From fulfilling P.O.’s to scheduling pickups, our Operations Team truly keeps LesserEvil and its snacks moving along. Day in and day out, they work tirelessly to make sure all routes internally and externally are running smoothly so that our consumers get the products they want at the stores they love! Communication is key with our Ops team, and through direct dialogue between various departments – from finance, to sales, to production, and beyond – they are able to successfully meet deadlines and get our snacks out the door.
Get to know the one-of-a-kind operators behind the products of LesserEvil.
Aaron Gentry, Operations Manager
When did you start working at LesserEvil? May 2014
What is your background (schooling, internships, previous jobs)? I attended WCSU for a little while before transitioning into the auto parts field working at various (mostly Toyota) dealerships. I did some live sound work (bands, events, etc) then some more school at Berklee College of Music and some time in Los Angeles dipping a toe in the film industry with a good bit of other odd jobs thrown in along the way and thereafter.
What made you choose this field? I sort of stumbled into it, but I’m happy to have done so.
What is your favorite part about working at LesserEvil? I enjoy making a good spreadsheet. There’s a lot more opportunity for creativity and practicality than there might seem at first.
What does a typical day look like for you? A lot of emails, DMs, texts, and phone calls are made in order to ensure we will have the required product on the day a given order is required to ship and that there will be a truck there to take it away. I’m in constant communication with our customers, the procurement team, the production team, the warehouse team, and our various transportation providers to ensure shipping & receiving deadlines are met. Plus, there’s always a myriad of operational/logistical tasks that happen behind the scenes, be it an integration with a new trading partner, setting up a new 3rd party warehouse, or just creating new processes and tools to handle whatever gets thrown our way!
What is your favorite LesserEvil snack? Fiery Hot Power Curls. They’re a hearty snack with a zing.
What is one concept, idea, or lesson you recently learned that you believe to be important enough to share? When confronted with a problem, it can be helpful to start by fully recognizing your own ignorance and not being afraid to say, “I don’t know.” It means not assuming or making judgments based on incomplete information, and it opens the door to asking questions, learning, and subsequently thinking of the best way of figuring out the best solution.
Erika Hall, Logistics Analyst
When did you start working at LesserEvil? March 2020
What is your background (schooling, internships, previous jobs)? 23 years at Stew Leonard’s as a Logistics Analyst when I left but had done just about everything at the company. (Including being Wow the Cow!). Seven years at UNFI as a Routing Supervisor.
What made you choose this field? It looked like something different to try, working the back of the house instead of the front of the house.
What is your favorite part about working at LesserEvil? The people are awesome (as good as the snacks!).
What does a typical day look like for you? Check emails, process PO’s, reply to customers, update spreadsheets, upload BOL’s, and create customs documents.
What is your favorite LesserEvil snack? Himalayan Gold, with Lemonade a very close second. The gold is just the right amount of salt and butteriness. The Lemonade is just amazing with the perfect amount of tanginess.
What is one concept, idea, or lesson you recently learned that you believe to be important enough to share? Teamwork! (Not new, but the people we work with are awesome!) This group is the best to work with and is always willing to lend a hand when needed.
When did you start working at LesserEvil? March 2021
What is your background (schooling, internships, previous jobs)? I have a B.A. in Political Science from Western Connecticut State University. I’ve been working in warehouses since 2006, when I started as an Order Picker, and have worked my way up to operations management.
What made you choose this field? I found a job in a warehouse right out of college 16 years ago, and since then, I’ve developed my skill set, which has come in very handy here at LesserEvil.
What is your favorite part about working at LesserEvil? The relaxed vibe and atmosphere, as well as the encouragement from management. It’s also super cool that the owner talks to people like they’re old friends.
What does a typical day look like for you? I oversee a team of approx. 35 people, so my days vary. Some days I focus on more big-picture items – such as preparing the warehouse for our annual audit – and other days, I’m involved with scheduling pick-up appointments and making BOLs.
What is your favorite LesserEvil snack? Himalayan Sweetness is the perfect combination of sweet and salty.
What is one concept, idea, or lesson you recently learned that you believe to be important enough to share? Be decent. And if you can’t be decent, be quiet.
When did you start working at LesserEvil? January 2022
What is your background (schooling, internships, previous jobs)? 17 years of snack food manufacturing experience from FritoLay / Pepsico.
What made you choose this field? I love the ability to improve KPMs or KPIs as well as learn new strategies to increase productivity. I am still learning every day.
What is your favorite part about working at LesserEvil? The teamwork mentality I see daily on the floor is great. I have been part of hundreds of cross functional teams, and I am proud to say that this may be the best team atmosphere I have been a part of.
What does a typical day look like for you? Walking lines, routinely seeing how quality looks, engaging with employees and seeing how I might be able to assist them, reviewing the previous day’s performances in red zone meetings, inputting startup scorecards, and inputting waste and pound tracker (just to name a few tasks!).
What is your favorite LesserEvil snack? Oh My Ghee. It tastes like movie theater popcorn, but a million times better!!
What is one concept, idea, or lesson you recently learned that you believe to be important enough to share? Teamwork starts from the top; if managers are willing to roll up their sleeves and get dirty, it becomes a contagious thing.
When did you start working at LesserEvil? 2018
What is your background (schooling, internships, previous jobs)? Machining
What made you choose this field? I like the challenges and attention to detail involved in precision machining. I’ve always loved geometry, too.
What is your favorite part about working at LesserEvil? The people and culture.
What does a typical day look like for you? No day is typical, and that’s how I like it!
What is your favorite LesserEvil snack? Oh My Ghee! Best flavor, in my opinion.
What is one concept, idea, or lesson you recently learned that you believe to be important enough to share? “There is more than one path to the top of a mountain”
When did you start working at LesserEvil? June 2021
What is your background (schooling, internships, previous jobs)? Business Management
What made you choose this field? I wanted to learn something new, and I had never done logistics before.
What is your favorite part about working at LesserEvil? My co-workers. The warehouse crew always works as a team, and everyone is so friendly.
What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day consists of checking in trucks and assigning a loader to the truck. Once the truck is loaded, I proceed with making a bill for the trucker to deliver with the product. Behind the scenes, I also help with inventory and setting appointments for these truck drivers to come and pick up our products.
What is your favorite LesserEvil snack? My all-time favorite is Himalayan Gold! But my seasonal favorite is Pumpkin spice.
