Joe Lyons-Rising

Data Gives Back Inc.

Corporate Trainer | Mental Health Advocate

Founder & Chief Empathy Officer

Seasons Centre for Grieving Children

Grief Facilitator

Executive Grief Ambassador 

8th & Walton

We were thrilled to partner with the leading Walmart training and consulting company in Canada and the US, 8th & Walton, starting in May 2023. 

FACT: To work on the Walmart Canada account as a Vendor, you need specialized training.

Due to the complex nature of available data and steps to run reports and analysis in Retail Link® via DSS, training is essential.

In my 10+ years of experience working on the Walmart account, first as a Category Advisor, then as Director of Insights, I can't stress enough how much you can increase your partnership and business sales with Walmart through data.

There really isn't another retailer in Canada that requires this level of data understanding and insights to successfully manage your day-to-day business.

And the big cherry on top? 🍒

8th & Walton is also a certified B Corp like us at Data Gives Back Inc., also "Doing Good with Data" by donating 10% of their revenue to children's charities 😊 💓

👉 Book a free chat with me in the comments below to learn more about their incredible Walmart Canada vendor training courses, offered monthly.

Business Development Lead - Canada

Centennial College

Member of the Program Advisory Council (PAC): Business Analytics and Insights Program

Sofina Foods Inc.

Director, Customer Insights

Senior Category Manager

McCain Foods

Walmart Category Advisor (April 2014 - September 2014)
Supporting Walmart category buyers, with weekly performance reports and competitive ad tracking, listing/de-listing recommendations, adhoc support and full modular builds.

LCL Vendor Advisor (Feb 2012 – March 2014)
Supporting LCL Value and Conventional Frozen Potato buyers, with pricing and promotional recomendations, POG creation, weekly performance reports, weekly competitive ad tracking, listing/de-listing recommendations, adhoc support, bi-weekly Vendor Advisor meetings

Customer Information Manager

CMI Insights

Client Advisor

NielsenIQ

Executive Analyst: June 2010 - April 2011
Market Analyst (Sr. & Jr.): Jan 2007 – June 2010
Data Specialist (Sr. & Jr.): Feb 2005 – Dec 2006

Account experience includes: Jamieson, Novartis, Pinnacle, Storck, High Liner, Ferrero, Ronzoni, Clover Leaf, SCA, Dr. Oetker, Mattel, Lego, Revlon, Combe, Linsey Foods, AMO, Cadbury (Confection & Beverages), Parmalat, Wrigley, JM Smuckers, Heinz, ED Smith, Playtex, Sara Lee, Jergens, Sunstar Butler, Merisant, Meow Mix & Cavendish.

Executive Analyst

Enzomedia/2Do Waterloo

Co-Owner & Project Manager

SunLife

Financial Advisor 

Chief Empathy Officer @ Data Gives Back | B Corp | Corporate Training Maestro in Analytics, Category Management & Storytelling | CPG | Foodservice | Executive Grief Ambassador | DJ

Hello! I'm Joe, and at the heart of my journey is the core belief: “Data is still about people.” 

With 20 years in the CPG and Foodservice category management, analytics and storytelling sector, I've dedicated myself to empowering professionals through specialized training while also channeling the power of data for community good.

🌐 Why Connect with Me?

• Proven Training Expertise: From mastering MS Office technicalities to Fact-Based Storytelling, I've designed courses that have fostered growth in priority areas across many departments.

• Real Impact, Real Results: My clients frequently cite "significant uplifts in confidence and competency levels" post-training.

🗣️ Testimonials:

• "Joe's expertise in the CPG sector is unmatched. His guidance has been instrumental in our business growth." 
• "From insights to action, Joe has been our pillar of strength. His commitment to giving back is truly inspiring." 
•  "Working with Joe has given us clarity, direction, and most importantly, results." 

🌟 Distinguishing Highlights:

• Founder of Data Gives Back: A Stouffville-based social enterprise, we're on a mission to blend business acumen with social responsibility, living by our tagline “Do Good With Data”.

• Certified B-Corporation (May 2023): Our commitment to upholding the highest of social and environmental standards is critical to our business. We are always striving to do better. 

• Award-Winning Impact: Honored with the “People & Professionals” accolade by the Stouffville Chamber of Commerce in 2023 for our outstanding contributions.

• Volunteer Executive Grief Ambassador with Seasons Centre for Grieving Children (Since 2020)

💼Specialized Training Courses:

• MS Office Technical Skills
• Category Management (14 modules, including Fact-Based Storytelling, The Analytic Process, and more)
• Leadership Skills
• Walmart Canada Vendor Training via 8th & Walton

Having faced adversity early in life, I've realized the profound importance of giving back, especially to initiatives like Seasons Centre for Grieving Children. Beyond corporate success, my purpose lies in driving change, fostering empathy, and support for those in need.

Ready to take your team's skills to the next level? 

