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David Barash

David Barash has worked in emerging, entrepreneurial businesses in a variety of general management roles for two decades. He has helped lead both start up and mid size firms through a range of growth issues, especially as they relate to operational and organizational concerns. All have been founder led, socially innovative businesses.

Barash was with Ben and Jerry's as one of its founding senior executives for ten years as it grew from $2 million to $140 million in sales. During that period three factories were established, markets throughout the US opened and the company became a national brand. He was in senior leadership positions that involved all aspects of that dynamic business as it expanded from 20 to 600 people. David pioneered many of the areas that have since become hallmarks of the Ben and Jerry's ground-breaking approach to business, including Community and Media Relations, Public Tours, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Consumer Affairs, PR, HR and Social Venture Development.

Following that, Barash ran Autumn Harp Natural Skin Care Products as VP/GM, the leading brand of petroleum-free skin care products in the Natural Foods category. That effort involved organizing and structuring the business, developing the custom manufacturing business, streamlining operating systems and ultimately helping to launch a product and market reorganization to return the business to profitability, working with key business partners such as the Body Shop and Gap.

Engaged by Stonyfield Yogurt, he was instrumental in the initial development of a successful Certified Organic Yogurt product line, which now represents over 80% of annual sales for this innovative firm. For The Organic Cow of Vermont Barash played a critical role in the market launch and distribution of what became the regional market leader in its category. As Interim COO for Catamount Brewery he consolidated operations, improved efficiency and participated in refinancing efforts.

Earlier in his career, he was with Shelburne Farms, developing public programming and assisting with the establishment of a number of business units (value added agricultural products) to support the transition of a magnificent private estate to a public trust. In the mid-seventies, Barash began his career with Celestial Seasonings Tea Co. when that company had just begun milling tea. In a departure from the food business, he served as Director and General Manager for Burton Snowboards Manufacturing Center, the global leader in its industry, where he led a reorganization of an under-performing factory, spinning it off as a separate business unit and garnering significant improvements in profitability.

Most recently, Barash was Chief Operating Officer for Organic Commodity Products (OCP), the leading provider of organic chocolate and cocoa ingredients to the natural foods industry. Here, operating under significant capital constraints, he led a top to bottom business repositioning that resulted in the elimination of non-strategic and unprofitable business activities, reduction of the break-even point by half, increase of operating margins to double-digit percentages and a significant simplification of the business model. Simultaneously, OCP broadened and strengthened the supply chain of grower coops in humid tropic regions. The company also solidified its position with its primary strategic partner, Newman's Own Organics, the leading consumer brand in Natural Foods.

As principal of his consulting firm, C.O.O. - To - Go, LLC David Barash develops and institutes operational and organizational systems with early stage, high growth companies, typically ones with a strong social mission and an active founder. Following the start up of a business, the subsequent growth period is typically characterized by cost of goods concerns, external financing requirements, manufacturing difficulties, cash flow management needs, founder transition matters, systems issues, etc. C.O.O. - To - Go, LLC provides assistance in these areas. This work takes the form of both short-term projects and longer-term Interim COO engagements. Recent clients include:

  • Greyston Bakery
  • Common Ground Business Enterprises
  • Bio Nature Imported Organic Italian Foods
  • The Peace Company
  • Zoë Functional Foods
  • John Hancock Eco Lumber
  • The Vermont Apple Pie Company
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