, GA, Florida Beef currently operates two beef slaughter facilities in the state of Florida. Prior to joining the Company in June 2022, Todd spent over 20 years in the banking industry providing capital solutions and advisory services to food and agribusiness clients across North America. Todd holds a B.A. in Economics from Vanderbilt University and has studied International Trade and Finance at the London School of Economics. He and his family currently reside in St. Simons, GA, where they recently relocated from Atlanta.

Tyler Lenz
Tyler Lenz
WOW Logistics
CFO
Tyler Lenz is WOW Logistics’ Chief Financial Officer overseeing the Accounting, Finance, Process Improvement, Real Estate Development, Inventory Solutions, Human Resources, and Legal teams.

Under Lenz’s leadership, each team provides critical operational support functions to WOW’s strategic business units. Oversight of these areas requires fostering alignment and collaboration among each functional area to achieve the company’s goals and objectives.
Lenz also develops and executes WOW Logistics’ financing strategy to support growth needs, including infrastructure development and acquisitions. Additionally, alongside the Real Estate Development team, Lenz engages with customers to develop comprehensive real estate solutions.

Prior to his current role, Lenz served as VP of Finance, Director of Finance, and Finance Manager at WOW Logistics. Before joining the company, he was an Institutional Investment Consultant for Morgan Stanley, where he provided investment and asset allocation strategies to pension funds, endowments, and high-net-worth individuals. Lenz also worked as a Cash Manager for WEC Energy Group, where he managed daily cash operations.

Josh Gitter
Josh Gitter
WOW Logistics
Director, Commodity Purchase Program
Josh Gitter is the director of the WOW COMMODITY PURCHASE PROGRAM® (CPP). He leads the CPP team and manages all related sales activities.

Gitter oversees the daily operations of the program and drives growth and strategic sales based on customers’ needs and business challenges. This includes realtionship management and oversight of both customers as well as vendors. Gitter also manages credit, product insight and monitoring of existing customers and related commodities.

Prior to his current role, Gitter served as Director of Credit Relations at WOW Logistics. Before joining the company, he was a Commercial Loan Officer where he assessed business loan applications and created customized loan packages for customers as well as ongoing relationship management.

Mike Dudas
Mike Dudas
Schuman Cheese
Director of Procurement
Mike Dudas is the Director of Procurement for Schuman Cheese, a fourth generation family owned company. In his role at Schuman Cheese, Mike is responsible for all aspects of domestic sourcing, including grading and evaluation, risk management and government compliance. As a graduate of Boston University, he originally joined his organization with a role in Information Technology, but quickly gravitated to embracing what made Schuman excel in the market; knowledge of and love of cheese. Mike is recognized as industry leader as part of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) NEXTGEN program and has a passion for cheese; which has allowed him the opportunity to judge in various cheese competitions, both domestically and internationally.