Let's connect and find the perfect training solution for you: Send me a DM or email: joe@datagivesback.com

Saje Natural Wellness

Chief Operating Officer

Vice President, Operations

Vice President Supply Chain

Vice President Supply Chain Planning

La Rocca Creative Cakes

Vice President Operations

Weston Foods (Canada) Inc.

Responsible for a team of more than 1,000 employees encompassing Manufacturing (10 plants), Supply Chain, Engineering and Compliance.  $105MM operating budget and $10MM capital budget. 
✔ Strategically reviewed assets to improve competitiveness
✔ Guided a culture of continuous improvement
✔ Integrated a family-owned acquisition

Stepped in to interim Ready Bake General Manager role for one year as divisional structure was under review. Portfolio expanded to include R&D, Sales, Marketing and Finance.  P&L responsibility for $300MM+ business.
✔ Committed money to bring excellence to the Sales function
✔ Implemented and managed a new, high profile U.S. Foodservice contract
✔ Significantly improved regular communication and transparency within the division

Vice President Operations - Ready Bake Foods

In addition to role of Senior Director, responsible for Ontario Distribution for Weston Bakeries and Transportation for Ready Bake (team of 200, budget $43MM).
✔ Led project to outsource a Distribution Centre
✔ Implemented collaborative processes with Loblaw Supply Chain team
✔ Designed and planned "Top 100" Leadership Conference - 3 years
✔ Facilitated annual Strategic Planning process

Vice President Supply Chain - Weston Bakeries and Ready Bake

In addition to role of Director, given responsibility for Supply Chain planning for Ready Bake along with Customer Service for both businesses.
✔ Established centralized Demand Planning team and key processes
✔ Centralized 5 different Customer Service teams and introduced new tools

Senior Director Supply Chain - Weston Bakeries and Ready Bake

Responsible for Supply Chain planning in Ontario initially (team of 4, budget $0.3MM), extended to Eastern Canada.  Responsibility for transportation added in 2004 (team of 10, budget $17MM).
✔ Introduced S&OP and challenged the Sales team to participate
✔ Led project to create vision and 5 year improvement roadmap for the Supply Chain 
✔ Sold the organization on the need to invest in tools - ERP, APS, MES
✔ Guided team implementing "Put to Light" in a DC
✔ Converted company drivers to 3rd party and Owner / Operators

Director Supply Chain - Weston Bakeries

SLC Consulting

Concluded a number of projects within R&D, Logistics and Supply Chain at GlaxoSmithKline which required both technical and facilitation skills.
✔ Led a multi-country, cross-function team to achieve 100% customer service during a complex capacity expansion program

Independent Consultant

SmithKline Beecham

Mandated to create a new department, tools and methodologies to manage strategic, global, long-term capacity.
✔ Piloted new software by influencing key stakeholders to provide complex data
✔ Gained approval for significant capital by using rigorous analytics and financial modeling

Director, Capacity Planning

Gemini Consulting

Operations Management consulting with supply chain specialization.  Intense, hands-on implementation experience  in CPG, Retail, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical industries.
✔ Reduced cycle time, customer lead time and inventory by introducing pull systems in a pharmaceutical plant
✔ Mobilized clients by designing and facilitating workshops / education sessions

Senior Consultant

Procter & Gamble

Managed a team of fifteen technicians who were responsible for operating two production lines, planning production and purchasing packaging materials for over 2 million cases of bottled laundry and cleaning products.
✔ Significantly improved reliability by reducing changeover time and improving maintenance systems

Operations Team Manager

Responsible for coordinating all product supply aspects for six brands of cleaning products.
✔ Reduced inventory by providing better demand signals to the production planner

Product Supply Analyst

Canada's Wonderland

Summer job for 5 seasons progressing from groundskeeper to senior groundskeeper to assistant supervisor to supervisor for last 2 years.  Eventually, responsible for managing employees who operated the rides.

Supervisor

I have a powerful combination of business acumen grounded on a Harvard MBA and extensive Supply Chain / Operations strategic and executional experience gained in fast-paced and dynamic industries such as Food & Beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG).  

Equally comfortable influencing in the boardroom and engaging employees on the shop floor.  Deeply committed to mentoring managers and building high performing teams.  

I am a leader with persistence and a bias for action.  

I excel in the following three areas:

★ Inspiring trust:              integrity; approachability; leads by example; listens and supports with respect  

★ Motivating change:      envision the difference; engage at all levels; facilitate people and process

★ Delivering results: 	 bottom line focus; steadfast in the pursuit of delighting customers

My main passion is to lead teams in their pursuit of excellence.

Functional Expertise: Supply Chain Strategy and Transformation, Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Manufacturing, Distribution, Transportation, Logistics, Warehousing, Customer Service, Direct Store Delivery (DSD), Inventory Optimization, Network Optimization, and Capital Management.

Other Skills: Change Management, Team Facilitation, Continuous Improvement, Team Development, Strategic Planning, Process Optimization, Labour Management, Productivity Management, and P&L Management.

taplio

The Battle

Joe Lyons-Rising

Sara Curwen, MBA

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