At Rhema, we have a team of dynamic and committed professionals who draw on a wealth of experience from a variety of disciplines to provide you with service that will meet or exceed your expectations.
Carlo Zarrillo
Transforming Rhema strategically to the next level of growth is Carlo Zarrillo, President & CEO. Carlo joined Rhema in August 2010. He has over 22 years experience in consumer packaged goods including Colgate-Palmolive, Cadbury Canada, Kraft Canada and most recently was Executive Vice President with the Cascades Tissue Group. Carlo's experience encompasses all aspects of business development including sales, strategic planning, expanding markets and acquisitions.
George Simpson
With over 35 years in the industry, a key member of the Team is George Simpson, Executive Advisor. George is a pharmacist by profession and is a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. He joined Rhema as Plant Manager in 1992 after holding senior positions with several multinational pharmaceutical companies. George also spent three years as GM & Director of Quality Control at Quest Vitamins and eight years as VP Plant Operations at Stanley Pharmaceuticals. In his role as Executive Advisor, George gives valuable direction to many Rhema departments. George also has an in-depth knowledge of regulatory affairs.
Lucy MacLoughlin
With nearly twenty-five years of experience in the natural products industry including 14 at Rhema, Lucy is a key member of the executive team. Having held positions from Retail Owner/Manager to Assistant General Manager of a major natural products manufacturer and wholesaler, and formerly our Vice President Sales & Marketing, Lucy's diverse experience is invaluable in her capacity as VP, Human Resources and Risk Management. With responsibilities in a broad range of areas including corporate organization and communication, vendor relations, human resources and key account relationships, Lucy's versatility and insight is constantly in demand. Lucy is also a classical homeopath.
Sales & Marketing Team
Your first contact with Rhema will be the Sales & Marketing team. Drawing on a wealth of knowledge from a variety of disciplines and a combined 45+ years experience in custom manufacturing, you know you have made the right choice when you come to Rhema for your products and services needs.
Carmine DiGiovanni
Focusing on the strategic growth and development of The Rhema Group is Carmine DiGiovanni, VP Sales & Marketing. Carmine holds a B.Sc. (Biology). He has eighteen years experience in the pharmaceutical and natural products industry including being a Retail Manager, a Territory Sales Agent, and a National Sales Manager. He joined Rhema in 1998, was promoted to National Sales Manager in 2001, Director, Sales & Marketing in 2007 and VP Sales & Marketing in 2010.
Responsible for the management and growth of multiple loyal Rhema customers and prospects is Brent Kushnir, Account Executive. Brent joined Rhema in 1996 and has held various positions including Warehouse Manager and Sales Administrator prior to being promoted to Account Executive in 2005.
Responsible for the management and growth of a high volume key customer, a select group of established customers and prospects is Angela Zavediuk, Account Executive. Angela joined Rhema in March 2009 and has held positions with True North Nutrition and Bakemark Canada.
Responsible for the management and growth of a key customer, building a base of new customers and working on priority projects with the Director, Sales & Marketing is Jon O’Farrell, Senior Account Executive. Jon joined Rhema in May 2010 and has held positions with Puresource and managed key brands such as Tropicana, Planter’s Peanuts and Silk Soy beverages.
Laura Dick, Sales & Marketing Administrator joined Rhema in 2005. Laura spent the last 18 years with The Source group (formerly Radio Shack) of retail outlets as a Service Manager. She ensures that customers' expectations are met through exceptional customer service and sales support.
Penny Winterstein, Sales & Marketing Administrator joined Rhema in December 2009. Penny spent the last nine years as an executive assistant with Whistler Accomodations and the Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC. She works closely with two of our account executives to provide sales support and value-added service.
Operations Team
Comprised of Purchasing, Planning, Production and Warehouse & Maintenance & Safety, Operations provides the fuel that keeps the Sales engine running. Operations' primary focus is on cost reduction and increased efficiencies.
