Early in his career, Paul chose to delve into sales, driven by a competitive passion for excellence. This initial phase of his career was characterized by a steadfast commitment to honing the requisite skills, acquiring hands-on experience and leveraging 2 years of marketing research experience that was gained while earning his degree. As the CPG industry landscape evolved, Paul was well ahead of the movement to fact-based selling, which led to rapid career advancement. He even did 2 stints in training & development due to his high track record of outstanding results. Recognizing the emerging trends and future potential, Paul was heavily recruited by head-hunters and made a strategic shift from Quaker to Nabisco, motivated by a desire to stay ahead in an ever-changing professional environment. Taking on a larger business development role across Nabisco’s central region, Paul also championed the roll-out of syndicated data and area demographic data as a way to develop strategic partnerships with grocery, club and mass merchandisers in the geography. He was also tabbed to be one of the first high potential candidates to be sponsored for an MBA. Paul earned his MBA at the University of Chicago in 1995 while also leading the largest broker sales area in the U.S. to record sales and profitability. In fact, he also piloted the customer-based profitability program at Nabisco, as well as regional based trade marketing teams, both of which would quickly be expanded to all areas. But there was one itch that Paul needed to scratch, he had a strong desire to lead both the sales and marketing efforts of an organization. He knew that in order to do this, he would need to go to a smaller organization, and that’s exactly what he did when he was offered, and accepted the V.P. Sales & Marketing position at Napco, Inc., a Chicago-based premium coffee roaster, later progressing to the role of C.O.O.

Currently, Paul is the President and 50% owning partner in PDS Warehousing & Dist’n LLC, a food focused warehousing and distribution facility located in the western suburbs of Chicago and one of The PDS Companies. He is a respected partner and advisor for the PDS customer base, leveraging his vast knowledge of the CPG world and his newly acquired skill set in food safety and supply chain optimization. His extensive experience is complemented by a suite of relevant certifications and specialized training, including Train the Trainer, HACCP and PCQI which underscore his commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

Significant career transitions are often catalyzed by both personal and professional factors. For Paul, these shifts were informed by a combination of market insights, an intrinsic motivation to imbibe new knowledge, and an unwavering goal to contribute meaningfully to his field. As a result, he stands today as not just a seasoned professional, but also as a forward-thinking leader poised to navigate the future with confidence.