Career Path Of A Director Of Operations At Organic Certifiers
Nicole's career journey began with choosing "agricultural communication" as their major at Cal Poly, followed by an internship at the Cheesecake Factory and a first job as a certification specialist at Organic Certifiers. A brief stint as a quality assurance assistant manager at a spice manufacturing facility preceded their return to Organic Certifiers, ultimately leading to their current role as Director of Operations, showcasing a blend of industry experience and career pivots.
Career Development, Agriculture, Operations Management, Client Management, Sales and Marketing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nicole Davis
Director of Operations
Organic Certifiers
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
N/A
Communications
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Operations and Project Management
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Nicole's career started with choosing Agricultural Communication as her major in college, highlighting the importance of early career planning.
2. She gained valuable experience through internships (Cheesecake Factory Corporate Office) and her first job as a certification specialist, showcasing the relevance of practical experience.
3. Her career progression demonstrates the value of diverse roles (quality assurance, sales & marketing) before reaching her current Director of Operations position, emphasizing the benefits of exploring different aspects of a field
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Absolutely. It really started when I was applying for colleges. I went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and they require you to declare a major as part of your application. So, it began when I chose my major, agricultural communication.
That's what my degree is in from Cal Poly. While in college, I participated in an amazing study abroad program and had an internship at the Cheesecake Factory Corporate Office.
After graduating, my very first job was as a certification specialist for Organic Certifiers. There, I managed over a hundred clients and ensured compliance with USDA National Organic Program Regulations.
From there, I was promoted to department manager at that business. Then, I wanted to transition to the client side, so I left the company and joined a spice manufacturing facility. I was the quality assurance assistant manager there, managing the other side of the certification business.
After nine months in that role, my previous employer, Organic Certifiers, called and asked me to come back for a sales and marketing position. About a year into that role, the Director of Operations position opened up. That's where I am currently. I am the Director of Operations for Organic Certifiers.