10 Central Garden & Pet operations leaders
Vice President Operations, Vice President Distribution Operations and Director of Warehouse Operations are among the roles held by these ten Central Garden & Pet operations leaders, some of whom have since moved on. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Central Garden & Pet from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Bill Lynch
LinkedInExperience: SVP Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Bill Lynch is a former Central Garden & Pet leader who was SVP Operations there from October 2016 to October 2020, based in Greensboro, Georgia. Bill Lynch was SVP Global Operations at Moen from 2014 to 2016, VP Product Supply Global Operations at The Clorox Company from 2011 to 2014 and VP Supply Chain Strategy there from 2009 to 2011.
Cruz Barron
LinkedInExperience: Director of Warehouse Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Cruz Barron has been Director of Warehouse Operations at Central Garden & Pet since October 2025, based in Dallas, Texas. Cruz Barron was Warehouse Manager at Central Garden & Pet from 2022 to 2025, Logistics Manager there from 2018 to 2022 and Warehouse / Transportation Manager there from 2008 to 2018.
Derek Easton
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Operational Excellence · Central Garden & Pet
Derek Easton has been Vice President of Operational Excellence at Central Garden & Pet since September 2022, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Derek Easton was North America Transportation Operations and Import/Export Senior Director at Procter & Gamble from 2019 to 2022 and VP Quality and Business Services at iMFLUX from 2018 to 2019.
Emmitt Whitby
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Emmitt Whitby has been Director of Operations at Central Garden & Pet since February 2025, based in South Hill, Virginia. Emmitt Whitby was Senior Operations Manager at Central Garden & Pet from 2004 to 2025, and the profile headline reads Director of Operations at Central Garden and Pet.
Eric Stitt
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Eric Stitt has been Director Of Operations at Central Garden & Pet since January 2022, based in Hebron, Kentucky. Eric Stitt was Operations Manager at Central Garden & Pet from 2013 to 2022, Assistant Manager there from 2011 to 2013 and Manager In Training at JD Finish Line from 2010 to 2011.
Herman Gonzalez
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Herman Gonzalez has been Director of Operations at Central Garden & Pet since June 2025, based in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. Herman Gonzalez was Operations Manager at Central Garden & Pet from 2019 to 2025, Operations Manager at Essendant from 2007 to 2018 and Operations manager at Pier 1 from 2004 to 2007.
Jim Stewart
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Distribution Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Jim Stewart is a former Central Garden & Pet leader who was Vice President Distribution Operations there from April 2023 to September 2024, Director of Sales - Western Region Garden Segment from 2018 to 2023 and VP Transportation & Logistics from 2017 to 2018. Jim Stewart has been Vice President Operations at Four Seasons Outdoor Living Group since January 2026, based in Brea, California.
Josh Behnke
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Josh Behnke has been Director of Operations at Central Garden & Pet since October 2024, based in Chilton, Wisconsin. Josh Behnke was Senior Manager Business Operations at Central Garden & Pet, Kaytee Products Inc. from 2016 to 2024, Shift Supervisor at Winona Foods from 2015 to 2016 and Shift Supervisor at Central Garden & Pet, Kaytee Product Inc. from 2011 to 2015.
Richard McClements
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Richard McClements has been Vice President Operations at Central Garden & Pet since August 2020, based in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Richard McClements was Director, Supply Chain and Operations at Central Garden & Pet from 2014 to 2020, Director, Strategic Procurement there from 2012 to 2014 and Director, Procurement - Processes & Analytics at The Coca-Cola Company from 2006 to 2012.
Will Reeves
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Distribution Operations · Central Garden & Pet
Will Reeves has been Vice President Distribution Operations at Central Garden & Pet since January 2022, based in Lexington, South Carolina. Will Reeves was Regional Vice President at Central Garden & Pet from 2008 to 2022, Division Manager, Vice-President there from 2004 to 2008 and Operations Manager there from 2000 to 2004.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose part of operations, such as plants, distribution centers, warehouses or operational excellence, matches the question you have. Former leaders are listed last.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you plan warehouse and site capacity through busy and slow periods?
- 02What did you change first when you took over a distribution network or a group of sites?
- 03How do you build operational excellence practices across several sites?
Reaching Central Garden & Pet operations leaders
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Can an AI agent ask one of these Central Garden & Pet operations leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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