Gillian Buergin
At the helm of our Operations team is Gillian Buergin, VP, Operations. Gillian holds an MBA from
Purchasing Team
Heading up the department is Deborah Dodds, Director, Purchasing. Deborah holds PMAC II accreditation and an ONC Business Degree, and has over twenty-five years experience in purchasing. She joined Rhema in 1994 as Purchasing Agent, was promoted to Purchasing Manager in 1998 and Director, Purchasing in 2007.
To find the best ingredients that meet the agreed specification, develop synergistic relationships with our suppliers and to ensure required materials arrive when we need them is the ongoing objective of our Purchasing Team which includes Melanie Van Bynen, Buyer.
Planning, Production and Warehouse Team
Monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of our order fulfillment process from start to finish is Ayman Abu Hannoud, Director of Operations. Ayman holds a B.Eng. (Electrical Engineering) and an MBA. He joined Rhema in 1997 holding progressively senior positions in production and planning until his most recent promotion to Director of Operations.
Under Ayman's guidance the Planning Team coordinates product priorities with Sales and uses advanced tools like our proprietary ERP to ensure that materials are available to Production when required.
Working in conjunction with Purchasing and Planning, our Warehouse Team makes sure all materials are received and ready for production and all finished product is ready to ship correctly, completely, and on-time.
Over ninety members strong, our Production Team works three shifts, twenty-four hours a day to ensure that products are manufactured to the agreed specifications in accordance with GMP.
Plant Engineering and Maintenance Team
Leading the expansion of our capabilities and optimization of our facility, equipment, and process flow is Mahmoud (Mack) Mouhammad, Plant Engineering and Maintenance Manager. Since joining Rhema in 1995, Mack has broadened his operational expertise by holding the senior positions of: Operations Manager, Warehouse & Materials Manager and Maintenance & Safety Manager.
With Mack's leadership, our facility infrastructure and preventative maintenance programs ensure that we meet the highest GMP requirements and effectively utilize our capacity.
Accounting & Administration Team
Heading up our Accounting & Administration Team is John Tims, VP Finance & Administration. John is a CGA and has over fifteen years experience in accounting, including ten years with custom manufacturers. He joined Rhema in 2004. Our Accounting and Administration team, among other things, provides estimates to our Sales Team, invoices to our customers, and maintains accurate inventory records.
Rhema Innovations Limited and Product Development Team
Heading up Rhema Innovations Limited and our Product Development Team is Frank Wong, Director, Technical Services & Product Development. Frank holds a B.Sc. (Food Science). He has over eighteen years experience in the natural products and related industries and has held senior positions in operations and quality control/quality assurance at the wholesale level. He joined Rhema in 2000. He has extensive product development experience and an in-depth knowledge of regulatory affairs. Combining specialized industry knowledge, advanced expertise as flavour specialists and an enthusiastic approach to problem solving is our Product Development team. Now expanded to include Rhema Innovations Limited, which offers cutting-edge, unique Rhema-developed formulas for license or sale under our customers’ own label, this team knows how to make a product that will meet your requirements
Quality Control & Compliance Team
Our QC/QA team verifies that product integrity is maintained through the production process and products are tested to meet the agreed specification. They maintain strict control over our GMP compliance and hold an annual self-inspection.
Heading up our QC/QA department is Doug Robertson, Director, Quality & Compliance. Doug holds a B.Sc. (Cellular and Microbiology). Formerly at Stanley Pharmaceuticals, he has over twenty-five years experience in quality control/quality assurance. He joined Rhema in 2001, and leads an eight person team who oversee all phases of quality control and assurance. Dijana Gojkovic, QA Manager joined Rhema in 1999 as Assistant QA Manager and was promoted to QA Manager in 2006. Dijana holds a B.Pharm. (Europe) and achieved Canadian accreditation in 1997. She brings a wealth of experience to Rhema having spent fourteen years as a Plant Manager and two years as a Pharmacy Manager. She ensures that all finished goods meet agreed specifications prior to being released for shipment to our customers.