Our Team - Over 60 years combined experience in natural food sector and CPG
Diane Masterjohn:
Sales Manager/Co-Owner and Co-Founder of Marketing Northwest
Diane has more than 30 years of experience in the food industry, beginning with Scotty’s Juicetree in Seattle in 1990 where she introduced fresh squeezed juices to food service accounts in the Pacific Northwest. Later she moved on to locally made fresh Artisan breads, calling on food service accounts.
In 1996 Diane co-founded Marketing Northwest under the guidance of her father *David Robinson who was a consultant to Marketing Northwest.
*David Robinson was a Seattle area entrepreneur and co-owner of probably the first food brokerage on the West Coast, circa 1940s, (Bryson Brokerage/Lyle-Jones Brokerage/AmPac Brokerage which eventually became Alliance Brokerage). David also co-founded Scotty’s Juicetree which was the original fresh-squeezed juice company in the Northwest starting in Pike Place Market in the mid-1970s.
Diane completed her BA at Washington State University majoring in English and Communications/Advertising and worked at KIRO Radio in the advertising/marketing department.
Diane has a reputation for tenacity and hard work which has resulted in a very successful track record of product placement both locally, in the western region, and also nationally.
Fred Masterjohn:
Marketing Manager/Co-Owner
Fred has more than 17 years of experience in the food industry, beginning in restaurants where he held every position from maintenance man to manager. Eventually doing deliveries and prospecting for Scotties Juicetree in the early 1990s. Fred spent more than 30 years at The Boeing Company where the company graciously paid for his education in: Marketing (Cornell) , Project Management (Villanova), Business Administration (Notre Dame) and Lean/Six Sigma (Green Belt certification).
Fred has a passion for marketing, and process improvement in the food manufacturing sector. He has brought to fruition large scale projects where yearly savings of over one million dollars were realized. He has helped to develop the marketing for some very successful products on the shelves today.
Aimee McKenzie:
Regional Sales/Oregon, southern Washington
Aimee has more than 16 years in the food industry, beginning within-storefood demonstrations in 2005 for products such as Zipfizz Healthy Energy Drink, where she became one of the top regional sales reps in Southern California. Aimee has a passion for plant-based diets and clean natural foods, and has obtained a well-rounded education on the many vegan, non-GMO, Organic, and Gluten-free products available in today's market. This knowledge was enhanced by her time with the plant-based meal delivery service Greenlite Meals, where she worked with the kitchen chefs to design custom-tailored weekly menus for the clientele. Aimee continued to spread her love for healthy living while selling eco-friendly EUROcast Cookware in stores across Southern California, educating customers on the health benefits of cooking nutrient-rich meals from home. Aimee has a solid knowledge of the natural food sector and brings valuable experience in sales, product demonstration and promotion. With persistence and candor, Aimee is committed to consistently maintaining lasting positive relationships with store buyers and managers, ensuring efficient placement of high-quality natural food products in stores across the US..
Rick Hirsch:
Sales Manager - Costco
In 1982, Rick founded Viking Foods Company, a distribution business serving Northern and Southern California. The business developed a reputation as the leading innovator in the industry, pioneering lines like Aidells Sausage, Tazo Tea, first to import Serano Ham from Spain, helping to create the bulk olive bar concept, now so prevalent. In 1993, I purchased a supplier, Cafferata Pasta Company, a local San Francisco pasta manufacturer. He created a retail pack and took the brand national in supermarkets, Costco and private labeled into Trader Joes. Both of these businesses were sold 20 years later.
He has run a cheese distribution business, been a National Sales manager, and regional sales manager. For over 25 years, he has brokered products into Costco. Successes include: Aidells Sausage, Fra Mani Foods, Rumiano Cheese, Three Twins Ice Cream, Fage Greek Yogurt, Macy’s Cheese Sticks. While residing in Central California, he brokered products into all divisions of Costco and worked within all food categories.
Tracie Sarsfield:
Office Administrator:
Tracie has more than 43 years in the retail food industry, starting as a front-line worker in retail food stores including 17 years at QFC. She had held a variety of positions: natural food clerk, HABA lead, store manager, district bakery/deli coordinator, HR Total Rewards manager, and Natural Foods Sales Manager. Tracie’s passion for people led her to build relationships across the company and into the role of Natural Food Sales Manager. During her time as a Natural Foods Sales Manager, as she collaborated with vendors, she saw a double digit increase in sales. One of projects she helped manage was resets of all the locations assuring the flow of the stores where similar as well as led the aisle with natural food product.
Tracie graduated from an 18-month Retail Management course at Concordia St. Paul, as well participated in Today’s Managers Tomorrow’s Leaders at Portland St. University.