IRVINE, California, May 10, 2017McDermott & Bull, one of the largest executive search firms within the Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters list, as well as one of Forbes’ Best Executive Recruiting Firms, is pleased to announce the successful appointment of Sandy Ornelas as Category Manager, Salmon with Santa Monica Seafood, a full-service fresh and frozen seafood processor and distributor.

This executive recruiting engagement was conducted by the fit Team at McDermott & Bull, which includes Jeff Black, Partner; Jason Pinegar, Associate Principal Consultant; Trey Mullen, Associate Consultant; and Kelly Nguyen, Executive Search Associate; as well as Chris Bull, Managing Partner.  According to Black, “As this great company continues to grow by leaps and bounds, tightening up their acquisition costs and maximizing product availability for their customers are both critical to continued success.  Sandy Ornelas brings a wealth of experience ensuring her company achieves these goals and her fit with the Santa Monica Seafood team reflects her extraordinary collaboration and relationship skills that will enable her to enrich the company’s culture in wonderful ways.”

Ornelas began her career as a Marketing Officer for the Embassy of Thailand in Mexico City, assisting in a diplomatic capacity to substantially increase trade between Thailand, Mexico and the United States.  After three years, she joined MGT Industries as an Import/Export Manager, where she established the company’s Import/Export Department, created all operational policies and procedures, and negotiated international and domestic procurement contracts.  In 1998, Ornelas joined Golden Beach Inc., a $20-30M importer and exporter of canned seafood, and later moved to Contessa Food Products as a Buyer/Inventory Analyst, executing all ingredient procurement for packaged meals for national accounts with Costco, Sam’s Club, Jenny Craig and Trader Joes.  In 2006, Ornelas joined Two Chefs on a Roll as Senior Buyer, where she held responsibility for all new packaging and raw ingredients and the coordination of logistics; providing product for Fresh & Easy, Whole Foods, and other markets.  Immediately prior to joining Santa Monica Seafood, she was Director of Purchasing at Overhill Farms and a Consultant for Trade Supplies Inc.

Ornelas earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and an MBA from California State University, Fullerton.

About Santa Monica Seafood

Santa Monica Seafood is Southern California’s full-service fresh and frozen seafood processor and distributor since 1939.  They deliver six days a week in refrigerated trucks to California, Las Vegas, NV and the Phoenix, AZ regions.  They offer a wide range of services and have well-trained sales and customer service staff available to handle all seafood needs.  They are committed to educating and moving Santa Monica Seafood, its vendors, and customers towards offering more sustainable options, increasing community understanding on environmental responsibility, and being an agent of change in the seafood industry.

About The fit Team

We’re the fit experts.  We believe creating relationships that truly fit makes a powerful difference in our world.  We love placing top leadership and have developed a comprehensive approach to executive search that provides optimal outcomes by ensuring functional, cultural and personal fit.  Click HERE to learn more.

About McDermott & Bull

McDermott & Bull has been redefining expectations within the world of executive search since 2001.  The firm’s practice leaders, all of whom have substantial executive experience, are uniquely positioned to address the dynamic leadership demands of public and private companies across nearly every industry.  With the advent of MB Interim Leaders in 2011, McDermott & Bull is powerfully equipped to service both the permanent and interim needs of its clients.  Respected companies including Aramark, CoreLogic, Epson America, Hyundai Capital America, In-N-Out Burger, Kaiser Aluminum, Unified Grocers, Western Federal Credit Union (UNIFY Financial Credit Union), Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Chicken of the Sea, Western Digital, Golden State Foods, Google, Panda Restaurant Group, Honda Center/Anaheim Ducks, Comerica Bank, Union Bank, as well as portfolio companies owned by private equity firms such as Riverside Company, Sun Capital Partners, ClearLight Partners, Swander Pace Capital, Chicago Growth Partners, Atar Capital, and Riordan, Lewis & Haden, have all partnered with McDermott & Bull.  Additionally, the firm’s Executive Network program provides valuable resources for and offers opportunities to build meaningful relationships with thousands of C-Suite and VP-level executives throughout the country.