Oppy Houston adds Business Development expertise
VANCOUVER, B.C.— With experience in both retail and growing, Christopher Dyer, The Oppenheimer Group’s new business development representative, adds a new dimension to the company’s Houston, Texas sales team.
Dyer joined the full service marketing and distribution company in late February. He is responsible for creating supply programs and executing promotions for Oppy’s fresh fruit and vegetable assortment with retail and wholesale customers in the U.S. South Central states.
Graduating from Texas A & M with a B.S. in agribusiness in 2010, Dyer most recently worked as a seasonal field coordinator with Premier Melon Company of Ellenton, Ga. and Schoolcraft, Mich. In that role, he monitored inventory, quality and logistics for watermelons and pumpkins grown in numerous locations. Dyer also developed a high-performing pumpkin program that united dozens of small-scale growers in a streamlined go-to-market strategy.
Previously, Dyer was involved in the H.E. Butt Grocery Company’s highly selective School of Retail Leadership. He rotated through various store departments, learning many facets of retail operations and product merchandising.
In between, Dyer spent six months traveling the Western U.S. as a blogger for www.oddjobnation.com, promoting the website which links people with casual jobs throughout the country. As “The Job Trotter,” Dyer undertook a 12,000 mile solo road trip, moving from city to city and working as everything from a Christmas tree salesman to a home remodeler.
“That experience taught me more about what it takes to execute on an idea,” Dyer said, noting the similarity to conceptualizing and setting up produce promotions. “It also taught me about trial and error, and how to find solutions in a pretty wide range of situations.”
During his first week at Oppy, Dyer participated in retail demos of the ENZA Pacific Rose apple alongside grower George Allan, of Allan Bros Fruit, Naches, Wash., getting an early taste of the positive consumer response to this premium apple. Moving forward, he will skill up on the company’s product mix and get acquainted with the regional customer base, while preparing promotional programs for the spring and summer months.
