10 Flowers Foods operations leaders
James Simms, Executive Vice President, Sales Operations at Flowers Foods, leads this list of Flowers Foods operations leaders, who also include a vice president of franchise operations and directors of plant operations. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Flowers Foods from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Chad Johnson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Franchise Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Chad Johnson has been Vice President of Franchise Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since September 2023, based in Thomasville, Georgia. Chad Johnson also held the role VP of Distributor Enablement Operations and Center of Excellence at the company until August 2024 and was Managing Director of Distributor Communications & Social Media there from 2013 to 2016.
Christine Ruwodo
LinkedInExperience: Director of Plant Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Christine Ruwodo has been Director of Plant Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since January 2023, based in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Christine Ruwodo was Production Manager at Conagra Brands from 2021 to 2023 and Production Manager at Baldinger Bakery from 2018 to 2021.
Chuck Rich
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Distributor Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Chuck Rich was Vice President of Distributor Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries until August 2023 and has been Vice President - Franchise and Brand Standards there since August 2023, based in Thomasville, Georgia. The profile headline describes Chuck Rich as Vice President of Franchise and Brand Standards at Flowers Bakeries.
Deb Chipperfield
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Human Resources, Supply Chain & Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Deb Chipperfield has been Senior Vice President Human Resources, Supply Chain & Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since September 2023. Deb Chipperfield was Vice President, Product Delivery Centers at Pratt & Whitney from 2022 to 2023 and Senior Director, Operations - Hot Section Module Center at Pratt & Whitney from 2018 to 2021.
Dewayne Green
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Plant Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Dewayne Green was Director Of Plant Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries from October 2017 to October 2021 and Senior Digital Product Owner there from 2021 to 2023. Dewayne Green has been Vice President of supply chain group at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since February 2023, based in San Antonio, Texas.
James Simms
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President, Sales Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
James Simms has been Executive Vice President, Sales Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since January 2024, based in Atlanta, Georgia. James Simms was Vice President, PepsiCo Regional Customer Team at PepsiCo from 2021 to 2024 and Vice President, Southeast Region at PepsiCo from 2019 to 2021.
Jay Kendig
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Jay Kendig has been Director of Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since January 2024, based in Auburn, Maine. Jay Kendig was Director of Brewing Operations at Stony Creek Brewery from 2020 to 2023 and Plant Manager there from 2015 to 2020, and the profile headline describes Jay Kendig as a manufacturing leader.
Joel Wood
LinkedInExperience: VP of Operations/GM · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Joel Wood was VP of Operations/GM at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries from 2014 to 2017 and VP of Manufacturing for the Central Region there in 2017. Joel Wood has been VP of Supply Chain C4 Lead at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since November 2017 and was Director of Manufacturing there from 2009 to 2014, based in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
Johnny Oliver
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Plant Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Johnny Oliver has been Director Of Plant Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since October 2017, based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and also lists a current Director of Engineering role at the company dating from 2004. The profile headline gives the role as Director of Plant Operations, Flowers Baking Company of Denton.
Shane Hodges
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Operations · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Shane Hodges was Vice President of Operations at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries from December 2015 to October 2017 and Director of Plant Operations there from 2017 to 2019. Shane Hodges has been Vice President Supply Chain at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since August 2020, based in Cullman, Alabama.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope, such as a single plant, a franchise network or a company-wide operations group, to the decision you face. Check whether the operations role is current or ended to judge how recent their view is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you change first when you took on your operations role, and why?
- 02How did you decide which plant or field problems needed your attention and which local leaders should own?
- 03What has your own operations work taught you that you would pass on to someone taking on a similar role?
Reaching Flowers Foods operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Flowers Foods operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries, based on profile data retrieved on October 23, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Flowers Foods operations leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Flowers Foods 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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